FROM CHILDHOOD MEDICATION TO PRODUCTIVITY DEMANDS: SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF THE USE OF METHYLPHENIDATE (RITALIN®)

Abstract

The article discusses the use of methylphenidate hydrochloride (Ritalin® in particular) in relation to the social determinants of contemporary life. One of the most widely consumed psychotropic drugs in the world, Ritalin has been linked to historical changes throughout its development since the 1930s and is primarily used in the field of learning. Originally applied to the pediatric population, aligned with attention deficit disorder diagnoses, today this consumption involves adults and people without prior medical diagnosis seeking cognitive enhancement. In this way, we can say that the use of the medication reflects the demands on discipline and expectations about productivity in contemporary life.