I did not call it legal cocaine, though I did compare the two, and I stand by that statement. Ritalin's mechanism for action is extremely similar to cocaine - i

I did not call it legal cocaine, though I did compare the two, and I stand by that statement. Ritalin's mechanism for action is extremely similar to cocaine - it even competes for the same binding sites on neurons. It's still a very useful therapeutic, and I strongly believe it should not be stigmatized. But parents absolutely do need to be educated about the sort of prescription drug this is. I liken this somewhat to the use of opioids for pain control after surgery: they are a fantastic tool that I would certainly not want to forego. But I am grateful that we've become more intentional about educating people on some of the specific dangers around their use so that patients can be more aware. I'd like to see the same thing happen around the use of strong stimulants in children.