The media here has presented a very negative picture of that. What these people are forgetting though, is not all ADHD-diagnosed children are on medication. Some parents use other strategies such as dietary measures, homeopathy and nutritional supplements, to name just a few. Ritalin zonks out children or turns them into zombies - Complete rubbish. Like ANY medication, the pros and cons have to be looked at before taking any course.
Stimulants do have side-effects sometimes.
These are well documented. A parent or practitioner looks at these possible side-effects and weighs them up against the possible improvement in the quality of life of the sufferer. No one forces anyone to take stimulant medication. If a parent finds that Ritalin doesn't suit her child, she is at liberty to take the child off. Unfortunately this misconception is rife amongst other parents and many professionals.