PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor
CHAPTER 504
(House Bill 971)

Ch. 504

AN ACT concerning

Task Force to Study the Abases Uses of Methylpheuidate and Other Drugs on School

Children

FOR the purpose of establishing a Task Force to Study the Abuses Uses of
Methylphenidate and Other Drugs on School Children; providing for the
membership, duties, staffing, and termination of the Task Force; requiring a certain
report; providing for the termination of this Act: and generally relating to the
establishment of a certain task force.

BY adding to

Article 41 - Governor - Executive and Administrative Departments

Section 18-313

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1993 Replacement Volume and 1996 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, There are between 1.5 million to 2.5 million children in the United
States under age 18 who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); and

WHEREAS, In recent years there has been a dramatic increase in the use of the
drug methylphenidate to treat ADHD in school-age children, with the number of
children taking this drug doubling in the last five years; and

WHEREAS, Methylphenidate, which has a high habit-forming potential, may be
an effective means of treatment for ADHD in some children by enabling hyperactive
children to calm down and to focus more effectively on school tasks; and

WHEREAS, For other children use of the drug may be ineffective or produce
serious side effects, such as insomnia, nervousness, loss of appetite, weight loss, and
palpitations and hallucinations; and

WHEREAS, There is concern that ADHD is being over diagnosed and,
consequently, that methylphenidate is being over prescribed for this condition among
school-age children; and

WHEREAS, There is also concern that methylphenidate may be underutilized
among ADHD children whose condition requires that use of the drug should not be
limited only to school settings; and

WHEREAS, There is a need to determine the prevalence and the effects of the
use of methylphenidate among school-age children in Maryland; and

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