New Laws Leave Ritalin Decisions To Parents and Doctors

By Lisa Fine

Two states have enacted what are thought to be the nation's first laws to clarify that parents, not school districts, will have the final say on whether their children take drugs to control behavior.

The laws in Connecticut and Minnesota, which went into effect last month, give parents the right to decide against giving their children stimulants such as Ritalin, without fear of losing custody of the children under the states' educational-neglect laws. Ritalin, the brand name for methylphenidate, is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Many teachers have become adept at spotting signs of ADHD in a child. Students with the condition may have difficulty concentrating, be unusually fidgety while seated, get up to walk around the room, or interrupt class with...