Some children have been found to be on Ritalin when they've gone to school with a gun to shoot their classmates and teachers. Ritalin is pharmacologically the same as giving your child cocaine (it has the same drug effects). That's why some people abuse Ritalin. Ritalin is a stimulant and stimulants have been found to be damaging to the brain and the liver. When children are put on mind-altering drugs, they often move on to harder drugs later in life.