I've been taking adderall(similar to Ritalin) since I was about 12, I'm 22 now. I have actual ADHD and cannot function at work without it, I cannot focus on one thing for more than a few minutes tops. I'm a software developer so this is a huge problem. I had hoped I would grow out of this so I didn't have to take it but I don't see that happening anymore.
AFAIK it hasn't had any negative long term effects on me, short term it kills my appetite so I have to force myself to eat. It was a problem when I was younger, I was severely underweight during highschool but I've been able to manage my weight well for the past few years.
There was an attempt to put me on Ritalin in school. This was quickly aborted because my mother was told about it and almost defenestrated the vice principal over it (third story window, so that counts for something).
Giving continued-used psychotropics to developing brains is an excellent recipe for fostering lifelong addiction.
I've been taking it 5 times a week for the past 10 years and I'm not addicted to it in the slightest. Whenever I go on vacation or have longer periods off of work or school I stop and I never feel the urge to take it.
My understanding is that it's nearly always only addictive if it's taken in recreational doses. If prescribed medically, the dose is usually too low for addiction to occur.
AFAIK it hasn't had any negative long term effects on me, short term it kills my appetite so I have to force myself to eat. It was a problem when I was younger, I was severely underweight during highschool but I've been able to manage my weight well for the past few years.