Some Saint John teens are abusing a drug used to help hyperactive children. Ritalin is being used by some kids to get high.

Steven Fudge, 23, takes ritalin to help control his attention deficit disorder. But the Saint John man says other people are taking an interest in his pill bottle.

"I've been offered up to ten bucks a pill for four or five of them at a time."

Fudge says he's been approached by as many as 15 people.

Police says ritalin abuse isn't a major problem in Saint John.

Harold Tawklis, a psychology professor agrees, but says there's still a lot to be learned about the effects of abusing the drug.

Tawklis says ritalin is similar to cocaine in structure and that may be why teens are snorting it.

"It's going to get to the brain faster so that the areas of the brain are stimulated," he says. "Areas that are also active when you eat chocolate cake, have sex or do other things that feel good."

Mary Ellen Martin, a local drug counsellor says ritallin abuse isn't common. But she says it's a serious problem because you can get it from school children.