it's not ADHD u want, it's Ritalin! (methylphenidate)

Mike is on the Radio Show this weekend, he's on to answer questions re the case. 21.00gmt 16.00 ET

What I don't think you realize is that this "edge" Matusow talks about is not any edge at all. Even he doesn't realize that all he is feeling is what most normal people feel. It is so obvious that Matusow has serious psychological issues, so given how horrible he might feel and think at times off his meds will make him feel superhuman while on them. Ask anybody taking a medication for a psychological condition and they'll give a similar story of super-human mental abilities. In reality they are just finally functioning on a normal human level, but the relief from feeling so bad makes them believe they are high or enhanced.

In general I wouldn't take anything Matusow says too seriously. He seems to be a man with a huge heart and a lot of talent at poker, but he is also obviously so far removed from any reality of this world as you and I may know it. This is the same man who will play in the High Stakes Poker cash games while dead broke and probably deep in debt, and tell the people at the table who are staking him how much they suck. The irony is so appalling yet he doesn't even grasp an ounce of it.

The other issue you raise is a sticky one, because it is hard to drug test something that is not actually a sport. Do they drug test college kids taking GRE or LSAT exams? No, but they probably could and many would fail screenings for a variety of stimulants and much more. Who would decide what drugs would be banned from poker? Would we form a committee like the IOC for the Olympics? Who would pay for these testing costs? Who would sit on this committee? The reality is that even minor screenings would cause the rake of the tested tourney to go through the roof and destroy participation in these live tourneys.

what an influx of idiots posting recently.

Mike also states in the book that he no longer takes Ritalin but now is prescribed Adderall, another ADHD drug with fewer side effects. Interesting the original poster was upset about the advantages the ADHD meds might give but did not mention the at times debilitating side effects. Did you miss that chapter?

Most tour players and the poker media are aware that many players use these drugs as performance enhancers. Some have been quite open about their use while others stick with the black market for their stash.

good first post OP... you should send a suggestion to WSOP Commissioner I suggest to begin mandatory drug testing prior to each tourney...and I think for the ME we'll ahve 97 players showing up...

Is it safe to take cocaine whilst on Ritalin?

It is safe to take cocaine while on Ritalin. It is not, however, safe to take cocaine whilst on the planet.

Couple of interesting things in this thread that I don't think are necessarily true.

To think that someone on Adderall or Ritalin is now just getting "back to normal" isn't really accurate. I started taking Adderall in Sept because I had gotten to a point in my business career where I knew I had ADHD and it was not going to allow me to move above my current position due to the fact I couldn't really focus more than about 10 minutes at a time. I had still already been fairly successful, but taking Adderall will allow someone to gain a significant advantage over others. Remember, in many cases, this person already has lived and kept up with others even with their ADHD. So, once on Adderall, they do often surpass those around them that had been previous equals.

I don't know if I am now thinking and focusing like a "normal" person as I think that is really hard to measure, but I will tell you that adding Adderall has given me the confidence to make my first foray to Sin City for the WSOP this year. In the past, there was never any way I could have stayed focused for that long each day. But, now, at least I can feel confident it is my bad poker ability that will do me in, not my ADHD.

Abe - Sausage King of Chicago

i guess we should be testing for caffine aspirin cold medication etc with that logic slap nuts... maybe we can have a wsop $1500 buy in "all natural" event with olympic sanctioned drug testing

Matusow? Edge?


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

He is a great live tournament player. Many of the good online players were suprised with how good he played when they first sat down with him.

adderalll huh?

I knew there was some method allowing you people to play 16 tables at once. Judging from the harsh reactions to OP I guess that this drug is fairly popular here.

Damn I hate you OP. Quit posting IMO

this has to be one of the dumbest things i have ever read

Please no more drug testing, now congress will be questioning poker players. Congress is already messing with online poker now you want them in B&M.

Then are they going to test for weed too, it has been said by some that smoke it it heightens there awareness.

If they test for drugs and Ritalin is a baned substance then it doesn't matter if was by doctors orders, it is on the list so find another drug for your disorder or don't play in the WSOP would be the rule.

If a baseball player gets hurt and is in rehab he can not take a baned substance to help him heal faster, if it is baned it is baned, there is no gray areas in drug testing.

Interesting the concern is with prescription drugs prescribed or otherwise. What about players using street meth, do we test them and then turn them over to LVPD? And what about overdosing, you are prescribed 2 pills a day but for tournaments you take 6. And what about water-boarding we should lock up those people who are against it... Oh wait, new administration, we should lock up those who are for it; oh hell, which one is it today I forget. And online poker, gotta ban that sinful enterprise.

Or we could just stay the hell out of everyone else's life.

make it available in FTP store please

ty for taking the time to respond to only the first line of my post and not the rest of it.

[QUOTE=vezj420;10647560]if he really has ADHD, Ritalin is only getting his concentration to a more 'normal' focus.

Not sure how the chemical works for normal vs. ADHD people, but when normal ppl take Ritalin, it does elevate their concentration and thinking capacity, like a kid's version of crystal meth

QUOTE]yeah something that gets a person back to normal doesnt give anyone an advantage

Noone with any kind of metal illness should be allowed to play teh pokez at all. It's tantamount to cheating, having prescription medication

qft IMO

coming from someone who has played with him several times and is normally harsh about live pros, he's def on one of the best i've played with

hahahahahahahahahaha