So is your conjecture that Ritalin, as a common street drug, with well known stimulating effects on the non-ADHD user, is merely a case of a placebo effect? They think they should go and dance for 18 hours rather than the effects of the drug?
>The second half of this, that normal kids on Ritalin and Adderall will be overstimulated and unable to concentrate, is just plain false.
Not that I've taken Ritalin, but some folks I know have taken it particularly for the off-the wall overstimulated feeling they get on it. Perhaps it's false. But then it would just be a placebo effect and they may as well have taken cod liver oil.
And I've never felt as calm as when I took basic uppers (black beauties, i.e. Adderall without that annoying timed release thing).
So, anecdotal evidence tells me different brains react differently to stimulants.