WARNING: Contains controversial topics. If you do not agree you are welcome to express your opinions. If you do not wish to do so then move on to another post.

This topic is not a new topic. This thread infact will be focusing on bringing back important posts made by members of healthboards throughout the past couple years.

Please Note: I am not the original writer of these posts/topics. Rather I have found them in archives and believe they would be very helpful for all to read. You may notice that these quotes do not give the name of the author. This is to protect privacy of healthboards members so that they will be safe from any reprimands. If there is a topic posted that was originally written by you and you wish to identify yourself then please do so.

Thankyou and enjoy your reading,
Freedom_Fighter

Quote 1

"NEW MEDICAL REFERENCE DICTIONARY***
(First Edition)

ADD: (Attention Defecit Disorder)class: Mental Disorder
(n) A sense of overwhelming stress and inbility to focus and cope with problems, and to give the proper attention needed to accomplish a given task, which is experienced by an education professional (usu teacher)when she has reached her level of incompetence in a field she thought would be easy and fun, but turned out to be more work and dedication, and individual attention to students that she was prepared to give.
The primary symptom of this disorder is the tendency to label the students with her own illness, and a chronic desire to use her "official teacher" title as a petty point of authority in an attempt to force parents to relieve her of her teaching duty (which she is paid to perform) by placing their children on more and more controlling leashes, such as medication.
The sufferer of "ADD" will statistically be more concerned with the bookwork and cirriculum, which she uses as a distraction from having to deal with the actual students she is paid to oversee and nurture into learning.
Common signs of the Attention Defecit Disorder are feelings of stress and overwork, shown through statements and opinions such as: "I have too many students in my classes to take the time to deal with the disruption this one causes." or "It would be so much easier on me if all children were exactly the same."
The most common excuse given by people afflicted with the disease is: "It's not fair to the other students."
The professional with this disorder loses all sense of logic and reason, and fails to see that there are students who need more attention, and those who need less. The feeling of lazy apathy caused by this occupational disorder usually makes the sufferer lose the ability to balance out this equation in her head, and leads to panic, and reactionary labeling of any students who cause her any sort of extra work in her job duties.
The teacher will, in almost all cases, attempt to place her responsibility onto the parent, or the guidance counselor, because she is not competent to handle her own classroom, which is her primary duty.
The education professional with Attention Defecit Disorder is an all-too-common danger in our school systems, and is in a unique position to seriously harm children during extremely sensitive points along their development into adulthood.
Synonyms and related disorders: LAZINESS, INCOMPETENCE, APATHY, NEGLIGENCE OF DUTY, FAILURE IN JOB PERFORMANCE, DISREGARD FOR OTHERS WELFARE, ANTISOCIAL OBSESSION
Appendix Note: There is also another form of this disorder which is experienced by parents who are incompetent in their parenting duties as well, but it is the occupational form in professional educators which composes the largest threat to the most children.

thank you"

Quote 2

About Stimulants:
Stimulants are the most common treatment for ADD / ADHD. They have been used for years for treating children with symptoms of hyperactivity and inattention.
Stimulant medications include:
Adderall, Concerta, Dexedrine, Ritalin & more
The Pros & Cons of these medications
Pros:
These medications are fast acting, they begin working within about 45 minutes of taking them.
Many children who were once failing school suddenly improve their grades often going from failing to earnings A’s & B’s
A once moody hyperactive child can begin exhibiting more age appropriate behavior
Parents often say their children are able to hold real meaningful conversations with them
Cons:
These medications are prescribed too easily. No stimulant is approved for children under 6 years of age yet many doctors prescribe them to 3 yr olds. Many children placed on these meds at such a young age never really had true ADD, but the medication causes damage to their tender, developing brains, so if they were to go off the medication at an older age they would show signs of ADD. A parent then would never really be sure if the child was suffering to begin with or if it was brought on by medication.
Most people who have made the choice to medicate their children with stimulants have been told that these medications have little to no side effects. The truth is, that’s just not true.
Common side effects that you may be told about include things like headaches & weight loss
Now here’s the truth:
These medications can cause addiction to hard drugs later in life, such as crack cocaine and meth amphetamines. Some people try to argue that stimulant use actually decreases the risk of drug abuse. That is NOT TRUE!! Proper treatment of ADD (with non stimulant meds, natural alternatives etc) decrease the risk of addiction.
Addiction medicine specialist say that many times they see adults as patients who have no history of major illicit drug use. The only history of drugs they have is long term use of stimulant medications to treat ADD or hyperactivity. These patients have the same damage to their brains as people who have abused crack or speed. The patients who have this damage were often placed on stimulant meds as young as preschool and took them untill the age of 15-23.
Long term use of stimulant medications can cause heart problems including chest pain and even heart attacks. (Rare, but it does happen)
It is true that not all patients receiving treatment with stimulant medications will have these awful side effects. Infact, many don't. But there is a possibility. As a parent or caregiver to a child do you really want to take that chance? Yes, stimulants can help, but is it really worth it? The answer is No, just because a child is hyperactive or inattentive that should not be enough to risk damaging them for the rest of their lives or in severe cases even killing them. Stimulant medications should be used only when absolutely necessary. They should not be the first choice for treating ADD, they should be the last.
Other safer treatments:
There are many other options that doctors dont always tell you about. These can be just as effective and are much safer. They include non-stimulant medications. Wellbutrin is an anti depressant that has been shown to help people with ADD to calm down and focus. The new medication Strattera is showing great promise, it is a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. There are also plenty of other non-stimulant medications which can be helpful for this condition.
Here’s some more information. Just because a child has been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD does not mean that they actually have this condition. Now and days it is the most popular diagnosis in children. This is not because its the most common disorder. It is simply because the set of symptoms used to diagnose ADD are seen in most mental health problems. These symptoms also often appear if their is a physical problem. Doctors are not fully doing their jobs. They want to find the quickest, easiest diagnosis, and medicate it. Some children diagnosed as ADD are infact suffering from bipolar disorder. Others have severe food allergies, some have sleep disorders which cause ADD like symptoms. But most people don't look for the real source of the problem.
Before stimulant medications are used:
Start with diet, if the problem is food allergies you will see a vast improvement in behavior.
If there is no improvement try natural alternatives to medication, such as supplements of amino acids, vitamins, and so on.
If you must turn to medication first start with a non-stimulant, doctors will try to force a stimulant as the first choice treatment. Dont do it. Explain that you would like to start off with non-stimulants, if none of them work then you can possibly move on to a stimulant. STIMULANTS SHOULD BE THE LAST LINE OF TREATMENT NOT THE FIRST!!!
Many children diagnosed with ADD are not ADD at all, rather they:
Just have a hyperactive outgoing personality that is not well accepted in todays society
Are suffering from a totally different disorder mascarading as ADD
Are acting out due to trauma or stress which the parents may or may not know about
Have a learning disability
Some estimants say that 1 out of every 20 people suffer from ADD. So should 1 out of 20 people be on medication that alters the way their brain works? Certainly not. If the problems exist only in school then rather than medicating look into different education options. Some children learn differently than others. Schools dont teach their lesson plans in ways that all children can understand. They often teach classes with one learning style in mind, for example lecturing will teach a child who is good with auditory learning. What happens to the rest of the children? The visual and tactile learners?? Well often they are said to be ADD and given Ritalin. This is not right, this should not be happening, as citizens, teachers, and parents we need to come together and stand up for these kids who cant stand up for themselves. We need to stop the unnecisary medicating. I am happy to say that there are now schools open to children with different learning styles, these schools take in children who were once on medication, whos parents were told their children would never succede academically and these children have gotten off all medication and astound everyone with their intelligence and ability to learn.
Adults can choose what medications they take and what is helpful, they have knowledge and understanding enough to know if it is hurting them in any way (well at least hopefully they do), adults also have fully developed brains. But children just take the medication they are given, they do it to make their parents and teachers happy. Even if they don't really need it, they will still take it if their parents tell them to. Please do not give stimulants to your children in a first attempt at treating ADD

Quote 3

The rate children mature varies widely, my son is great at math and loves science. My daughter is very artistic and writes great stories. Both hate to read....but that doesn't mean I don't make them read. The overall theme to many of these posts is "my child is struggling in school and needs medication to pay attention" I disagree! If you medicate a child to get this achieved they will never "learn" to pay attention down the road.

Quote 4

It could just as convincingly be blamed on "overcrowded, underfunded schools," which is the actual line most professionals tow.
But there's always the laziness factor, people could try a little harder, and not be so quick to simply label and medicate and dismiss as a blameless situation...
... if they cared, and a lot don't.

Quote 5

The Kid

As a kid he didn’t do too well in school. At home he got in trouble a lot for doing things like carving his name on the table, not going to bed on time, and being too loud. In 7th grade his teachers recommended that he be tested for ADHD. After a physical, lots of paperwork, an IQ test, and an evaluation by a child psychiatrist it was concluded that he had ADHD. The following day he was put on the stimulant medication, Ritalin. The school said he was getting in trouble less and focusing better. At home he wasn’t as talkative as he used to be. He was on Ritalin for 2 years. After this time period his problem started. The medication had given him his first “taste of speed” He soon became curious about the drug cocaine. He did cocaine many times but did not become addicted. But he just couldn't stop searching for something.... until he found meth. He was instantly hooked . He went to treatment center after treatment center finding no help for his problem. He started stealing from his family. Even from his younger brothers and sister. He showed no feelings or remorse about anything. He had once been a very caring and sensitive boy. Always thoughtful of animals and younger kids. Trying to teach his younger brothers and sister how to do things like build bird houses. He liked to give his dad hugs and had always been very sensitive to sad movies. But now everything that was once important to him just didn’t matter anymore. He had once had a great passion for fixing classic motor bikes and cars, he had once loved to play with his dog named lady, he had once had fun building forts outside with his little brothers and sister. But those days were behind him. Now it seemed all he cared about was getting high. He was passionate about nothing. He didn’t care about anything in this world except for his meth. Then one day his stepmother walked in the door and was talking to his father. They were talking about his youngest brother. He overheard their conversation. They thought that his little brother had ADD. He heard his stepmother talking about getting him on medication. Then, this boy, who never cared about anything except how he would get his next hit of meth started to cry. He went to his stepmother and dad and begged them not to put his little brother on this medication. He pleaded with all his heart and soul for them not to do it. And he told them “I don’t want him to end up like me, Ritalin was the beginning of my horror story, please don't do it to my little brother” as tears rolled off his cheek he tried to wipe them away with the sleeve of his sweatshirt. That day he cried, that day he cared about something other than his drugs, his little brother. That day his stepmother and father decided against putting his little brother on medication. That day was a small victory for the boy who’s only friends were drugs. That day he saved his little brother from the path that he had taken. The path of Ritalin, stimulant medications, and finally hard drugs. That day he was a hero. His name is Jay, and he’s my brother.
To this day our little brother is still medication free. He is doing well in school, he does have a rough time with homework but he can get it done with a little help.

Quote 6

everybody knows speed is a drug, aka neurotoxin...not a medicine. Like magic, the psychiatric community has somehow changed that fact in the public eye.
The brain is the mystery, but not drugs. Those aren't so mysterious. Ignorance would be overlooking the hazards already discovered about certain drugs/chemicals....

Quote 7

Ok people listen up, on this board I saw a post that said "hopefully one day the whole world will have ADD and there will be no question as to weather or not it exists" The whole reason ADD is labeled is because it is a difference, the MAJORITY of people do not have ADD. That does not mean its ok to medicate young children just to make them conform to the standards and expectations of society. If the whole world did have ADD would we drug everybody? ummm NO we wouldn't, it would be the new normal and socially acceptable. You see the goal of medication is not to give the best to the child, it is to make the child THE SAME as everyone else. As parents you tell your kids, everyone is different, its what makes people unique, if everyone was the same life would be boring. And thats true. So why do you then drug your children in order to make them be like everybody else?? People put their kids on medications like ritalin to make them less hyperactive, to let them focus more on homework, chores, and other boring tasks. But medication takes away a peice of the child. The daydreamer is now labled ADD.... his mother puts him on ritalin, he no longer daydreams, now he gets A's in school, he grows up to be a lawyer.... everyone is proud. The daydreamer is now labled ADD...his mother refuses medication, says she wants her child to be who he is. He is unfocused. In class he is always daydreaming and zoned out. He barely squeezes through school with C- and D's. One day in a business meeting he is zoning out again. The boss yells at him. But it doesnt matter, because while he was daydreaming he came up with a theory of how to cure cancer.
Dreamers are not defective, just different. If we didn't have them where would we as a world be today? Albert Einstein has ADD and he was one of the most important people this world has seen, where would we be without his ideas? His ideas that everyone thought were crazy. Because he was nothing but a "lazy daydreamer" who would never amount to anything HA!! Well he proved everyone wrong didn't he. Do you think he would have come up with all those great ideas if he was medicated? No...... he couldnt have, he would have probably ended up getting good grades and graduating from school but SO WHAT????? Why are grades so important? In the real world what do grades REALLY mean?? NOTHING, Not every kid is good at school work, not every kid is good at sports, not everyone will be a famous artist, not everyone is good at building cars, not everyone will learn computer program, not all people would make good accountants. EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT thats what makes the world wonderful. If you can't see that then maybe you are the one who is defective eh??
I am not denying that some children are completely out of control and need help. But those cases are very very rare. Medicating a child just because they of some troubles focusing or being to active is outrageous. They probably have a different learning style than the rest of the kids in the class. Please read "How to Learn Anything Quickly" by Ricki Linksman A child should only be receiving medical treatment if they have 1. A MEDICAL PROBLEM or 2. A SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS "ADD" is not a severe mental illness. Therefore most children who have it don't truely need medication. They just need everyone around them to accept that they are not the "norm" in society and that they need to do things their own way. I People complain that theyre little kids 5 and under run away and they are afraid they will get hit by a car so thats why they put them on ritalin. MY FRIGGIN GOD THEY ARE LITTLE KIDS YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE ADULT AND SUPERVISE THEM PROPERLY SO THEY DO NOT RUN AWAY!!! It appears now that just being a kid has become a sickness.. and thats very sad to me.
This message does not pertain to everyone. I do believe that some children are sick and need help. Medication should not be the first treatment option. People don't even look to see whats really going on with kids anymore they just medicate. Open your eyes, please, look what you are doing to your kids, you are taking away their uniqueness. Just because a kid learns diff or thinks diff doesnt make them wrong or bad.

Quote 8

Today we live in a fast paced world.....video games, TV, instant this and instant that.....everything is moving very fast and even TV shows are interupted by endless commercials so you have a breaks and interuptions all the time. Nothing demands long spans of attention yet we are demanding it of our young children.
Parents both work often times.....running here and there picking up and dropping off kids....rushing home for dinner....our society accepts this kind of lifestyle and rather than dealing with our kids and taking time with them we are opting for the easy solution of give them a pill and everything will be OK.
Doctors are too quick to prescribe meds.....teachers don't want to deal with kids who disrupt and take their time......so they say there is a problem.....and we medicate.
Schools get paid for each child they have on meds...
Drug companies create the drugs.....then look for an illness to supply them to.....if they don't have it they create it. Look at the adverts on the TV these days. Sell sell sell, try try try !
Violence is a big side affect that no one is willing to look at and put on the table.....from the children and teens on medication all the way to the adults. (Columbine, Oregon etc etc)

Quote 9

I think people don't realize the reason drugs "work"...they disable the brain, like most neurotoxins..the development of todays' psychiatric drugs seems to have roots in the 1960's when hallucienagens were "opening" minds. I saw a documentary on this quite by accident while surfing cable T.V..... the psychiatric profession did alot of LSD experiments and claimed they could use hallucienagens to develop drugs to "cure" everything from depression, smoking to heroin addiction. The interviews showed the excitement in these researchers, and despite the government banning of these LSD experiments around 1968, the psychiatric researchers were shown traveling abroad to obtain various hallucienagens to continue developing new drugs for the future. Well, the future is here.
I found the documentary shocking. The pharmaceutical drugs of today that effect the mind don't exactly "turn people on", but they are based on brain toxic drugs. Ok, it's true, maybe a little poison is not as bad as alot, but it's still poison!

Quote 10

We need to consider all the things that could be contributing to the issues children are having today. Mercury levels in the vaccines they get.....especially now when they get 3-4 + shots at a time. This is happening even though the powers that be know it is dangerous and poison to our system. And the chemicals and preservatives we eat in our foods....BHT, Aspartamine(sp), all the hormones in meat. Things the FDA allows without knowing the full impact of a lifetime of ingesting this crap into our bodies.
We need to be less accepting and more challenging of what we are told we must do.
I get so angry when I think and read about all the brilliant beautiful children this is all affecting....

Well one of those posts was originally by me. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by LiLMissADDitude (edited 09-05-2003).]

Quote 11

I personally believe ADD "exists", but not as a "biological" or "mental" disease and most of it is mis-diagnoised, especially in very young children who still have alot of maturing and developing ahead...as we know, kids do not grow and mature at the same pace, some are way ahead of others. So there are always the "problem" children, and those are the ones presumed to have this ADD disorder. Generations upon generations have had "problem children"; this is nothing new. Many turned out fine; some didn't but usually external forces caused their problems.

Quote 12

Kurt Cobain of the rock group Nirvana was on Ritalin as a child. He had alot of stomach problems and ended up on heroin, which relieved his stomach pain. Stomach pain is a common side effect and also withdrawal effect of stimulants. The Ritalin he took for his ADHD did not prevent his future drug abuse and we all know his addiction is what eventually ended his life by suicide.

Quote 13

A research report in the Archives of General Psychiatry states, "Cocaine, which is one of the most reinforcing and addicting of the abused drugs, has pharmacological actions that are very similar to those of methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta), which is now the most commonly prescribed psychotropic medicine for children in the U.S."

Quote 14


we were pressured and harassed by teachers to have our son tested and medicated. His Dad and I have never had a problem with our son. He is a typical, energetic little boy.

Quote 15

the confused and the poor are handed psychiatric labels, a drug prescription and a discouraging diagnosis tainted with misinformation for drug induced purposes of mental illness and profits for the mental health and counseling and the pharmaceutical industries.

[This message has been edited by Freedom_Fighter (edited 09-07-2003).]

Quote 16

Who on earth, crowned the doctors and psychologist king, these are our lives, and our children, friends, and familys lives, These are NARCOTICS, like heroin & cocaine, same family of plants ..But hey, ya must love your children to put these pills in there mouths .. why dont ya just stop and get some dope for them when you pick them up after school ..obviously has another issues than what you think ...
kids shoulnt be turned to zombies ... I know they are much more manageable when sedated on these pills ...
These pills are a parents dream, calm the kids right up ...
Its not a miracle parenting drug .. a way to take the responsiblity from the parents on controling, and supporting there children, anymore i think thats what it boils down too .... I have a 12year old nephew on cocentra for 4 years, ...poor kid is a robot ..yeah, he has never not gotten a straight A report card ...but still ...
Id rather have a child getting all D's ... atleast I know ..that he is being who he is, but hey..my sister and her husband are materialistic like that and have an image to live up to ....guess what ever gets those grades ..
I highly doubt children are coming up to parents at 9 or 10 years old, and being like ....mommy, daddy,.. i have been noticing that i have a hard time staying focused, and getting things done... im easily distracted,... and don;t respond well to punishment..
Could you please sedate me...please ..I really really really want to develop a chemical dependency one that will ruin my life indefinatly ..over time.!!
Dont jump to conclusions.. Pills are not the answer,..

I think I'm responsible for at least two of these. Nice collection, freedomfighter. I liked reading them all. This last one brings up who crowned psychology king, well, what but psychiatry would be capable of such massive brainwashing; after all, their whole education/field is about human emotions/reactions and how to control those. It occurs to me psychiatry is the best cult we have on earth and nobody realizes it.

Quote 17

i was put on ritalin when i was like 10, and i didn't really think too much of it at the time. then, when i was in 8th grade i noticed that it was making me feel anxious and paranoid, etc. i feel like it almost ruined the way i should of viewed things when i was younger.

Hey there.....

Like what you are doing! The very sad thing is that all who really need to get on board and see and hear aren't willing to look and listen. My heart breaks for all the children out there who are guinny pigs and victims. I really liked the post I read about the new disorder several years from now where people were so inflexable and organized etc! It would make me laugh if it weren't so very sad this whole thing.

It's is refreshing to see people posting alternatives and getting the reality about meds out there even if it brings opposition.

Take it easy,
g

Hello,

I too appreciate this post in the manner in which it has been delivered. Even tho I chose to medicate and am an adult ADDer and I don,t always agree with what others say it is good to get others opinions and remedies that work for them. Again thanks for posting in the manner in which you have and may god bless us all.....

Matt

You are absolutely right! What the heck have I been doing? I'm stopping my son's medication of Dexadrine tomorrow. I never wanted to put him on it anyway. He is in a special ed. class for part of the day anyway. I mean most of these kids are getting A's and B's, but my son isn't so I can't even see the benefits of drugging him. He is still disorganised, needs help with homework. I mean, maybe he will be the same kid on the meds as off the meds. So here it goes. Wish us luck.

Hey dice, don't cold turkey him, he might have some withdrawals! Just start cutting the dose down graudually.

Congratualations on taking your son's health into your own hands instead of letting someone else ruin it!!

[This message has been edited by Jennita (edited 09-09-2003).]

Good information FreedomFighter. Thanks for taking the time to collect and repost it.

Reading cases in which "my son/daughter was fine until ... whatever (usually puberty, it seems)..." prompts me to post ... the body's changing suddenly seems to have an effect on drug action/interaction - and it can be for the better, or worse.

I saw as a teacher and have experienced myself as an adult that rapid hormonal changes can exacerbate many symptoms, including ADD/ADHD. I did well enough through grad school and had compensated, apparently, for the symptoms of ADD ... but when I had an early-stage breast cancer with radiation and Tamoxifen (which blocked every estrogen receptor it could find) at the same time I was in the midst of menopause, my make-up just changed. My estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone hormone levels became and remain undetectable.

I went from dysthymic to clinically depressed and was plagued by the typical symptoms of ADD. This affected my job performance and evaluation, but was insufficient to bring about changes in my behavior. I knew where I was falling short, but I just could not seem to change back to "the old me".

I have been on antidepressants since then, and for the past couple of years on Concerta XR. Still stuggling, I was switched to Adderall XR recently. I am beginning to feel like I can manage things now, and I am hoping for the best.

I don't expect to ever be back where I was before BC. All I want is to feel like I am guiding my own ship again. If it takes medications to make that possible, so be it! I wouldn't have chosen medication for my daughter, but I also would not want her to have to struggle when medications, used with discretion, could help her live a less-harried existence.

Sorry for the long post - I even edited it to cut out some of the rambling I do http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Quote 18

I say all of this being a mom of 2 of my own children. It is harder than ever to be a kid in today's world, technology, faster than fast food, families with 2 working parents, parents can't send their children outside to play all day until dinner (like I did when I was a kid) because we are afraid to do that. I see my kids stuggle with different things LIKE ALL CHILDREN DO!
I still say inattention, hyperactivity, it's all part of being a kid. Every child grows and matures at their own individual rate. This doesn't make them ill.
Anyone could take those ridiculous tests for ADD and test positive, they are that vague.
I read on these boards how children so young are on this drug, then this one and oh now we are trying this one!!!!! Doesn't that send up any red flags? Craziness!!!!
My children are fantastic, they are both very different and have their own likes and dislikes, I wouldn't put either of them on medication

Quote 19


I cant believe this, some parents are okay putting their children on Ritalin. It seems like some parents cant accept their children for who they are, just rather putting them on the drugs. Parents shouldnt be worrying about what the society says about the children or how they act, its who they are, so the parents should just accept them, and stop letting the doctors putting them on drugs. Drugs that been shown to cause brain/nervous system damage, liver cancer, and so on.
There are natural remedies out there, to calm your children, rather puting them on those dangerous chemicals. Reserchers found on Magnesium that it showed that kids with ADHD who were given 200MG Magnesium showed after 6 months decreased hyperactivity...
So look around and see all those natural remedies that could help your children, and I know some natural remedies are not always safe, but they are way safer than Ritalin, or any other drugs. So please think about the future consequences your children might face when they take this toxic, dangerous drugs. You should turn to mother nature first, if that doesnt help, try something else, but medications should be the last thing to try !!!
I wish the best for your children, and for the parents !

Quote 20

I get resentful because my school can’t find a way to educate him. He’s just different, that’s all. Why can’t there be room in the world for his kind? Does he really have to be like the rest of these drones? He’s Scotty, sheeesh!

Good info

[This message has been edited by WildAngel (edited 09-14-2003).]

Quote 21

That is true about every parent needs to make a choice for their children and not a doctor or teacher, etc; however, medication or not, remember that the decision is what's best for the child not the parent. Unfortunately many parents (usually not on purpose) make their decision based on the way THEY feel about the situation not the way their kid(s) with AD/HD do.

Quote 22

The mass media has so much more control over most people than they will ever be aware of. And yes, doesn't it seem almost "fashionable" to be on some of these meds? And to think we're supposed to have a (so called) "War on Drugs"? The day to day mixed messages we are bombarded with are so pathetic, it's enough to make you laugh! Too bad most people aren't paying attention. Oh well.

Quote 23

ADHD
Symptoms
DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria for ADHD

A. Either 1 or 2:
1. Six or more of the following symptoms of inattention
have persisted for at least six months to a degree
that is maladaptive and inconsistent with developmental level:

a. Often fails to give close attention to details or makes
careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities
b. Often has difficulty sustaining attention in
tasks or play activities
c. Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
d. Often does not follow through on instructions and fails
to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace
(not due to oppositional behavior or failure to understand
instructions)
e. Often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities
f. Often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to engage in tasks
that require sustained mental effort (such as homework)
g. Often loses things necessary for tasks or activities (toys,
school assignments, pencils, books, or tools)
h. Is often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli
i. Is often forgetful in daily activities

2. Six or more of the following symptoms of hyperactivity-
impulsivity have persisted for at least six months to a
degree that is maladaplive and inconsistent with developmental level:

Hyperactivity
a. Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat
b. Often leaves seat in classroom or in other
situations in which remaining seated is expected
c. Often runs about or climbs excessively in situations in which it is
inappropriate (in adolescents or adults, may be limited to
subjective feelings of restlessness)
d. Often has difficulty playing or engaging in
leisure activities quietly
e. Is often "on the go" or often acts as if "driven by a motor"
f. Often talks excessively

Impulsivity
g. Often blurts out answers before questions have been completed
h. Often has difficulty awaiting turn
i. Often interrupts or intrudes on others (such
as butting into conversations or games)

B. Some hyperactive, impulsive, or inattentive symptoms that
caused impairment were present before age 7 years
C. Some impairment from the symptoms is present in two or more
settings (such as in school or work and at home)
D. There must be clear evidence of clinically significant
impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning
E. The symptoms do not occur exclusively during the course
of a pervasive developmental disorder, schizophrenia, or another
psychotic disorder and are not better accounted for by another
mental disorder (such as a mood, anxiety, dissociative, or
personality disorder)

ADHD Types Using DSM-IV criteria

ADHD, predominantly inattentive type
Meets inattention criteria (section Al) for the past 6 mo

ADHD, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type
Meets hyperactive-impulsive criteria (section A2) for the past 6 mo

ADHD, combined type
Meets criteria for section Al and section A2 for the past 6 mo

ADHD, not otherwise specified
Prominent symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity that do not meet the criteria for ADHD
In partial remission

The parents say "You obviously never have raised a child with this disorder. They are hyperactive, innatentive, impulsive, and immature. They don't listen, and they cant complete homework, I used to get calls from the teacher every day about my son being in trouble, now that he is on medication he is a whole different child. I can talk to him. He does his homework, gets his chores done. If you are against medication then you have obviously not experienced an ADHD child"


ADHD is NOT A DISORDER it is a difference. Many will argue this fact.
"If its not a disorder then why cant these kids function normally" - Well.. I would respond, what is normal?? Normal equals AVERAGE.

"It is a biological defect that deals with the neurotransmitter dopamine. Not enough dopamine is processed and put into use by the brain" - This is not a defect, it is a difference, just as is eye color, handedness, height, and weight.

Now lets take a look at this from a different perspective.

It is the year 2212. The world has changed greatly, and so have its inhabitants. The majority of people living now are decendants of those who in an earlier time would have been labled "ADHD" The symptoms and traits of "ADHD" are now the norms of society. Children are expected to think like an "ADDer" because that is the way the majority of the population now thinks.
The new disorder.

ALTD - Abnormal Linear Thinking Disorder

This disorder is caused by a biological defect in which allows to much dopamine to be processed/used in the brain

Symptoms Include:

Thought Process Problems
a unoriginal thinking
b being inflexible / sticks to routine
c overorganized
d unimaginative
e unable to take risks when needed, likes to "play it safe"
f only able to work on / pay attention to one thing at once
g lacks talent/ability compared to peers in areas such as art, creative ideas, hands on building/projects
h does not allow others to interupt in mid story, is inflexible with conversation


Energy Level Difficulties
i is less active than peers, seats in seat, does not get up and walk/stretch as do the other children, this causes the child problems with their peers in social situations

This is a serious disorder but can be treated. The best solution is a medication called Xacy.

(This medication is chemically related to the drug ecstasy however in pharmacutical form has little side effects and is safe)

This medication will allow a child with ALTD to function more normally in society. They will become less inflexible, gain energy, become more creative etc.
They will fit in better with peers and be able to better participate in the educational curriculum of creative arts and hands on projects.

The parents say "You people who are against medication obviously have not raised a ALTD child. They are completely inflexible, only able to focus on one thing at once, and are so underactive they cannot keep up with family activities. It was a hard choice but eventually I gave in to the requests of schools and doctors and started my daughter on the medication Xacy. The results were amazing, she now acts more like other children her age. She is fitting in better with the family now, all the fights due to her needing constant routine have deminished. Xacy is a great help for my ALTD daughter and I cannot believe that anyone would deprive their child of having this medication, it will certainly better the childs life"

Quote 24

you are so right on about so many people having to take meds to function in this world that it's led me to believe that there's something wrong with the world, not the people

Quote 25

It seems like popping a pill can disolve all our problems.

Quote 26

I have a 5 year old nephew who is a holy terror. His parents allow him to eat anything he wants. Over 50% of his daily intake is either candy, popcycles, cookies, chips and icecream bars. Another 30% is apples and oranges (which makes his parents think he's eating so well). The remaining 20% is chicken nuggets and french fries (also thought to be healthy choices by his misinformed parents). The kid is happy one minute and throwing a tantrum the next. They never get him to sleep before midnight.

Quote 27

agree that a lot of parents these days choose to medicate their children to make them easier to deal with. I never thought about diet having a lot to do with it, but is probably is a contributing factor. I think another big factor is that people (i.e., mothers) are working outside the home and have much less time to spend with their children. I don't think daycare providers are interchangable with parents.

Quote 28

I have a 3 yr old son,he is moody-very,and sometimes just wont listen...
No matter what,I would never put him on those anti-depresents or whichever drug EG:rydalin.I was on both when i was young--and my ballance emotionaly and physicaly is messed up-and has taken time to heal..These set drugs,are more harm to our children than a solution!All they need is good food,good environments,and to be treated as they should!

All these posts are good, but quote 24, in the most simple terms, has it nailed.

[This message has been edited by Jennita (edited 09-18-2003).]

Quote 29

The behavioral problems of children have been deemed biological by psychiatry, although they do not have one biological test to diagnois this with! Sometimes they will do a PET scan, but usually after the brain has already been affected by drugs. They took the discovery of certain drugs that effect behaviors and moods, and declared that proves "deficiency". It does not! It just means certain drugs effect the brain in certain ways. Most psychoactive drugs are neurotoxic.
The insulin arguement is always used but is not even valid, because diabetes is measurable and confirmed by biological testing, aka blood tests. Would people just take insulin because a doctor only went by the fact they had some symptoms of diabetes?? Of course not!

Quote 30

I do have problems with children who are medicated only for the convenience of the parents. I know of one 11 year old child on Ritalin, whose parents were aggrevated because she was acting out, moody etc. Guess what? Mom and stepdad both have full time jobs & work overtime. They are never home. Mom is also going through law school. There are 4 other siblings, including a pair of darling twins from the new marriage who get 95% of the attention. It may be that this child truly has a medical problem, but she also needs a more positive home environment.

[This message has been edited by Freedom_Fighter (edited 09-19-2003).]

Quote 31

The implications of giving psychoactive drugs to children who's brain's are still developing is staggering to me. How do they know what effect there will be on the developing mind, both mentally...and physically, since the brain is the grand central of opperations for the nervous system, hormone production and various organs. How many of these kids will end up with bi-polar, schizophrenia, etc. because of their chemicals being played with at such a young age?? I guess they'll know 20 years from now; when it's too late...

And a three year old cannot understand consequence or be reasoned with...he just doesn't have the mental capacity yet.