ADD, ADHD, etc.-- Is It Really Necassary For So Many Kids Today?

[angelgodiva]

I was in the drugstore this morning, and as I waited for my prescription to be filled and during the 20 minutes that took, three women came in to pick up Ritalin prescriptions for their kids.
I know that this is a legitimate concern and that there are kids who need this medicine, but I really wonder whether this medication is really necessary for as many children as it is being prescribed to.
What thoughts do you all have about this?

[Archemetis]

it seems everyone has ADD these days...though in my opinion its such an excuse...is there anyone who actually pays attencion in school all the time?

[angelgodiva]

That's kind of what I mean--I know there are kids for whom this stuff is a Godsend, kids that really do have a need for it. I just question whether anywhere near as many kids who get put on Ritalin or other drugs like that really need them. I sort of suspect that there are parents (AND DOCTORS) who are just taking the easy way out rather than dealing with the kids' boredom or natural, normal rambunctiousness.

[dirtybongwater]

It seems Doctors these days are ready to prescribe you something before you even walk in the door. Especially with chidren, where we are replacing discipline with medication...

[teepi]

One of my trades is "pharmacy tech" and you are sooooo right.
One of our standing jokes at my last job when they would file in with the rit scripts was "gee,maybe just lay off the "cookie crisp" for breakfast, mom"

These cookie cutter doctors don't even ask these parents what they are feeding their kids.
And parents don't dicipline their kids, let them get away with murder at home...send them to school and have the teacher put up with the bouncing off the walls.

There is a legitimacy to some of this but its all gone WAY over board.

Feed them well,love them great, give 'em plenty of sunshine and play,then a good nights sleep.....see how that works first then adress any problems.
Bunch of damn pill pushers...then the parents follow blindly...never questioning....sad.

[fitzy21]

i believe it starts with the companies that make the drugs. there the ones who push the doctors to get the kids on the drugs. and then at doctor's offices, most people don't get a thorough check to see if they really need the drug. you go in for a 10 minute doctor appointment, and your getting all these drugs to take. what bs is that.

my 7 year old cousin is taking meds for adhd. he just started school. i dont' understnad how all these young kids nowadays are on these meds. me and my friends never were on anythin when we were that young. what is going on in this country?

[Just4laughs]

You know I read a really good artical once that said 70% of kids who are on Ritalin were diagnosed as having ADD or ADHD by their parents or teachers. Basicaly parents are walking in to the doctors office saying my kid needs Ritalin and the doctors right out the perscription. I know 10 people who take Ritalin none of them really need it most would be fine if they didn't smoke so much. They are all addicted to it and none of them take it the way they're supposed to. I know a guy who used to call me up in the middle of the night crying because he thought he was going to die from an over dose of Ritalin. (he took forty five pills in one night) There has to be a better way. I think it does have a lot to do with dicipline.

[Lilyrayne]

I agree that while there are a few kids out there that really have ADD or ADHD and really need the meds, I think at least more than half the kids "diagnonsensed" with it don't really have it. I mean to be honest, discipline and diet for kids today is nothing like what it used to be, people just don't care enough to go to the trouble to raise their kids right anymore. I have met so many people with "rit kids" and they have stuff like fruit loops for breakfast, pizza for lunch and McDonald's for dinner on a regular basis! Malnourishment, anyone? And I am not even going to go into how bad candy and sugar is for kids because I am sure you get the idea.

I have a friend who DOES raise her kids right. She is extremely strict with what they eat and very strict on discipline, and they are well behaved kids compared to most other kids I've met, and they are difficult children! So she's got the right idea. I have witnessed what sugar does to a child. Her two sons are not allowed to have excessive sugar of any kind.. not even too much fruit. Fruit is considered a dessert at her house. One day I visited after the kid had a bowl of some kind of kid's cereal due to having been at his mother-in-law's, and it was like a completey different kid! He was a horror!!! He was just like all the other kids. Hmmmmm coincidence? I THINK NOT.

Most of the time I think it's SOND... Sugar Overload No Discpline disorder. It's sad too, because I have a feeling that the widespread misdiagnoses is going to cause problems for the kids who really DO need ritalin.

[pphuckoff]

well, look at the parents. i mean the parents have been popping prozac and drinking double martinis after work for years, now they just found a legitimate way to drug their little brats up so they don't have to deal with them. give them some pills and some soda and plop them right down in front of the tv so mommy and daddy don't have to even acknowledge they have kids for a few more hours.

[moominmamma]

Yes I do think ritalin can be a drug of choice rather than necessity, but I would also like to add before everyone condemns parents of ADD/ ADHD kids as poor disciplenarians reaching for the easiest solution, try living in those parents shoes for a few days!

I have three children, my eldest is "normal", my middle has ADHD/dyspraxia and my little one suffers from autism. Currently we don't medicate either of them. They both follow special diets as I do think that dietary changes are a valid way of coping with these disorders. We have been offered Ritalin more often than I can remember for my ADHD son, and sometimes when life is hard, and believe you me it is hard sometimes I have been tempted. But I am lucky, I have a supportive husband, if I hadn't of had the youngest two I would have worked with children, so I make them my job now. Not everyone is that lucky.

What I would really like though is for people to be more supportive of us parents with children with behavioural disorders. Next time you see a mother struggling with a child who looks way over tantrum age in a supermarket, please don't tut or think she is a useless mother, she could well be coping with a kid with ADHD or a similar problem. Yes I think people resort to ritalin too easily, but we live in a society that is not supportive towards its minority members, and I would have thought that most "hippies" would have been more supportive towards those of us on the fringes, ritalin users or not.

And now I am firmly on my soapbox, what we also desperately need is research into why there is an epidemic in the attention deficit disorders and of course autism.

[teepi]

I didn't mean for my previous post to sound unsympathetic...

I do agree that there are very legitamite causes for medication in children, but this overprescribing seems to be a catchall.

I applaud parents who are concerned about problems in their children and do everything they have in their power to do all they can for the child.

I wish every parent would find a doctor who believes in treating the WHOLE child and not just any symptons of a problem.....

[Lilyrayne]

Moominmama, everything you said is very well said, but I don't think the subject of this thread was kids who really do have ADHD, I think it was rather the kids who don't, but are diagnosed as such.

I don't think anyone is against someone giving Ritalin to a kid who really has it, but the problem is that there ARE people out there who are too lazy to do right by their kids and just get them diagnosed with ADHD so they can get pills to make them easier to handle.

I know that other people besides the parents and doctors really have no right to make judgements as to whether or not a rit kid really is truly a ADHD kid, but we all know that there is an abundance of parents "taking the easy way out" with Ritalin. I think that is what we are talking about, not true legitimate ADHD kids.

[seamonster66]

I was supposedly one of the first Ritalin kids. I was diagnosed in 9th grade because my IQ was high by my grades were not. That was not the complete testing method, but pretty close. I took it for maybe a year and didn't like it, nor did I think it helped much. Another thing is that I started to try to get high off of the stuff, which didn't really work but hey i was only 14 and being prescribed all of these amphetamines, i was going to experiment.


I think they neglected to look at other aspects of my life to explain why I wasn't doing so well in shcool. i wasn't even doing poorly, just average but that wasn't enough for someone with my IQ I guess.

[a feeling of wierdne]

Hey, i heard that all the famous people who died in the 1960's of overdoses took ritlin as children. I don't know if its true, but if it is, how interesting.

[moominmamma]

Teepi and Bree, I can see that the subject of the debate is giving ritalin as a "cure - all" for difficult kids, and I think that all of you have valid points that this is not a good thing.

I was just taking my chance to give my views on this as its something I think about a lot. You know once you have a child that is labelled difficult for whatever reason, its easy to end up very very alone. No one teaches people how to become parents, its supposed to be natural, but in my observations over twenty years of watching other people and their kids, a lot of us could benefit from tuition in this subject.

It is scarey to see the number of children who don't recquire medication being doped so that their parents can stumble through another day. But its easier to give a kid a tablet than to seek the root of the trouble. After all drug companies benefit financially from selling their tablets, but what these parents and children probabley need is education ( primarily for the parents) and maybe respite care. We no longer live in close neighbourhoods where grandparents or responsible neighbours are available to give that extra help a parent needs with a difficult child.
But as you all say, just about anyone can get ritalin......

[teepi]

Mamma,

My heart goes out to you and my respect.

I have a young boy on my road that I am helping with his reading, and the way he has latched right on to doing so well, I believe he only has a problem because he holds himself back, he has no confidence, I also believe this is so because his parents are total drunks.
I don't throw this out there lightly as i don't like getting into other peoples business, i just know what I see and hear. And he suffers the brunt of this.
He has had some behavior problems and it may be a cry for help and some much needed attention.
I started talking to him when he would see me out in the garden and would be full of questions. One thing led to another and now 3 times a week he comes and eats dinner with me, and we have a lesson.
His parents never question any of this. Their young daughter practically lives at another neighbors, and they never check up on her.

While i was very fortunate with my kids as far as medical or emotional problems, this boy has shown me that environment plays a part in how you do in school too, and your level of self esteem.

It looks to me that you are very concerned with your kids and in this day and age that seems to be getting rarer and rarer.

If you decide medication is best for your son I can see you will not make that desicion without a tremendous amount of thought, your son is lucky...

teepi

[moominmamma]

Throwing all modesty aside, yes I do think my children are lucky to have me as a Mum!

It sounds like the little lad who you have taken under your wing is extremely lucky too. He has met the right person at the right time. I admit when I read these posts at the back of my I was thinking, oh yeah everyone can get on the internet and complain about s**t parents shoving ritalin into their out of control kids, but none of you are going to get up off your backsides and do something to help. Well thank you for proving me wrong Teepi:) I shall go about my business today with a smile knowing that there are people like you out there

Sue

[hippietoad]

Did ya'll realize that the usa has more kids on meds than anywhere in the world ? Instead of listening to the children and disciplining them they dope them up to be zombies. My cousin had a son that they put on Ritalin. He didn't need it. Just need love and guidance. Don't people get it ? These doctors are handing out pills because they get money for doing so. They keep you coming in their doors so that they can get $100 for five minutes worth of your time. If one is really having troubles, maybe herbal stimulants are the best and not these man made drugs. Anyways, just my two cents worth.

[Enonemouse]

Sorry if I am not on track but I couldn't read all the posts without placing mine. I have kids who have been labeled ADHD and I refuse to give them medication as I feel it is more so all the crap they eat and I restrict their diet. I know if they have had something at a friends they shouldn't have as they come home bouncing off the walls. The doctors are too quick to Rx these kids to death just because they don't have the time to talk things over with the parents and explain food additive etc to them. The school had my children labeld ADHD because they don't sit quietly in class. Well part of the problem is they ar bright and finish there work 20 minutes before the rest and get bored as the teacher makes them just sit there until everyone is done. I have tried to get them to let them do extra work or draw or something but they say no. I am a teacher myself and I have tried to send things in for them to do but they are not allowed. If the schools in Canada are the same as they are here in the UK I am seriously thinking of home schooling my boys as they spend more time in trouble for figgiting in class then anything else. One year at school in Canada when we get there and if they aren't allowed extra work or drawing or something to keep them busy I am home schooling.


Like one post said I think ADHD & ADD is the new label for I can't be bothered to disipline my children in many of the cases now. I know there are a few children out there who truely need to have additional help at they have a chemical disorder but I would bet it is a far cry from the number of children stuffed on the drug because of other things that it really isn't ment for. Riteln isn't a cure for anything it is to help with a specific mental condition not disipline problems. Momminmamma has met my boys and can back me up on this one as long as I watch what they eat they are very well behaved young men. I let them have treats every now and then but only when I know it will not be a problem if they are a bit hyper for a while afterwards. If you stop them completely they will sneak things and that is far worse the you have no control. Good parenting is the answer more so then an for of drugs. You need to be taught how to be a good parent. It isn't always just natural as so many people will assume.


Love & No Drugs
EnonEmouse

[Enonemouse]

I was supposedly one of the first Ritalin kids. I was diagnosed in 9th grade because my IQ was high by my grades were not. That was not the complete testing method, but pretty close. I took it for maybe a year and didn't like it, nor did I think it helped much. Another thing is that I started to try to get high off of the stuff, which didn't really work but hey i was only 14 and being prescribed all of these amphetamines, i was going to experiment.


I think they neglected to look at other aspects of my life to explain why I wasn't doing so well in shcool. i wasn't even doing poorly, just average but that wasn't enough for someone with my IQ I guess.I hear where your coming from. That is the case with my children. I feel the true problem is they are not being challenged enough at school they get bored too easy and then switch off more or less. All three of my kids have high abilites but are not over acieving as you would expect and I feel that boredom and no interst is the problem. My eldest is out of school now but the youngest two still find school boring and no fun. School should be interesting and fun and the kids would learn better and not be as disruptive. Making kids sit and do nothing for 20 minutes of every hour isn't going to keep them interested in learning. However drugging them up on Ritiln would make them just sit for that 20 minutes each hour and not cause a disruption so I feel there is more then the parents to blame here.


OFF my soapbox now!!!

Love & Understanding
EnonEmouse

[moominmamma]

Just popping back in here, although I can talk for hours on this subject,Enonemouse is telling the truth her boys are GREAT!

From the little I have heard Shelley the schools are definintely different in Canada to the UK, whether for better or worse though I don't know! It is interesting on an aside though how much time in schools our kids actually waste, I remember discovering that you can teach the basics of reading in about six weeks, when I taught my eldest son to read over the school summer holidays,think how many years it takes in the average primary school! I comfort myself that they are learning socialisation and stuff like that, and I think that holds true in good schools, but not all schools are good...........

[Lilyrayne]

One year at school in Canada when we get there and if they aren't allowed extra work or drawing or something to keep them busy I am home schooling.
Home schooling is awesome in my opinion, if I ever have kids this is what I plan to do.

Why are you moving to Canada rather than the US? (Just wondering) Is the kid's father moving there with you?

[Enonemouse]

Home schooling is awesome in my opinion, if I ever have kids this is what I plan to do.

Why are you moving to Canada rather than the US? (Just wondering) Is the kid's father moving there with you?I come from Canada and all my family lives there which is why I am going back. No he is not coming at the minute. Will have to see what the future brings if he will come over at all. I can't see it at the minute but I can not see the future. It had been planed for me to return to Canada a year or so before he finished in the Army so I could settle and sponser him as he is British, but now I can't see him coming over as he has made it clear he doesn't really want a family anymore. I am not sure I even want him to come over anymore.

Love & Confussion
EnonEmouse

[nimh]

i havent read all of the replies, so please excuse if i'm being redundant. i'm not fond of pharmaceuticals, i prefer to look at nutrition and lifestyle first. my little guy displays classical adhd symptoms when he's eaten frankenfoods containing artificial dyes. as long as he eats 'real' foods, he's fine. i sure wouldnt plaster an adhd label on him though. he's sensitive to chemicals.

there's a book called ::the crazy makers:: that talks extensively about how drug companies target children with antidepressants, etc as a way to make more money. it's sickening. i wish more people would wake up to what's being done to us by the advertisers of the big corporations. we eat all of these pseudofoods and frankenfoods that cause illness that's misdiagnosed by doctors who are indoctrinated in pharmaceuticals by the pharmacompanies. it's a vicious cycle and it's all about money and has nothing to do with wellness.