Posted on 04/04/2005 6:42:59 AM PDT by MikeEdwards
BAH! double post! **mutters about slow connection or some such**
Well, that's what I would think, and it certainly makes sense. You are not (at least the typical teacher is not) trained in medicine - so you have no business recommending anything regarding medicines.
But I'm trying to square that with the statement I quoted earlier:
it is easier for teachers and administrators to recommend drugging students who exhibit disruptive behavior or what, to a lay person, appears to be an emotional disorder
and this:
Schools authorities, supported by members of the psychiatric community, have recommended that millions of children be put on psychotropic drugs
Is this the generic "recommendation", like "I think we ought to drug them all", or is it specific, like "I really think Johnny would greatly benefit from Ritalin." ?
The former I can understand as coming from a frustrated teacher, the latter is way overstepping the law as you described it.
I wonder.
However, no matter what that article or any other says, it is illegal for a non-qualifed school member to make a medical diagnosis or recommendation for medication.
Does it happen? Yup. Would it stopped if people were called on it and sued? Yup.
As I said earlier, if anyone here has had that happen to them, you have means to have a teacher severely punished--and someone that should be punished.
That and the other thing is the ability to exclude a troubled or troublesome student from school. Now schools must take them, in some capacity until they are 18. For some students, in the past they would find no place for them in school, no need to be on medication, only a job that they would start learning to earn their living. They were not a problem for the school, they did not need capital discipine or medicine, because there was a third elective.
The latest news on ritalin and adderall is that they are both in the same class of drug as cocaine and cause the same interference with endorphins, leaving the user with an inability to feel pleasure. The resulting depression or anxiety is then treated with another drug, like Zoloft or Prozac.
Yes, food allergies can cause ADD/ADHD-like behaviors. That's why we had over $2000 in lab tests done on our youngest w/negative results.
The only "dietary" thing that has helped him is caffeine- slugging down half cup of Mountain Dew with his breakfast (a tip I picked up from an ADD/ADHD support group)...the caffeine helps a true ADD kid him to be more alert and focused until his ADHD medication kicks in. Some kids will drink coffee or tea but mine won't.
ADD doesn't make a kid attack another kid- but kids with untreated ADD often have accompanying mood disorders, or they develop mood disorders and engage in antisocial behaviors as a result of being treated differently by other kids and adults in authority over them. They feel "left out" because they do not, can not, conform to group behaviors. They get angry with others, but most sadly with themselves. Once their self esteem plummets, it's usually a downhill battle for them not to fall in with the wrong crowd and the wrong activities, such as alcohol and drug abuse...both efforts to self-medicate themselves out of their problems. I hope your neighbor is aware of his child's antisocial behavior and is taking steps to get him evaluated and treated, the younger the better.
Yes it does help settle them down. proper nutrients like enough calcium magnesium settles the nervous system down.
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