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Prescribing Of Hyperactivity Drugs Is Out Of Control
New Scientist ^ | 3-31-2006 | Peter Aldhous

Posted on 03/31/2006 7:07:06 PM PST by blam

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1 posted on 03/31/2006 7:07:07 PM PST by blam
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To: blam

It's like the horrific use of antibiotics once they were discovered!


2 posted on 03/31/2006 7:14:37 PM PST by Gondring (I'll give up my right to die when hell freezes over my dead body!)
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To: blam

Little boys at the mercy of our ilustrious education system. I've got a great idea, let's double the budget again, wheeeeeeeeeeeeee...


3 posted on 03/31/2006 7:16:11 PM PST by DoughtyOne (If you don't want to be lumped in with those who commit violence in your name, take steps to end it.)
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To: blam
Children with ADHD who are not given stimulant drugs are more likely to develop problems with drug abuse and dependency than those who are

I would like to see where this little unchallenged factoid came from.

4 posted on 03/31/2006 7:16:15 PM PST by lafroste (gravity is not a force. See my profile to read my novel absolutely free (I know, beyond shameless))
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To: lafroste

Me too. I'm sure that conclusion is speculative at best.


5 posted on 03/31/2006 7:23:37 PM PST by JmyBryan
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To: blam

Why don't they prescribe some intensive physical education? When I run 7-10 miles a week I feel less jittery, it strengthens my posture muscles so I sleep better, and I feel like I'm getting more oxygen to my brain.

And it works for my pup as well. If I don't walk her every day, she's a lot harder to deal with.


6 posted on 03/31/2006 7:30:52 PM PST by non-anonymous
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To: DoughtyOne

Been there, done that. Went to war with a school system when they wanted to medicate step-son. Did some serious research on a (to me) new topic. The diagnosis is purely subjective. There is no physical test, so the set of questions are such as; Does the student fidget too much? Does the students attention wander more than others? Is the student involved in more than normal disciplinary problems?

Obvious that the upper 50% on any one question are by comparison "more" whatever than the class. I finally fell out cackling when I read one defender of ADHD meds who assured me that the Scedule 2 narcotics they wanted to prescribe for the boy absolutely were not addictive, he knew this because he had been taking them daily for 26 years!

Told the school to pound sand and was threatened with a charge of "child abuse" for withholding essential medication. Instead of tugging my forelock, I invited the SOBs to court and never heard any more about it.


7 posted on 03/31/2006 7:38:38 PM PST by barkeep
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To: barkeep
Told the school to pound sand and was threatened with a charge of "child abuse" for withholding essential medication. Instead of tugging my forelock, I invited the SOBs to court and never heard any more about it.

Good for you! How long ago was this?

8 posted on 03/31/2006 7:41:23 PM PST by lafroste (gravity is not a force. See my profile to read my novel absolutely free (I know, beyond shameless))
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To: barkeep

What is absolutely incredible to me, is that it doesn't even require a physician to make the call. As I understand it, school staff members essentially prescribe and dispense. If this isn't against every DEA rule known to man, I don't know what is. As you stated, it's a Class II medication.

If the DEA was worth it's salt, it would be breaking down doors across this nation and prosecuting these people and placing them in prison where I think they belong.

I am glad this worked out well for you. I can't imagine how many people get intimidated and give in.

Kudos to you.


9 posted on 03/31/2006 7:45:46 PM PST by DoughtyOne (If you don't want to be lumped in with those who commit violence in your name, take steps to end it.)
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To: barkeep

Nicely done! I am glad you were able to avoid the profound waste of everything that court appearances represent.

As you can see from my screen name, I solved this problem long ago, now I'm trying to go the other way!

Just kidding. Congrats!


10 posted on 03/31/2006 7:50:23 PM PST by Attention Surplus Disorder (Funny taglines are value plays.)
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To: barkeep
A friend of mine has her son in a public school. They pulled the same crap. They also stood their ground and they dropped their verbal threats however they pursued a different angle.

Without the KNOWLEDGE or CONSENT of the parents the "guidance counselor" arranged for a psychological meetings to probe his home life. It came out by accident. After a few MONTHS of this, her son came home and told them he was tired of these meetings. They asked him to explain so he did. He told them this guy was meeting with him once a week for about an hour and asking all kinds of questions about them and how he was treated at home. He said they took notes and didn't like that he got spanked. He said they didn't say anything verbally but furiously questioned him on it and he was getting tired of answer the same question "fifty zillion ways". THIS is what had him complaining at home about these sly meetings.

WELL, The you know what hit the fan. His parents marched in and pulled him out of that school. Later he was placed in a private school. He blossomed. From a C stupid to an A student. Happy and actually liking school for a change.

Yes, they are sneaky. This was their school PSCHOLOGOISGT he was seeing. They were trying to get the parents on ABUSE charges. They didn't like the fact that they couldn't make the ADHD meds stick so they were pursuing another angle to get at the kid and possibly have him removed from their home.

Isn't it funny how when summer rolls around and school is out, they STRONGLY recommend that you take your kid off the Ritalin because IT STUNTS THEIR PHYSICAL GROWTH! No kidding. It makes them into zombies so the teacher has less "stress". LOL!
11 posted on 03/31/2006 7:51:40 PM PST by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God) !)
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To: lafroste
What is weird to me is that Ritalin - in small doses - has an opposite effect. My quite old mother developed lethargy a year and a half ago, due to some physical probs coupled with the onset of what's probably Alzheimers.

Her doc prescribed 5mg Ritalin, twice a day, to give her an "energizing spark", so to speak.

I quizzed the pharmacist, and he totally concurred....strange, because the higher doses used to drug kids into compliance, have the exact 90 degree different effect.

12 posted on 03/31/2006 7:52:51 PM PST by ErnBatavia (Meep Meep)
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To: DoughtyOne

"What is absolutely incredible to me, is that it doesn't even require a physician to make the call. As I understand it, school staff members essentially prescribe and dispense."

Umm, where did this come from? Never heard of such a thing. School staff members can't just prescribe a medication unless they're doctors.


13 posted on 03/31/2006 7:53:10 PM PST by Gone GF
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To: Gone GF

I have read reports that led me to believe what I said was true. If you know otherwise I'll stand corrected. I'm not trying to decieve anyone, but I'm not convinced that physicians are always in the loop on school administration of Ritalin in particular.


14 posted on 03/31/2006 7:57:59 PM PST by DoughtyOne (If you don't want to be lumped in with those who commit violence in your name, take steps to end it.)
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To: Gone GF

It would take a physician to get the meds on campus, but from then on out as along as records were kept... do you know?


15 posted on 03/31/2006 7:59:18 PM PST by DoughtyOne (If you don't want to be lumped in with those who commit violence in your name, take steps to end it.)
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To: ErnBatavia

#1. Your mother would have done better with venlafaxine.

#2. Children with ADD/ADHD have "sleepy" brains. Scans of these kid's brains look like a normal person who is sleepy/fatigued. You know how kids act when they are VERY tired and fighting sleep - they go nuts. When ADD/ADHD kids are given a stimulant, their brains more closely resemble a brain that is not sleepy.

There are reasons for paradoxical reactions. ADD/ADHD kids are normalized by proper doses of stimulants. Kids with a discipline problem, treated by stimulants, turn into zombies.


16 posted on 03/31/2006 8:00:24 PM PST by 4U2OUI
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To: blam
5% - I remember one of the major drug companies (for whom this practice of doping our children is a windfall) once justifying that the side effects - including violence, suicidal thoughts, etc ONLY affected a small percentage.

Well, 5% of 4 million is 200,000 - a year.

Add to that the fact that these drugs were never tested for safety with children - and the fact that almost to a case, the school shootings were done by kids on these drugs!

It's not the guns or the pipe bombs - it's the cult of legal drug pushing on our most venerable.

The brightest boys, who are bored in the dumbed down schools, often clown around and are a prime target to get quieted down for the teacher's benefit - rather than upping the level of teaching. And if the parent complains and fights the drugging they can be charged with child abuse.

It's time for this horror to be stopped. Child abuse, pure and simple.

17 posted on 03/31/2006 8:04:18 PM PST by maine-iac7 ("...BUT YOU CAN'T FOOL ALL THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME." Lincoln)
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To: non-anonymous
Why don't they prescribe some intensive physical education?

THIS is exactly what is needed.

The lack of natural exercise and fresh oxygen is also a big part of the growing (no pun) obesity with our children.

18 posted on 03/31/2006 8:07:14 PM PST by maine-iac7 ("...BUT YOU CAN'T FOOL ALL THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME." Lincoln)
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To: blam

The solution is to only let child psychiatrists evaluate and prescribe these medications. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of child psychiatrists in this country.


19 posted on 03/31/2006 8:08:36 PM PST by Fishing-guy
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To: DoughtyOne
I'm not trying to decieve anyone, but I'm not convinced that physicians are always in the loop on school administration of Ritalin in particular.

So what is happening? Some Dr Feelgood is writing prescriptions for the school nurse and she just gives them to whomever she thinks needs them? Truly, that is just insane. I can't get my wheezing son an inhaler into school without a ton of documentation for it. But, of course, the school administrators are EVIL and want to DRUG CHILDREN!!!

My son's teacher suggested that my son be looked at for ADD. I consulted my pediatrician who suggested testing with a psychologist. The tests were done. My son has problems with short term memory and a visual processing disorder. I would recommend the testing to anyone who has a child with attention problems.

20 posted on 03/31/2006 8:36:23 PM PST by Dianna
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