I have a cousin who had ADHD (he's adopted, I suspect Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, but that's just an opinion). His (adoptive) parents did everything they could think of.... to no avail. So, they relented and put him on medication and the difference in his grades was immediate. He went from D's and F's to A's and B's, overnight. And, he took up extracurricular activities to boot. Wound up with a Master's Degree and teaches "at risk" students in the inner city. A classic success story. I've watched him work with kids, and some of the stuff he does is nothing short of miraculous.
That's one. Out of what - several dozen? - kids I've known over the years who were medicated. IMHO - again, I'm no doc - the rest just needed to have parents who were interested. And, not afraid to sit on the occasionally. And, most important, educators who were not afraid of a challenge.
Meds - except for a specific few - are the lazy way out. Truly, we will reap what we sow.
[ I have a cousin who had ADHD (he’s adopted, I suspect Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, but that’s just an opinion). His (adoptive) parents did everything they could think of.... to no avail. So, they relented and put him on medication and the difference in his grades was immediate. He went from D’s and F’s to A’s and B’s, overnight. And, he took up extracurricular activities to boot. Wound up with a Master’s Degree and teaches “at risk” students in the inner city. A classic success story. I’ve watched him work with kids, and some of the stuff he does is nothing short of miraculous. ]
The issue is that 9 out of 10 kids are put on meds when they need better parenting or discipline at school. Of course when Meds will eventually get debunked in society the children like your cousin (who really need the meds) will suffer the most.