I was ADHD before it was cool. I was on ritalin in the early 70's. The pills were refereed to as my 'good boy pills'. My Mom had 5 kids under the age of 10 and my Father was career Navy and often gone. I would run away, break things, etc. for no particular reason. My Mom did not like medication but she could not handle me and we did not have any nearby relatives to help out as my Dad was Navy. I could not sit still to watch T.V., unless it was a war Movie. When I watched war movies I would jump around on the furniture while watching the movie. When my Dad was home this drove him nuts. When I was at a family reunion one of my cousin's husbands said he would give me a nickle if I could sit in a chair for five minutes. I never did get any nickles. When I was 10 my Mother asked me if I wanted to take the Pills anymore. I said no and she let me throw them away. My Mom did not like the pills as she said the pills made me into a skinny zombie.
My son was ADHD but I only have two kids and I was around enough to keep him busy. No medication.
Incidentally, my father retired from the Navy when I was ten.