Children diagnosed ADHD or ODHD

[Kallyjo]

ADHD diagnosed children is getting more and more popular. Where was all this Ridalin when I was a child? We all seemed to have survived without it, yet now millions of children are being put on medication early on in life as soon as parents can't seem to handle the terrible twos or threes, etc... I think it is an outrage and we are wrecking our children's minds for life. I personally would have to get at least three different opinions by different doctors and different hospitals before I would even consider putting my children on this medication, and I am not even sure I would do it then either.

[Mr. Mulliner]

I recently started working with troubled and delinquent boys between 12 and 18 years old. It's very eye-opening to see how many of them are simply drugged into civil behavior.

One of my guys was recently taken off of Prozac (or his dosage reduced) and within days there was a noticeable change for the worse in his behavior. He simply had never been required to use self-discipline in controlling himself.

By the way, I don't think WWS is on the mark at all. I think we can expect to use drugs prescribed by a doctor responsibly without being considered part of the Ridalin problem.

[BellStar]

"Where was all this Ridalin when I was a child?"

If I had had something like it my life might be quite different. In school I started out as an A student. by 4th grade I was failing some and acing other subjects. I remember fidgeting and not being able to stay in my seat. as a teen I found diet pills to study with and when I used them I made A's again. As a child I could never find my keys, shoes, book Report. Guess what as an adult I can't either. My mother, daughter and granddaughter are the same way. My granddaughter is now on another drug not Ridalin and is an A student who can find her shoes, book report, keys etc. again. Do I believe this should be passed out like it is? No! Do I believe it should ever be used? Yes sometime.

[blackdog]

The world was waiting for you to say something.

Wow! I guess that settles the whole thing then.

[ctlpdad]

I have 4 daughters. My oldest is 100% AADHD and probably would not be alive without ritalin, due to her impulsivity. My other 3, while very very energetic, are not ADHD nor ADD

I understand the difference between kids with a true disorder, and for them, the ritalin is a godsend.

It bothers me when people with no clue what they are talking about knock the benefits of a proven safe medication. Think about the old days when kids had to sit in the corner with a dunce cap.

[SouthernFreebird]

Think about the old days when kids had to sit in the corner with a dunce cap.

I'll bet kallyjo has worn the dunce cap a time or two......

[FourPeas]

Welcome, I see this is your first post at FreeRepubic. Although I don't know your age. My 50 year-old husband was given stimulants when he was in school, so the theory has been around a while. I'm happy that you haven't had to deal with a potentially ADD/ADHD or ODHD(?) child. It sounds to me like you're predisposed to do them a great disservice.

[ctlpdad]

I don't disagree that ritalin is overprescribed, but there are a lot of kids who will benefit from it.

We didn't have open heart surgery, or claritin for that matter when we were kids.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

You are 100% right. I have worked with the kids who have been put on these drugs ,and the therapists who are sometimes forced to put the kids on drugs. Most of these kids are gifted and board, have CAPS, are struggling with a dysfunctional school system or are dealing with dysfunctional parents. A very , very , very small percentage of these kids need these kinds of drugs.

Most parents, school districts ,therapists and insurance companies are selling these kids down the river. We have already heard about the massive overuse of these drugs and these labels. We will really hear about it's evils in the next 5-10 years.

Think about this: Why is it that boys outnumber girls in public school with these diseases by something like 5:1? Could it be women don't want to deal with their high energy. Yes, it is as simple as that in most cases.

[Broker]

What percentage of children use medication in your child's school.??. Why is this confidential?? If medicating children is so beneficial, why the subject so taboo?

I would rather have my children grow up to haul trash than become a doped up zombie designed to please mommy, daddy, the steps and the faculty.

Go to your school and watch for clues on who is doped. You will suddendly be shocked at what we are doing to this generation. The percentage is in double digits and growing..

Diet, exercise, hard work, faith and love are better than this convenient poison pill. Believe it!

[Hillary? Hell no!]

I'm not sure when you were a child, but Ritalin has been around since at least 1950, it's hardly a new thing. I personally haven't seen any credible evidence of Ritalin "wrecking" anyone's mind "for life" unless it's abused. Of course, most medications are safe when used as prescribed and dangerous when abused.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

The other day I was with five other women. Of the five, two had children on drugs and another had a grandchild on drugs. Another had doctors recommend drugs but Mom refused. Something is wrong here.

[FourPeas]

We all seemed to have survived without it, yet now millions of children are being put on medication early on in life as soon as parents can't seem to handle the terrible twos or threes, etc...

One more, if I may. My husband, whom I mentioned above, was given stimulants for a short time when in school. His mother didn't like the effect they had on him, so she stopped giving them to him. His career in school had always been rocky. Eventually, his mother was told that he'd probably never graduate and would most likely end up in jail. She was adamant that she was going to get him through high school. It was a struggle and he barely made it. In fact, he did almost go to jail several times before he found a way to legally and effectively medicate himself. It wasn't a conscience decision on his part, but that's in effect what he did. He found a way to function in society by using stimulants.

Fast forward to today. He'd long ago stopped the destructive behavior that almost landed him in jail and holds a very responsible job in IT Security. He found that he had to stop using caffein for health reasons. Suddenly the ability to concentrate left. He went to the doctor and described his problems. The doctor asked lots of questions and prescribed a drug: a stimulant, though unbeknownst to my husband at the time. He took it and eventually found a dosage that works for him. Could it be the placebo effect? Could be. However, even though he's basically taking speed, he doesn't show any of the signs of it.

My husband found a way to self-medicate. He stayed out of jail. How many others weren't able to accomplish that? I'm not an apologist for all the criminals incarcerated in our prisons, but I *do* wonder how many of them are there, at least in part, because they were labeled as failures early-on in their school careers because they had ADD/ADHD.

[ctlpdad]

Like I said, there are a small number of kids who desparately need this medicine. I agree it is overprescribed to treat normal kids with lots of energy.

Methylphenidate (Ritalin) is saving lives. It has been safely been used for several decades to treat chemical imbalances that "Diet, exercise, hard work, faith and love"
simply cannot overcome. Thse are essential tools that we employ with all of our 4, but the oldest needs more.

I want better for my kids than to become trash haulers, and would not have my oldest daughter on this med if it were not necessary, safe & effective.

[Rebelbase]

"My husband found a way to self-medicate. He stayed out of jail"

Most of my High School class did the same thing.

[Maria S]

"Where was all this Ridalin when I was a child?"

'Ritalin', when I was a kid, was called "The Board", and was used whenever deemed necessary to curb 'destructive' behavior. Ritalin is a first-cousin to cocaine, and should only be used as a last resort. There are many actual physical disorders that should be checked out before giving this stuff to a kid. And too many of the "free" breakfasts now furnished at school are full of sugar...another great way to get a kid bouncing off the walls before 8:00 am. Common sense should be prevailing; unfortunately, two or three generations of kids have grown up with no exposure at all to common sense.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Or could it be taht you husband came from a family who also used alcholol and drugs to "self medicate" and sent him to a dysfunctional school that squashed his desire to live and be happy?

[muggs]

If I had had something like it my life might be quite different. In school I started out as an A student. by 4th grade I was failing some and acing other subjects. as a teen I found diet pills to study with and when I used them I made A's again.

I had the same experience. I had to buy the diet pills from a friend.