Some of my notions
Posted on 08/07/2002 12:53:51 AM PDT by kattracks
Edited on 05/26/2004 5:08:02 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
Should school systems be allowed to recommend that children be put on psychoactive drugs?
A 12-year-old upstate boy says the trusted educators in his local school forced him to take a cocktail of drugs that turned him into a psychotic who heard voices in his head.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
That's because back then, no one knew how to slap a label on misbehaving kids so that they could be used as bigtime moneymakers. There's gold in them thar kids. The more kids they can classify as "special" (under any imaginable category), the more money there is to be made from them.
Are the kids denied a proper education? Are they handed an insurmountable setback in life? Are they stigmatized for the rest of their lives? Who cares! There's money to be made from 'em, and the more, the merrier!
And who can blame him? ;-)
I agree. I am the mother of three boys. It is not natural for boys to sit still and be quiet all day in a classroom.
I would guess the first thing the libertarians would say is that that's what you get for using a government school. They would say to remove the child from the school--home school, go to a private school. Ulimately, it is a parent who must protect the child, even from the government.
But what would you say about prescribing marijuana to a 12 year old as a behavioral management strategy?
That sounds about right.
Let me say from the start that I believe ADD/ADHD does exist, but that it is overdiagnosed and overmedicated. Many, if not most, children diagnosed with ADD/ADHD simply have behavioral problems that can be corrected with discipline and in some cases diet.
HOWEVER, some children really do need something more.
When my son entered the 2nd Grade, his teacher almost immediately suspected him as ADHD. (We later talked to his first grade teacher - we had moved to a different school district - who had the same suspicions but felt 1st grade is too early to diagnose - which is correct).
At the school's recommendation, we took him to our family doctor who literally said to me, "Well, he looks well adjusted, but if the school thinks he needs Ritalin, I'll write the prescription." I walked out and we never took him back.
We found a pediatrician who specialize in kids with ADHD and other disorders. Her own children have ADHD. She spent 2 hours with him on the first visit. She interviewed him, and did a complete physical, interviewed us, interviewed the school guidance counselor and his teachers, and then suggested medication.
We did this hesitantly after my wife read volumes of information. And, it was like night and day - at school anyway. He did quite well up until about the middle of fifth grade.
That was when his brother was born prematurely and our attention was focused on the baby (another long story, but he's fine now). So in the midst of that, with him starting into puberty, the Dr. prescribed an anti-depressant. I let that go on for about a week and said "no more." He was lethargic. So she adjusted the prescription for ADHD.
When she tried to change it again, I put my foot down and said "that's it." What helped him through elementary school was no longer working and I'm not willing to try everything out there to get the "right mix."
He's still incredibly disorganized and incredibly ADHD. (We watch him do his math homework, check to see that it's complete, watch him put it in his binder and into his book bag -- but it still doesn't make it to class...) But since he's 13 now, he's learning there are consequences to all of that. And the consequences are things that matter to him now. And quite frankly, other than the disorganization stuff, he's a normal, well adjusted 13-year-old (which means he still drives us crazy).
Maybe we'd do it differently now. But I don't think so. I'm not ready to say that ADHD doesn't exist.
Unfortunately, kids that really do need help get lumped in with the kids who just need a swift kick in the butt.
Ultimately, it's up to the parents to know what the heck is going on and to determine what is best for their child.
I can imagine it happening in, say, Portland, Oregon, or Santa Cruz, California. But I guess I just have an active imagination (you suppose there's something I could take for that?) ;-)
Many teachers want children sedated to make their job easier, not the child's life better.
Some states threaten to remove the child from the parent's home if they do not put the child on medication.
SOMETHING MUST BE DONE.........
Ultimately parents must be willing to work with a child who seems out of control or unable to concentrate. There are some things that help and diet is one......but it varies from child to child. Certain foods trigger hyperactivity but it's not the same food in every child. Spend time observing your child and seach out ways to help modify unacceptable behaviour.
BTW, this shows a want of class. And that's not my imagination. It's a fact.
I had to fight a preemptive battle with our school system last year in order to avoid a situation like this.
Wich we won thanks to the great ideas and support of other Freepers!
If they ever think about too loud I will give them this article to chew on.
Be sure to test that proposition some time when you get a chance. In the meantime, I'll move along. Best of luck to you.
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