ADHD, an Epidemic or Over Diagnosed?

First off, let me tell those that do not already know, what ADHD is. ADHD is an acronym for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. Which in layman's terms simply means a child is very active, or has a problem staying focused on a single task. In this article I hope to show my readers that although this may very well be a real disorder, it is not every over active child's problem. The main medications used for treating this disorder are, Ritalin and Adderall, two very strong, addictive, and mind-altering drugs. Both of these medications are classified in the same group as cocaine and crystal meth.

During the resent years ADHD has become a household word. 20 years ago when I was a child, if a child was "over active" they were simply given something to occupy their time. If giving them something more to do didn't fix the problem the parents would cut back on the caffeine and sugar that they allowed their children to have. Now in 2007 it seems that children are being medicated for simply being children. I know that there are children born today with mental shortcoming that cause that child to act out, misbehave, or simply have problems concentrating. But does ever child that makes bad grades in school, or that has behavior problems really have ADHD? I really do not think so. I have a very good reason for thinking this; I did not just choose to pick on ADHD.

We have a son that was diagnosed with ADHD as a young child. We fought to keep him off of the drugs because they are mind-altering drugs. We readily admitted our child did have a behavior problem. But we strongly felt that his problems were due to another underlining situation. When we finally gave in and allowed him to be put on the drugs, it was because we were being threatened by the school and The Board of Education that if we continued to fight against putting him on something, that they were going to put him out of school. At the time he was in the third grade, and we could not afford private school or the fees that come alone with home schooling a child. So we were basically forced by the school system to do something that we felt was wrong. He was put on several different medications for it. And after years of this with no improvement in his behavior, we finally stopped all of it when they began affecting his heart. We never told the school that he was no longer being medicated, and apparently they could not tell any difference in his behavior. We began working more with him at home to get him out of the behavior habits that he had created. No more than six months after we stopped the pills, his behavior problems ended. He is now in the eighth grade and is an A-B student that has not been in any trouble. It turned out that he was not ADHD at all, but was depressed over his father's health. And at his young age, he had no idea how to express his feelings. So he acted out in class, and could not keep his mind focused on the schoolwork.

Since then we have read article after article and seen many television reports that stated doctors are prescribing ADHD medications too many children that do not have it. And before beginning this article, I did a little research on just how many children are diagnosed with this syndrome and was shocked by the statistics that I found. I looked to the testimony given on May 16, 2000 to The Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families. The person giving this testimony was, Terrance Woodworth, Deputy Director: Office of Diversion Control of the Drug Enforcement Administration. In the statement given by Mr. Woodworth, I found some staggering statistics. One of the most staggering was that 80 percent of all prescription drugs that are prescribed in the U.S. were for ADHD medications. 80 percent, that's 4 out every 5 prescriptions written everyday in the U.S. are for mind-altering drugs. So I ask, are the citizens of the United States that screwed up in our heads? Again, I really do not believe so. I believe school officials and parents have found a new place to lay blame for their lack of concern about students to take the time to find out why a child is not up to par in his or her studies, and lack of parental skills. And not standing up to their responsibilities to the children as an educator or parent.

I am not saying that ADHD does not exist, but even the most sympathetic person would have to admit after reading Mr. Woodworth's testimony, that it is extremely over diagnosed in the USA. Some may even state that it has reached a dangerous level here. What do I mean by dangerous? Well let me explain. Mr. Woodworth goes on to state that numerous states have reported, "attention deficit scams". These scams are basically when a parent or other adult who takes a child who purportedly has ADHD to a number of physicians to obtain methylphenidate prescriptions- the adult obtains the drug for their own use or to sell or trade for other drugs. Mr. Woodworth goes further to say that, "adolescents are giving and selling their methylphenidate medication to friends and classmates who are frequently crushing the tablets and snorting the powder like cocaine. Anecdotal reports from students and faculty on college campuses indicate that methylphenidate is being used as a study aid and a party drug in the same manner that amphetamine was used on campuses in the 1960s." Now if that isn't a dangerous situation, I'll never know what is. All of this only furthers my concern as to just how many children really need this drugs and how many are being put on the drugs as a way to control or profit from them.

So parents, I leave you with this final bit of advise. If you believe your child has ADHD, or a school official is pressuring you to put your child on ADHD medications, DON"T. Well at least not until you have fully researched the affects of the drugs and the other options available. And most of all, do not take the word of only one physician. Get a second or even a third opinion. Your child may only need more to occupy their time, or he/she may have problems that do not have anything to do with a psychological disorder. And if in the end you do decide that medications are what is best for your child, monitor their pills. Not only for the safety of your child but also the safety and well-being of the children they come into contact with.