Drugging Our Kids - is it Really Necessary or is it an Excuse?

You've heard of ADHD right? Almost everyone has heard of this psychiatric disorder that doctor's claim affects 35% of children in the United States alone. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is said to cause impulsiveness, overactive behavior and inattentiveness. In addition to the above, the disorder apparently causes those that are "affected by it" to be poor learners in school, disruptive, aggressive and uncontrollable.

The only reason so many are familiar with this disorder is because as soon as a child starts to act up in school, shows signs of being a little slower than the other kids in class, or is hyperactive, the first thing everyone screams is ADHD. The child is taken to the doctor, the doctor almost immediately assumes the same thing, and the child is given a number of drugs including Ritalin, Adderall, Strattera, Concerta, and Focalin just to name a few. What happens if absolutely nothing is wrong with the child? What if they are naturally a little slower than their peers or if they have a lot of natural energy?

Don't get me wrong; I'm not saying that ADHA is a fake disease. I'm sure that some children, possibly even some adults suffer from it. I'm just saying that it may be diagnosed too often enabling parents and adults to use it as an excuse because they don't want to deal with their overactive children. Sure it's tough running after rambunctious kids day in and day out but rushing them to the doctor to be diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is not the answer. Doping them up with Strattera, which causes them to be extremely tired and sleep, is not the answer. It seems like some people get to the point where they drug their kids because they don't have the energy or the patience to deal with them.

When does it get to the point where you have crossed the line? It's when you stop thinking about the child's welfare and think more about yourself. Who's to say that these drugs aren't causing more harm than good? The professionals that tell us? It turns out that most of the drugs that doctors are prescribing to those who supposedly suffer from ADHD are stimulants that have high risks of stroke. Is it worth it to risk this when your kids are involved? We have definitely gone way too far when we're willing to even consider drugging children with medicine that is supposed to help them but carries the risk of killing them. Instead of being so quick to shove a pill down your kid's throats, look for alternative solutions. Don't let drugs (of any kind) become the number one answer in America.