Ritalin Indicative of Serious Social

¶ … Ritalin Indicative of Serious Social Problems:

Are the Parents More Sick than their ADHD Children?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a major concern among parents, educators, and pediatricians today. This disorder appears to affect massive numbers of children and adolescents, rendering them incapable of functioning along with their unaffected peers. Unfortunately, many psychologists will admit that "the condition is overdiagnosed." (Meyer) When ADHD first became popularized in the media, parents flooded doctor's offices with hyper or unsatisfactory children in order to get a diagnosis confirming that the child was "not right." The future seemed open to possibilities of treatments that could allow children to concentrate easier in school and behave better at home. Unfortunately, most child caretakers sought a quick fix for these children, rather than long-term complete care solutions. Ritalin, a stimulant drug, became the popular choice. Today, Ritalin is prescribed to a large percentage of school-age children. Many parents and teachers consider Ritalin to be a miracle drug, however many others believe Ritalin is harmful to children. Despite the concerns, "there has been a tenfold increase in the production of [Ritalin] in the United States in the last decade, and the rates are probably rising." (Breggin) Ritalin actually has many harmful side effects and does not help the core issues, therefore it is a dangerous choice to prescribe to children.

There is not one single set of symptoms that determines the presence of ADHD. "Some are dreamy, drifty, or spaced-out, but not hyperactive....Other youngsters seem to be in constant motion, bouncing off the walls, driven and motorized. Still others cannot wait, interrupt constantly, must be first, and are always seeking out something new or stimulating." (Reichenberg-Ullman) This can make diagnosis difficult. Some people argue that ADHD is not even a real disorder, despite the APA publications regarding it. The symptoms of ADHD, as described above, may simply be the behavior of a normal child. "Except for a minority of cases involving distinct medical problems such as hyperthyroidism and explicit brain injuries, most youngsters diagnosed with ADHD may simply be normal, highly playful children who have difficulty adjusting to certain institutional expectations." (Panksepp)

Ritalin is used by so many people because it seems to be easier than dealing with the untreated child, or seeking alternative treatment options.