Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder

In this day and age, drugs are being prescribed without hesitation. In fact, many of these drugs are being prescribed for children with various disorders. One of these disorders is called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). An estimated five to ten percent of children are diagnosed with this syndrome (Taylor 11). One of the methods to treat this disorder is to use stimulants, specifically Ritalin. This method is controversial because it has many side effects and its long-term effects are unknown. It can also lead to addiction. Approximately two to three percent of elementary school children are taking some kind of stimulant to treat ADHD (Taylor 64). Since so many children are taking this medication, new problems have arisen.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a psychiatric disorder that causes children to have problems with paying attention, trouble with following instructions, have impulsive behaviors and become easily distracted. Medications, such as Adderall and Ritalin, are used to treat the symptoms of this disorder by helping the patient to focus and pay attention while also curbing their impulsive behavior and hyperactivity. Side effects of these medications are, but not limited to, anxiety, addiction and in some cases psychosis. Proponents of giving ADHD medication to children argue that ADHD is a real disorder in children and the medication does improve the symptoms of the disorder by a large margin as well as being cost effective.

The use of stimulant medications such as Ritalin or Adderall in children with the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) continues to rise, albeit at a slower pace than in previous decades, a new study finds. The study authors tracked data on prescription in the US 1996 to 2008. They found that the use of drugs for ADHD was higher among children of 6-12 years and increased slightly from 4.2 percent in 1996 to 5.1 percent twelve years later. However, increase more pronounced occurred in older children, ages 13 and 18. In this group, the ADHD drugs increased more than double, from 2.3 percent in 1996 to 4.9 percent in 2008. The researchers said this reflects a greater understanding

The medical world has noticed several changes and improvements during the past century, but maybe none that 's as economically rewarding afterward the prescription drug business. New medications turn-up regular and maintain to treat a growing number of ailments. Around the corner of each and every block is a drugstore as well as their shelves are stocked with prescription drugs plus it looks they 're here to stay. Most frequently we change to

ADHD is a condition which affects multiple areas of functioning. Because of the widespread diagnosis this disease keeps doctors, pharmaceutical businesses, and teachers employed. According to Diller (2008), the use of drugs like Ritalin is at rates never seen before in this country or anywhere else. Diller also states that “we medicate our children with psychiatric drugs ten or twenty times more than countries of Western Europe (pg50).” Many children are said to be made unhappy, often alienating themselves from parents and others. They are also much more unmotivated which is directly related to the use of ADHD medication. Parents lean on medication as an excuse to control their children; when most children do not even

Each day, more and more children, young adults, and even adults are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, more commonly known as ADHD. According to the Center of Disease Control (CDC), 6.4 million Americans aged 4-17 have been diagnosed with ADHD since 2011, and this number is steadily growing. As one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in children, ADHD is often diagnosed in childhood and is a non curable, yet manageable, disease. The most common treatment of ADHD is through stimulant medication, such as Ritalin.

It is estimated that roughly 11% of children and 4.1% of adults are diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This is a 40% jump in diagnoses in the past decade. Stimulants such as amphetamines are prescribed to treat ADHD to increase focus and as college students are becoming more overwhelmed by workloads, stimulants are becoming very commonly abused to make it through an all-night study session. Because of this there are several instances of students exaggerating symptoms in order to receive the prescription they desire to improve in their classes. Many people believe that ADHD is becoming over diagnosed and in most cases it is simply kids being kids or stress-induced distractibility. This paper will address the idea presented by Dr. Richard Saul in his book ADHD Does Not Exist that Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has become an easy diagnosis with an easy treatment, however ADHD is not the disorder, it is the symptom of various other physiological and psychological disorders that have been misdiagnosed.

Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder are a disorder that greatly affects children, teens, and adults. Although it is most prominent and know about in children 10 and under adolescent and adult aged people also suffer. ADHD causes people to have a hard time sitting still or even focusing on one thing for a period of time. ADHD may be caused by Genetic, Neurobiological, or Psychological factors. ADHD may also be comorbid with another disorder. The first National ADHD Awareness day was on September 7, 2004 (Kring, 2012, P. 399).

Ritalin is currently prescribed to approximately six million people in the US. Of those six million, 75% of these are children, with boys receiving Ritalin about four times more often than girls. Ritalin is a drug that stimulates the central nervous system. It interacts with chemicals in the brain and nerves that give way to hyperactivity and impulse control. Not only is Ritalin used to treat ADD and ADHD, it is also used to treat a sleeping disorder called Narcolepsy, which is an uncontrollable desire to sleep, but there is another drug that given just as Ritalin, and it is called Adderall. Adderall is almost the exact same as Ritalin except it actually enters the cell and helps it produce more dopamine.

“Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder is one of the most common childhood disorders and can continue through adolescence and adulthood” (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). ADHD in real terms is the inability to focus. Several people have describe people with ADHD as skirmish, talkative, and have trouble waiting. ADHD has been previously described as ADD (attention deficit disorder) but the only difference is the “H”. This “H” describes how this disorder deals with hyperactivity, while ADD can be more calm.

“ADHD is a neurological difference that affects learning and language, and every aspect of life” (Hardman). It has been argued that ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) is not a real disease, but it has been confirmed by neurological testing that ADHD is a real disease. It has been found that ADHD symptoms are caused by a child having less brain activity in their frontal lobes; this part of the brain controls the impulse control which will make it harder for the child to sit still. There are three symptoms of ADHD: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Not every case has all three symptoms; some can have just one of the three. The most common type of ADHD is a combination of all three symptoms. Children with the first symptom, inattention, may have the following behaviors: have a hard time paying attention, be easily distracted from work or play, not follow through on instructions or finish tasks, and forget things. Children with the second symptom, hyperactivity, may exhibit the following behaviors: cannot stay seated, squirms and fidgets, talks too much, and cannot play quietly. Children with the third symptom, impulsivity, may show the following behaviors: acts and speaks without thinking, has trouble taking turns, cannot wait for things, and interrupts others. “It has been found that there is a difference in the brain of someone with ADHD and the brain of someone without ADHD” (Pagan). ADHD can look different in every child. For one child it can look like

Attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), is a neurobehavioral disorder of the brain. Textbooks typically depict an individual with ADHD as one who is inattentive, highly distractible, unable to contain stimuli, disorganized and exhibits excessive motor activity (Townsend & Morgan, 2017, p. 636). It is easy to define a person by their impulsivity; however, it is difficult to try and understand the reasons behind the behavioral patterns that come along with this disorder. Blake Taylor, in his book, ADHD & Me, offers a thoughtful insight into the life of an individual diagnosed with ADHD. Topics he covers are: being distracted, impulsive, disorganized, hyperactive, unpopular, bullied, isolated, misunderstood, blamed, rigid,

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder is a disorder that occurs in the brain that results in a lack of attention and an impulse of hyperactivity. This can interfere with the person’s development and functioning. People who suffer from ADHD show patterns of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. In children, ADHD is shown to be more common in boys than in girls. Some studies report a high ratio of boys to girls. The inattentive type of ADHD is found more commonly in girls than in boys. People who have ADHD as children usually maintain the full diagnosis into adulthood. Even if they don 't the children will have some residual symptoms of ADHD as adults.

Ritalin as a candidate for the solution to ADD or ADHD, if the factors associated with its use have been known and proven to create addiction and are a plausible cause for subsequent overdose. (Woolston, 2018)

Growing up, my cousin was diagnosed at a young age with ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Medicating children was not very common back in the 1990’s, or at least not as common as it has become today. When she started school, she was not medicated, however, as time progressed and her teachers began to notice her struggle. Her parents and her pediatrician decided to medication should be tried. She started on a Ritalin regiment and it seemed to help. It helped her to sit still and be able to focus, her struggle nearly disappearing. After a few years, they noticed the effect of the Ritalin was not as strong and her struggle in school began to reappear. She had two options, they could up the dosage again or she could try something new, Adderall. Going through the majority of the rest of her schooling, she was taking Adderall and seemingly had no problems. As she hit puberty, the ADHD seemed to disappear nearly entirely and she was able to disregard the medication. Today, she has not seemed to have any lasting effects from the medication directly or indirectly, fortunately.