Behavioral Medication and Children with ADD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the most widely diagnosed “mental-illness” in children in the United States today, and approximately 99% of children diagnosed are prescribed daily doses of methylphenidate in order to control undesirable behaviors. (Stolzer)

As controversial as medicating children with behavioral disorders may be, over half of all diagnosed cases in children between the ages of four and seventeen were being medicated with central nervous system stimulants, sixty-six point three percent to be exact (CDC). Many see prescription drugs as an easy fix to behavioral disorders, but not as many realize these medications can

One controversial area of pediatric (children's) medicine is in the treatment of condition called Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Symptoms of ADHD often include: hyperactivity, impulsive behavior and the inability to concentrate. In some instances, the symptoms extend beyond that into areas such as anti-social activities and even aggression.

There are many medications that affect children’s health in today’s society. Doctors prescribe lots of medication which can be avoided, when children are properly diagnosed with certain health problems. Attention - deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has impacted many people with the danger of certain medications which is overprescribed to all ages each year. The hidden dangers of the medications these doctors are prescribing, is that our children are being misdiagnosed with ADHD at a very early age, and this is causing many different side effects. Long term use of these medications can cause severe side effects. The most commonly prescribed drugs, are Ritalin, Adderall and Concerta, which cause children to have nervousness, appetite suppression, insomnia and increased blood pressure and heart problems. Also pharmaceutical companies are well aware of the danger to children and adults that these drugs may cause.

In the United States, 79 million people live under the dependence to some sort of psychiatric drug (of which 1,080,168 are children in between zero and five years old). Some of the most commonly diagnoses being ADHD, depression, bipolar disorder, and ect. Drugs being taken for this disorders are Xanax, Celexa, Prozac, Amphetamine salts, Zyprexa, Zoloft, among others. The drugs side effects alone are far more harmful than the illness itself. The United States has a higher rate than any other country with diagnosing mental disorders and the consumption of psychiatric medication. In fact, in the last years it has only increased hand to hand to the release of new mental medication, rising 43 percent from 2001 to 2010, ( Hanekamp ). There are also huge gender and racial disparities among who gets diagnosed with ADD and ADHD: the CDC reports that 13 percent of boys are diagnosed with ADHD, compared with 5 percent of girls. And twice as many black boys are diagnosed with the disorder as white boys, ( Lewis ).

Over the past couple of decades there has been a huge increase in the diagnosis and prescriptions given out for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. According to a news report done by USA Today over the past five years use of ADHD medications have risen 40% totaling 39.5 million individual prescriptions ("New findings," 2009). When statistics like this are seen it is only normal for someone to ask questions. People are becoming curious about the legitimacy of the disorder, and whether or not the treatments being given to individuals are appropriate. The argument seems to be strong on both sides of the fence, but the extensive research done on ADHD leaves it hard for one to believe that it is a made up disorder.

Not being able to keep still, talking out of turn, and not being able to resist temptation are many traits of a child under the age of twelve; also, the symptoms of a child diagnosed with ADHD. Though there isn’t a test to determine whether or not a child has ADHD many psychiatrists are quick to incline that the child may have this behavioral disorder even though they could just be acting like children. Not only are psychiatrists too quick to diagnose they’re also quick to prescribe medications that have high risks of causing behavioral changes and disruption of the chemical balance within the brain. Children under the age of twelve should never be diagnosed and/or prescribed medication for attention deficit hyperactivity

Psychotropic medications, also referred to as psychiatric or psychotherapeutic medications, are used to treat psychiatric disorders, such as: depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). They have been used for many years and oftentimes come with dangerous side effects. The side effects that often occur in children taking these medications can include: fainting, blurred vision, vomiting, extreme weight gain, and even death ("Seroquel information,” n.d.). The use of psychotropic medication to treat mental disorders in children and adolescents is highly controversial because of ethical viewpoints (i.e. parents “drugging” their children to calm them down) and potentially

When a child has difficulties with paying attention, excessive talking, and is considered hyperactive, sometimes there is a problem that needs to be addressed by a pediatrician. In addition to these symptoms your local school district may tell you that your child should be tested for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The first thing parents should do is contact their child’s pediatrician, as a result your child’s pediatrician should conduct tests using detailed psychological and physical tests related to the diagnosis of ADHD. Therefore, determining if your State Medicaid Program has prior authorizations to prescription medications to treat ADHD do they actively

Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity (ADHD), the most common of the psychiatric disorders that appear in childhood, are often the subject of great concern on the

According to Dr. Robert Epstein, Medco’s chief medical officer, seventeen percent of total drug cost spending last year was for behavior medicines; compared with sixteen percent for both asthma and antibiotics, eleven percent for skin disorders and six percent for allergy medicines. There was also a 369% increase in spending on ADHD drugs for kids under the age of five. A lot of children have been diagnosed with ADHD, and many of their parents have opted to give them behavioral drugs. Some parents give the drugs because they are not aware of the long term effects or the psychological dependency, and lastly because they are not aware of the alternatives. As parents we have to be more cognizant of what these disorders are and how they

When "20/20" and "Oprah" did segments about ADD on television, many parents felt that they finally knew what was "wrong" with their kids. They rushed to the doctor's office to find out how they could "fix" the problem. Most soon discovered a drug called Ritalin. It sounded simple. All they had to do was give their rambunctious or hyperactive child a pill three or four times a day, and magically he or she would be a perfect little angel. Most were so happy to find a cure that they did not stop to contemplate other methods of treatment, possible side effects, or get a second opinion. Dr. Sharon Collins believes this is because, "It takes time for parents and teachers to talk to kids. It takes

Mental illnesses are used as excuses for bad behavior in children by parents who have not done enough research about their child’s disorder. Seven percent of children between the ages of three and seventeen are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder in the United States (Neef). Many parents with children who have this mental disorder take the route of giving them prescribed pills every morning in order to fix their behavior. But, how many parents choose to take different approaches to help their child instead of giving them drugs? Many parents would argue that their child would behave badly if not given their daily dose, but according to psychologists and some doctors, Attention Deficit Disorder can be controlled

Overmedication is starting to take over the lives of children, due to being diagnosed with disorders and diseases. Since more disorders are being discovered, this leads towards more medication that has to be prescribed. “More than 6 million children are diagnosed with hyperactiveness such as ADHD, and 2 million of those children are between the age of 2-6. This leads to doctors prescribing these children stimulants such as Adderall or Ritalin to calm them down”(Cha). “More than 75% of children are receiving pills as treatment”(Cha). These pills are suppose to help them in

Pharmaceutical companies have paid doctors to publish research that encourages diagnosing children with A.D.H.D. and medication treatments. They have described the side effects of medication like Adderall as mild, even safer than Aspirin, though it has been shown to have negative effects like insomnia, appetite suppression, stunt growth and cause mood swings (“An Epidemic of Attention Deficit Disorder”). These drugs have also been shown to have the same addictive qualities like oxycodone. Furthermore, Ahmann et al. (2017) noted, psychostimulant medications are not known to improve peer relationships, reduce family conflict, or enhance academic achievement (p. 2). Nevertheless, pharmaceutical companies and some physicians have claimed that psychostimulant medications can improve all these things.