Extinction of Childhood

The very first step in deciding if prescription medication is the right choice for a child is knowing with certainty that the child has a real medical condition. Studies show that close to one in five children are misdiagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) (Sherlock, Tracy). If it is suspected that a child suffers from ADD it is important that the child receive extensive testing to make certain the diagnosis is accurate. There are several tests that can be administered by a specialist including: a general physical, a neurological exam, a comprehensive interview with the child and others in a position of care for the child, an observation of the child’s everyday activities, and psychological tests to measure IQ and social and

In today's fast-paced society, it seems that prescription drugs are a more reasonable and reliable solution for children and adults than diet and exercise for the "disease" known as ADHD. Rather than take the time to play with their children, or institute a proper diet, it seems that increasing numbers of parents would rather treat their children's unexplained zest for life with pills and doctors. While there are some explanations and reasons for the diagnosis of this popular disease, most children are improperly diagnosed, and are therefore taking unneeded medication. This medication is costly and it can be argued those who benefit from the sale of these drugs most are the

This overabundance of coverage has led to a kind of public hysteria, parents and doctors now see ADHD around every corner. It has almost become a social norm for a child in school to have ADHD. One could argue that ADHD isn't necessarily a disorder but an unfortunate byproduct of a fast paced reward driven Society. Luckily there is hope. Recent studies have been done and new tests have been designed to help curb the tide of malingering in terms of ADHD. “The IVA CPT adequately distinguished adults with ADHD from non-ADHD” (Colleen A Quinn 2003) Many people will fake the symptoms of ADHD in order to get access to the prescriptions given to those who suffer from the disorder I say few that these medications will help give them in the edge in their work or home life. Students will sometimes take these drugs and hopes that will help them focus on the paper that there trying to write or give them that needed edge to focus on the test they are taking the next day. Either is are pursuing these drugs for recreational use they are hoping for a high off of the schedule

The trend of over medicating children with ADHD is labeled well with the phrase anesthetization of our youth. “Anesthetize- deprive if feeling or awareness.” (Oxford Dictionary, 2014) Many children often express to their parents that they feel as if they are a walking zombie. A child may find that they are having memory issues, are not quite themselves, and feel overly drowsy. “ADHD medications often change a child’s personality creating what many kids with ADHD (and their parents) refer to as a zombie state or making them more aggressive.” (Barnett H., P. 1, 2013) Children with ADHD have other options for treatment but unfortunately medications are pushed on them at an alarming rate. The government paved the road for the pharmaceutical industry for ADHD medications in the 1990’s.

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.

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.

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.

In conclusion, Adderall is a dangerous drug that should not be used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Students and people everywhere taking these pills non medically need to understand the dangers associated with taking Adderall and the risks being taken every time they consume this dangerous medication. Parents of the young children being prescribed Adderall need to look into different treatment options before just giving their child a dangerous schedule II drug. Though Adderall can help some of its users, it should not be given to children. It is a dangerous drug to use even for the people that actually need it, everyone with ADHD should look into other options for treatment. Doctors need to step up and stop giving these

Geoffrey Hosta in his editorial, Why Are We Tranquilizing Our Brightest Children? (February 12, 2018), for Newsweek, argues that children diagnosed with ADHD may be gifted and will “suffer more of the harmful effects of stimulants,” (Hosta). He supports his claim by first illustrating his own experience with his stepdaughter and her ADHD diagnoses . Then, he follows by expanding on the possible repercussions with prescribing children with ADHD medication, such as Adderall or Ritalin.

And lastly, doctors are not only afraid of giving an adult with ADHD medicine, they are also afraid of over diagnosing them which can be very costly and have negative side effects. As Psychology Today says, “Indeed, many claim that ADHD is overdiagnosed and that stimulants are overprescribed. Psychiatrists are afraid of becoming one of these doctors who “overprescribe”. Despite the fact that stimulants are the standard of treatment for Adult ADD, whether or not someone has ADD should not hinge on the treatment, but instead on the proper assessment and diagnosis.” (Psychology Today p.1) This shows that doctors and psychiatrists are afraid of both diagnosing and over diagnosing adults because of what the medicine will do to them and that the stimulants can cause negative side effects and can worsen a person’s mental state. All this shows that doctors and psychiatrists are afraid that they will mess up on diagnosing, overdiagnose, and will end up not diagnosing a person which doesn’t help avoid the problem at all.

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

I believe that there should be more means of evaluating kids for ADHD. Sometimes the reaction is driven by the subject and

Children with ADHD are being medicated unnecessarily. The problem is there are no biological tests for the disorder, and it cannot be revealed through a blood test. ADHD should be the last resort for a diagnosis, but it is often the first choice. In many cases a child who is disruptive in class or

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.

Drugging your children?! What?! That sounds horrible?! To some people yes this is horrible to others it’s not. Many people believe that medicating a child with ADD or ADHD is okay, that it is good for the child and that it helps them grow and learn more. Many other people believe that medicating the same child with prescription medication is just the same as giving your child medication not prescribed by a doctor. But is it right to medicate your child? In the case where you medicate your child, the positives are that your child is more likely to focus, and apply themselves. The negatives are that they are also more likely to develop a drug habit later in life, less likely to be creative, less likely to have an individual