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Pros And Cons Of H. Hd

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In today’s elementary and middle schools across the country, students are being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (A.D.H.D.) in staggering numbers. It is the most commonly diagnosed mental disorder for children. Young children are being prescribed psychotropic drugs even though formal testing is not available for accurate A.D.H.D. diagnosis. There has been growing controversy between, physicians, pharmaceutical companies, parents and educators about proper diagnosis tools and treatment for A.D.H.D. Many argue that the testing tools are too subjective which leads to false diagnoses and that other treatments beside medication should be delivered first. Others believe that clear diagnoses can be made and that medication …show more content…

Nevertheless, these quick diagnoses are putting lots of money in some peoples’ pockets and it could be at the expense of children’s health. Pharmaceutical companies manufacture and generate millions of dollars from sales in A.D.H.D. medication. Treated with stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall pharmaceutical companies have encouraged the use of medication treatment. Keith Conners, a psychologist and early advocate for recognition of A.D.H.D., said, “the number of children on medication for the disorder had soared to 3.5 million from 600,000 in 1990” (Schwarz). He blames this rise in numbers on the pharmaceutical companies’ campaigns aimed at publicizing the disorder and promoting the use of medication to doctors, parents and teachers. Advertising on television and in widespread magazine like Good Housekeeping they claim that common difficult childhood behaviors can be cured by medication. “The Food and Drug Administration has cited every major A.D.H.D. drug stimulants like Adderall, Concerta, Focalin and Vyvanse, and nonstimulants like Intuniv and Strattera for false and misleading advertising since 2000, some multiple times” (Schwaz). The pharmaceutical companies are not the only ones making money. Pharmaceutical companies have paid doctors to publish research that encourage diagnosing children with A.D.H.D. and medication treatments. They have described the side effects of medication like Adderall as mild even though

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