ADHD & Ritalin

[gettin2dizzy]

There has been recent debate in America recently over the distribution of Ritalin, the ‘wonder drug’ that treats kids suffering from ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Studies have shown that the drug can cause more harm than good particularly in the long run as Ritalin is really just speed prescribed. More opinions within the medical world now are that ADHD might not exist at all, certainly there is no physical evidence for the case and numerous neurological studies have failed to find a problem. Personally ‘inattention and/or hyperactivity, as well as forgetfulness, poor impulse control or impulsivity, and distractibility’ is merely a list childish behaviour and I fail to see how these are unusual in children. Symptoms of being a child - perhaps. Excessive signs of following these traits are obviously a concern, a concern that American drug companies are happy to pump kids full of drugs.

In the UK 5% of children have been diagnosed with this condition so far and current trends are increasing. It begs the question – if as many as 1 in 20 children has ADHD is this not normal child behaviour or a result of the upbringing we let these children have? Putting young children in large classes from a young age, with parents working full time isn’t the most stimulating of upbringings and I imagine an adult in a similar situation would be no better. So why are guidelines in favour of pumping children with seriously powerful drugs? It may take the burden of bad behaviour away from parents and teachers, or it may be the way drug companies have huge governmental influence. In the world in pursuit of the perfect being it seems that love, support and willpower is no longer seen as a factor in achieving a balanced child. Are ‘chemical enhancers’- i.e. Pills - seen as the quick fix solution to the ‘disease’, a way of removing responsibility away from the parent or a sad insight in to modern day living?

I often wonder is the problem in classroom with the children with energy, demanding more, or the quiet ones unable to engage with others, the ones who go unnoticed in class until they return one day with a gun?.


http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a782092373~db=all~jumptype=rss

[gettin2dizzy]

I forgot to add,
Would anyone willingly let their children take Ritalin?

[neio79]

IMO ADHT dont exist, naughty kids with no disapline in their lives and weak parents who cant control them and are to gutless to disapline them so look for a 'condition'

sorry if that causes offence to some on here but that is my opinion, and it wont change.

[gettin2dizzy]

IMO ADHD dont exist, naughty kids with no disapline in their lives and weak parents who cant control them and are to gutless to disapline them so look for a 'condition'

sorry if that causes offence to some on here but that is my opinion, and it wont change.
I couldn't work out whether you believe in adhd or not there... ;)

[neio79]

I couldn't work out whether you believe in adhd or not there... ;)
well for clarity, NO i dont .
we have always had naughty kids etc, but years ago they got smacks and told off etc and ADHT did not exist.

now it exists and most disapline (spelt wrong) at school and society has gone it appears, coincidence hmmmmmm let me think about that.

[Biker Biggles]

Im inclined to agree.There are and always have been a tiny number of kids(and adults)who have psychiatric problems that cause behavior issues,but not anything like 5%.These are just badly behaved kids who need to be made to face up to the consequences of their actions.

[licoricepizza]

Ritalin is methylphenidate, not 'Speed', which is amphetamine. A subtle, but significant difference. In my experience 'Speed' is dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine, or 'Dexys'), methamphetamine ('Meth') or Benzedrine ('Bennys'). Ritalin is much weaker, and lasts much less time.

Hunter S. Thompson wrote well in Screwjack (Mescalito) "Getting toward dawn now, very foggy in the head . . . and no Dexedrine left. For the first time in at least five years I am out of my little energy bombs. Nothing in the bottle but five Ritalin tablets and a big spansule of mescaline and "speed." I don't know the ratio of the mixture, or what kind of speed is in there with the mescaline. I have no idea what it will do to my head, my heart, or my body. But the Ritalin is useless at this point -- not strong enough -- so I'll have to risk the other."

Ritalin is great for focus, I'd say more so than amphetamine, like all stimulants it enhances concentration enormously, good for tasks like studying. I imagine that's why it's given to children as it doesn't have the 'mental' quality that amphetamines do. Like anything, taking it for too long does produce side-effects, but they're insignificant compared those you get when taking amphetamines for extended periods. Lack of sleep, or quality of sleep is the worst. That turns you more into a robot than the direct effect of the drugs themselves.
In terms of the morality of giving them to kids, I think you're right about it being in the drug companies interest to market and sell them.
Bad parenting is something that is not talked about in the press enough. It's ironic that as we become a more litigious, accountable and blame-obsessed culture, accountability for your children seems to be decreasing. Having no children myself, it's possibly wrong for me to comment, but that's my feeling on the subject.
Anti-depressants are of much more concern as they have much more dangerous side effects. The mellow kid in the corner who comes in with a gun, will almost definitely be on ADs. I don't know for sure, but I'd put money on the fact the 'Trench-coat Mafia' at Columbine High School were taking them.

I went to see Ross Noble a few years ago, he suggested tying obese kids to kids with ADHD to solve the problem. Genius.

[Bluepete]

I started to read this, then.......... meh.

[licoricepizza]

I started to read this, then.......... meh.

Ha ha! Yes, you're probably right. I could've just said "Ritalin's not that bad, they used to use 'Speed' instead but that's pretty hardcore. Antidepressants are much worse. Drug companies are usually profit-driven rather than morality-driven.

[ArtyLady]

IMO ADHT dont exist, naughty kids with no disapline in their lives and weak parents who cant control them and are to gutless to disapline them so look for a 'condition'

sorry if that causes offence to some on here but that is my opinion, and it wont change.

Ah...but because there is so much confusion about how to discipline correctly, if they shout too loud/smack too hard (I dont think smacking is even legal anymore is it?) then they risk getting prosecuted and the kids know this. :confused:

[gettin2dizzy]

Ritalin is great for focus, I'd say more so than amphetamine, like all stimulants it enhances concentration enormously, good for tasks like studying. I imagine that's why it's given to children as it doesn't have the 'mental' quality that amphetamines do. Like anything, taking it for too long does produce side-effects, but they're insignificant compared those you get when taking amphetamines for extended periods. Lack of sleep, or quality of sleep is the worst. That turns you more into a robot than the direct effect of the drugs themselves.
In terms of the morality of giving them to kids, I think you're right about it being in the drug companies interest to market and sell them.
Bad parenting is something that is not talked about in the press enough. It's ironic that as we become a more litigious, accountable and blame-obsessed culture, accountability for your children seems to be decreasing. Having no children myself, it's possibly wrong for me to comment, but that's my feeling on the subject..

Or possibly the greatest side-effects of all, neglecting the cause of the problem and deeming their behaviour as acceptable or letting children believe they have some kind of mental handicap.

[licoricepizza]

Or possibly the greatest side-effects of all, neglecting the cause of the problem and deeming their behaviour as acceptable or letting children believe they have some kind of mental handicap.

True, you could almost go as far as to say it was fashionable to have an ADHD kid. Asthma's so 90s now.

[Pedrosa]

What happened to the good old days of child behaviourial correction? Good old wooden spoon on the back of the legs or your dad's 3 inch wide leather belt across yer ass on a good day.:rolleyes:

[gettin2dizzy]

What happened to the good old days of child behaviourial correction? Good old wooden spoon on the back of the legs or your fathers's 3 inch wide leather belt across yer ass on a good day.:rolleyes:
His holiness calls that special treatment in sunday school now ;)

[Smudge]

its crazy how they have a name for indiscipline IMO

[the_lone_wolf]

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/4/4d/Pink_Christina_Aguilera_Monster.JPG

[Smudge]

??? dont get it is that Ann Diamonds Half Daughter

[the_lone_wolf]

??? dont get it is that Ann Diamonds Half Daughter
it's a little pink christina aguilera monster

;)

[MiniMatt]

I can't say as I know whether ADHD exists or not, but what I do suspect is that those claiming it doesn't don't have any medical background. I imagine the same discussions happened about Asperger's Syndrome, and Autism behind that. Even depression would be classified as a need to "pull yourself together yer great wuss" before it was realised there was an underlying physiological condition associated with the psychiatric symptoms.

It might exist, it might not, all I know is that a lot of medical people with far more knowledge than me reckon it does, and they have the beginnings, albeit farely basic, of a treatment of sorts.

[yorkie_chris]

IMO ADHT dont exist, naughty kids with no disapline in their lives and weak parents who cant control them and are to gutless to disapline them so look for a 'condition'

sorry if that causes offence to some on here but that is my opinion, and it wont change.

+1
A bit of a clip round the ear would be more effective than some wierd drugs

[yorkie_chris]

letting children believe they have some kind of mental handicap.

Well thats a good career these days with the benefits available.
Scroungers.

[Biker Biggles]

Mini Matt----I dont agree with that at all.
We tend to kowtow to "experts" medical or otherwise far too much IMO,such that we denigrate our own experience and opinions.Medicine is remarkably political,and follows fashions just like any other social science.I would be very suspicious of any condition that showed such a huge rise in numbers over such a short timescale,and I include depression in that.Im not saying these conditions dont exist,but that large numbers of diagnoses are factors of fashion rather than fact.
As another example,look at the now disgraced medical experts in recent child abuse/murder cases that resulted in miscarriages of justice.Kowtowing to "experts" caused that.

[neio79]

Mini Matt----I dont agree with that at all.
We tend to kowtow to "experts" medical or otherwise far too much IMO,such that we denigrate our own experience and opinions.Medicine is remarkably political,and follows fashions just like any other social science.I would be very suspicious of any condition that showed such a huge rise in numbers over such a short timescale,and I include depression in that.Im not saying these conditions dont exist,but that large numbers of diagnoses are factors of fashion rather than fact.
As another example,look at the now disgraced medical experts in recent child abuse/murder cases that resulted in miscarriages of justice.Kowtowing to "experts" caused that.

agreed ADHT as has been said in this thread its almost as its fasionable to have it,

I do think people nowadays are too easily led on so called conditions.

people nowadays don't seem to want take responsability for things or face up to the truth about themselves or others so look for convinient conditions to put themselves into, just like ADHT. Its eaiser to say my little johnny has it than admit he is a littlle sit and i cant/wont disapline him

[Flamin_Squirrel]

Uh oh, I actually agree with neio :shock:

Think I need to go lie down.

[-Ralph-]

ADHD - Awful Delinquent Horrid Diaper-wearer

Seriously though, it does exist and always has, I have personal experience, in a previous relationship was was a step parent to an ADHD child.

However why should ADHD suddenly have become so pandemic? Yep, 'cos its the name given to kids with naughty parents! Then 'cos the doctor says they've got ADHD thats the excuse not to manage them at all and just let them be naughty and get bad school results.

There's certainly nothing wrong with most of these kids, just the way they are managed. Even with the naughtiest toddler, change the carer and you'll change the kid. Thats why the supernanny programs have been so sucessful.

ADHD is exactly what it says on the tin, attention deficit hyperactivity - kids with an exceptional and unusually short attention span that are always jam packed full of beans!

Thats absolutely no excuse however for the kid being naughty or thick IMO. ADHD kids need shedloads of attention, stimulation and a switch of focus every 10-15 minutes. ADHD kids can be very intelligent, well behaved little angels if the parent can put the time and effort in. In fact an ADHD kid thrives on learning, if you teach three different subjects in a half hour session, with their levels of energy they really pay attention and absorb stuff so long as you can pick up when thier attention starts to dwindle and change the activity quick.

Our biggest problem with him was his behaviour in school, because the school system just isn't geared up to cope with a kid that demands that level of attention. You can't just decide your going to stop teaching maths half way though a lesson 'cos one kid out of thirty gets bored and starts being naughty. I would support any parent who wants to remove thier ADHD child from the school system and tutor at home.

A stranger need never realise that that charming well behaved wee kid has ADHD if the parents are managing it properly.

But as already said, most modern ADHD kids, don't have it!

[neio79]

Uh oh, I actually agree with neio :shock:

Think I need to go lie down.
:cheers: LOL, you feeling better yet??

[metalmonkey]

Well I have worked with kids in the US that have had ADHD, some were on drugs other weren't......I don't know much it really some of the kids there we meant to have were handful to teach and look after, but some people may just be like that though? I also think their home life should be looked at, some of these kids were from a messed up family life.

I sometimes find hard to concerate, though I am also dyslexic, wheter that has a part to play in it who knows. But I do find when I really work at something I'm exhaused afterwards, like now shattered after being out on the bike for a few hours but I expect thats the same for anyone right?

[neio79]

But I do find when I really work at something I'm exhaused afterwards, like now shattered after being out on the bike for a few hours but I expect thats the same for anyone right?

yeah i get like that on long drives and rides etc. I also am the sort of person who get bored easily as well, quick i need a label for my condition, now which one??

[Lissa]

yeah i get like that on long drives and rides etc. I also am the sort of person who get bored easily as well, quick i need a label for my condition, now which one??


Hmmm.................no stamina and easily bored...............you're a Teenager:D

[metalmonkey]

yeah i get like that on long drives and rides etc. I also am the sort of person who get bored easily as well, quick i need a label for my condition, now which one??

Haha no label buddy, said before I'm normal its just the rest of the world that is crazy....looked at being normal....no thanks;)

[Smudge]

ADHA = indisciplined, Ive heard it called alsorts over the years hyperactivity is one they used to use but i call it unruly