1 of 11

Yes

Write now Article Tools

We live in a drug-oriented society. The American public is bombarded with subliminal messages that say drugs are needed for everything in order to live a happy and fulfilled life. There are drugs for sleep, for staying awake, for being socially awkward - you name it, there is a drug on the market for it. In the case of children, however, the line has been crossed.

Instead of respecting individuality and meeting the needs of the individual child, the system seeks to control children and cram then into a pre-conceived notion of what a "good" child is. ADD and ADHD are prime examples of over-diagnosed and over-medicated syndromes. Does attention-deficit disorder really exist? Maybe. I have known many parents over the years who had been told their child had ADD or ADHD and needed medication. Some of the parents conformed to the pressure. Others looked at alternative methods.

Diet is a critical factor in children that are considered hyperactive. Reading food labels reflects horrible things like Red Dye #40 and excessive high fructose corn syrup. Many ingredients allowed in United States food products are illegal in other countries because of documented ill-adverse health effects. Dietary change - eliminating foods with artificial colors, fragrances, etc. can make a significant difference in how a child interacts with his or her world on a daily basis.

Sugar is a well-recognized culprit in making kids (and adults) hyperactive and agitated. Significantly reducing sugar in all forms will reflect a much calmer person, whether adult or child. High fructose corn syrup is a significant offender.

Instead of insisting that the food we eat is healthier, the first reaction is to prescribe a drug. And when children are started on drugs at a young age, it creates a cycle that will result in them taking drugs throughout their entire life. What a reprehensible legacy for our children, who will be the leaders of tomorrow.

Attitudes have to change in order for positive change to be effected in this arena. People have to stop taking drugs. They have to stop believing the rhetoric of the drug companies who have brainwashed society into thinking drugs are necessary for happy living. The drug culture has to be stopped in its tracks. Prescribing drugs to children to make them fit into a certain mold should not be tolerated on any level. Parents need to learn parenting skills so that they can help their children learn and grow while respecting their individuality instead of giving them a drug to make them obedient and "good".

If your child's school is insisting on medication, consider changing your child's diet first. The best solution is to solve the problem without the use of drugs. Stop buying junk food with unhealthy additives. Feed your children a health, well-balanced diet and teach appropriate behavior by role-modeling. Drugs should be the last resort, not the first solution.

Learn more about this author, Rebecca Dyson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Are drugs for treating attention deficit disorder being over-prescribed to children today??
We want to hear your view. Write now!