Are drugs for treating attention deficit disorder being over-prescribed to children today?

by Megan O'Brian

Created on: July 29, 2009   Last Updated: October 29, 2009

The debate about attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD) is over. And the truth about ADHD and LD (learning disability)) is clear.

Just about every mainstream medical, psychological and educational organization in the U.S. concluded that ADHD is real and that children and adults with ADHD benefit from appropriate ADHD treatment.

Yet somehow, the world still seems to be filled with self-appointed ADD/ADHD "experts" who insist on burdening us with their ill-informed opinions and repeatedly asking, What is ADHD?

We've all heard the comments "ADHD is non-existent", "why don't they let kids be kids", "Drug companies invented ADHD so they could sell stimulants", "kids who run wild do so because of poor parenting", blah, blah, blah..

The comments made by these self-appointed "experts" are not only blatantly false, they cross the line between intelligent and stupid comments and inevitably end up on the stupid side.

ADHD has been proven to be a real neurobiological disorder. It is genetic and runs in families. Recent genetic studies have found an abnormal gene present in every person, child and adult, who participated in the study proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that ADHD is real and it is hereditary.

Despite all of this proof, critics continue to question the validity of the research and the inteeligence of those who did the research. These "experts" open their mouths and speak nonsense but some people listen and believe what they say. Misconceptions about ADHD and appropriate treatment will continue until these self-appointed "experts" are silenced.

The only people who are qualified to answer the question of whether or not drugs for attention deficit disorder are being over-prescribed for children today are those who have suffered the consequences of growing up with untreated ADHD, the parents raising a child with ADHD and the prescribing physician himself. It is NOT a question for those whose lives have not been touched by ADHD to answer.

Speaking as an ADDult myself I can say with conviction that drugs for attention deficit disorder are NOT being over-prescribed today. In fact, thanks to those ill-informed "experts" expressing their opinions, many parents don't take their children for diagnosis and treatment of ADHD for fear of being judged by these "experts" as being a parent who wants to "drug" their child into behaving instead of using discipline to control their behaviors.

Until the the opinionated, ill-informed "know it alls" take the time to do some research and learn the truth about ADHD before opening their mouths, many children with ADHD will go untreated suffer the consequences.

Those children will continue to suffer with poor grades in school, labelled as "stupid", "lazy", "irresponsible", "dumb", "retarded", and ostrasized by society for behaviors they cannot control.

The failures, and the low self esteem that follows as a result of repeated failure will guarantee them a life of trying and failing, frustration, and rejection by society - all which could have been avoided had they received appropriate treatment, beginning in childhood.

Is this right? Is this fair? A majority of uninformed, unqualified "experts" seem to think so.

Learn more about this author, Megan O'Brian.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.