Some Parents Voice Concern Over Medicating Children for ADHD

Dear Catholic Exchange:

I’m very concerned after reading Jeff Korman’s article, Understanding ADHD. Having been involved with the early intervention program through the public school system with my son (who’s been diagnosed as having Autistic-Spectrum), and having worked with other parents of children with special needs, I wanted to offer a word of caution.

In my opinion, the article very persuasively made the argument that children who are diagnosed with ADHD need to be on medication. While this may or may not be completely true, it has been my experience that parents need to be extremely diligent when getting a diagnosis and considering treatment options for their children. It is, for the most part, extremely hard to get an accurate diagnosis in very young children (under 5). I have seen doctors quick to give a label (and they can be very convincing) that has turned out to be completely wrong later. Behavioral problems (including ADHD, ADD and the Autistic-Spectrum disorders) are not readily diagnosable via a test—it is a completely subjective diagnosis, often done over the course of a few hours observation and parent report. It isn’t a very scientific diagnosis, either. Scientific theories have to be conducted in a certain way, so as to eliminate biases. This isn’t the case with medicine. It is completely the doctor’s personal opinion, albeit an educated opinion.

I could go on and on with examples, but the bottom line is that I’m concerned that parents will read the article you posted and think they need to rush out and get a diagnosis for something that may just be a phase (if the children are very young). Quite frankly, studies haven’t been conducted to determine the effects of Ritalin and other drugs that are given to very young children. Yet, I see more and more 3 year-olds on drugs these days. It is a very disturbing trend.

Please be careful when posting reports like these. There are a host of opinions on this topic, and it will be interesting to see what the prevalent opinion will be in 20 years. The fact of the matter is that scientists still don’t understand these disorders, and until they do understand them completely, there will be a lot of misinformation and mistakes made. Just look at our history. . .

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jacobucci

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Dear Editors,

I applaud Catholic Exchange’s spotlight on a growing national problem, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

I would ask all parents to please read at least one book before placing their children on medication for these disorders. As someone touched by ADHD in my own family, I recommend Talking Back to Ritalin-What Doctors Aren’t Telling You About Stimulants and ADHD, by Dr. Peter Breggin, MD.

Ritalin, the most common stimulant used to control behavior, known as Methylphenidate within the medical and drug community, is also quite frankly, speed. The FDA classifies Methylphenidate as “highly addictive,” including in that category: amphetamines, morphine, opium, and barbiturates.

I have seen Ritalin in action, and while it did create more submissive behavior in my brother, I have also seen its symptoms, which aren’t as well known. It can cause withdrawal symptoms, disfiguring tics, and it can suppress growth. Most parents are never told of the many non-drug methods to improve behavior of nearly all ADHD/ADD/ODD/etc. children, including how to develop a more rationally-managed, loving family relationship.

Society is doing a great disservice to our children by labeling them, essentially handicapping them, with psychiatric diagnosis rather than critically examining the alienation and abandonment children feel by the world we’ve created for them within our families, schools, and communities. Children live in a disordered world, where fathers are absent, mothers are working, and children spend up to 8 to 10 hours a day away from their families either in school, various activities or other care-giver facilities. Not to mention the TV, video games, and other things kids do now for hours on end that can cause anxiety and distractibility.

This isn’t to blame our parents today, as some claim. It’s a call to recognize that the drug culture rules our society, as witnessed by the hysteria that greets people who advocate a more critical look at underlying causes of this type of misbehavior. It’s certainly not a politically correct position to advocate that parents first assess their relationship with their children before resorting to prescribed drugs. But it’s the least we can do for them.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Quesinberry

Bourbonnais, IL

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I received today by email A Word of Encouragement—Celebrate the Sabbath from a Catholic friend. It was interesting to me because I, a Seventh-day Adventist, observe the 7th day (Saturday) as the Sabbath day and a day of rest and worship.

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Catholic Exchange

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Regarding your Word of Encouragement about population control, the Ghost of Christmas Present states one of my favorite quotes of all times in Dicken’s A Christmas Carol: “Oh God! To hear the Insect on the leaf pronouncing on the too much life among his hungry brothers in the dust!” Pretty topical, don’t you think?

God bless,

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