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Focusing On Ritalin
Understanding the Method Behind the Medicine
Part Two
By Donna Smith
Are we medicating our children as an "easy way out?" Are doctors too quick to diagnosis children with ADHD? These questions are at the hearts of many people, even those who say Ritalin was a lifesaver for their child.
Jody's son began taking Ritalin at the age of 5. "My overall opinion of Ritalin is that it is way over-prescribed as an 'answer' to what could be a normal, but highly energetic, child. Oftentimes, doctors are just too lazy to delve further into the child's past to discover why they might be exhibiting certain behaviors," says Jody.
Though Jody thinks it is prescribed too often, she still feels it was right for her son. "For those children who truly have ADD or ADHD, my opinion is that it is a Godsend -- an absolute necessity in order for them to function and concentrate."
"Most parents in my experience are quite resistant to having their children on Ritalin and do it in response to school pressure," says Dr. Lewis. "Many parents are greatly helped by sitting down with a professional who can help them with their parenting skills. These children would be a challenge for any parents and often make their parents feel like failures."
"I believe that the real issue here is that children, in vast numbers, are being misdiagnosed as having ADD/ADHD and that Ritalin has become a convenient solution to behavior issues," says Pantley. "In the A.D.D. Book , Dr. William Sears says that Attention Deficit disorder has become a 'fashionable diagnosis,' and I have certainly wondered about ths as I see a wide assortment of my children's friends arrive at our home for a playdate with the day's medication on hand."
