How drug companies are pushing ADHD drugs for children

[G_j]

How drug companies are pushing ADHD drugs for children by funding researchers and advocacy groups – and ignoring the studies which question their claims.

http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/20594/

Here, Kiddie, Kiddie

By Kelly Hearn, AlterNet. Posted November 29, 2004.


For Gene Haislip, a former official of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, the perennial debate over Ritalin, the stimulant commonly prescribed for children with "attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)," is an aching reminder of a moral battle he fought – and lost – to big drug companies.

For 17 years, the now retired director of the DEA´s Office of Diversion Control set production quotas for controlled substances like methylphenidate (MPH), the federally restricted stimulant commonly known as Ritalin. During that time, he fought hard to raise public awareness about over-prescribing of stimulants to children, about the drug's high rate of street diversion, and about its long-term health impact on young patients.

"This affects the most sensitive part of our population," says Haislip, now a consultant for drug companies on issues of compliance to federal law. "When I was at the DEA, we created awareness about this issue. But the bottom line is we didn't succeed in changing the situation because this – prescribing methylphenidate, for example – is spiraling.

"A few individuals in government expressing concern can't equal the marketing power of large companies," he adds. "I have doubts that the truth is driving this issue. It seems that market forces and money is behind it."

..more..

[WildClarySage]

1. Well, having ADD, I can tell you that Ritalin works

very well when it works, and makes it possible for some children to manage the complexities of daily living. (The moral implications of changing an individual's behavior is for another discussion.) I choose not to take it, though I have not completely ruled it out for the future if things get very bad. There are plenty of alternatives that provide relief from the symptoms of ADD, but the bottom line is that I will do what I need to do to get through a day without feeling completely overwhelmed. Ritalin and other ADD stimulants are overprescribed and abused, but that in itself is no reason not to take them when they will help you. If Insulin were overprescribed and abused, we would still have people who are better off taking it.

The real issue is that ADD meds, like all other meds, should only be used with full knowledge of risks and benefits and alternatives to treatment so that a patient (or their family) can make an informed decision about whether or not it is in their best interest. And drug companies fear full disclosure of consumer information. They want us to be able to name the meds when we get to the Dr's office, but they don't want participating in our health care any further than that.

[baba]

2. A reasonable response n/t

[The Flaming Red Head]

34. Speed freaks used to call it over amping

when you take so much speed that it has the opposite effect.

[Eurobabe]

3. How's bout we stop dumping shitty additives, preservatives

antibiotics, hormones, etc. into the frickin food supply???

I think this is a HUGE factor in why kids are ADD, ADHD. Please write to your congress critter, senators to support keeping antibiotics OUT of our meat supply. http://www.generationgreen.org/actionalert_08-2002.htm

In the meantime, if your kids are whiggin out, I suggest you get thee to the nearest Whole Foods/Wild Oats and buy organic!! Then turn off hte TV, and the computer and make them go out to play.

[Melodybe]

4. New Freedom Commision forces all of us to take drugs.

here are some links:
http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul204.html
http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2004/cr100604.htm
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,132397,00.html
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/328/7454/1458
http://www.interventionmag.com/cms/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=830
http://www.mentalhealthcommission.gov/index.html
http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/11_16_04pain.cfm
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/sepp/2004/06/23/bush_to_impose_psychiatric_drug_regime.htm

[SmartBomb]

8. I'm all for it if I get to choose the drugs

Ah... the Glory Days. ;)

[noonwitch]

5. I know a lot of people whose kids' behavior changed after changing diets

When they cut out the processed food and started making more things from scratch. I've heard that preservatives and yellow food dye are big contributors to hyperactivity in children, as is corn syrup.

Homemade cookies are a far better alternative than candy bars. Making dinner from scratch is better than a tv dinner or a can of Mini Ravioli. Parents should try alternatives prior to placing their kids on meds, and see if natural solutions work. Meds should only be used 1. when nothing else works and 2. the kid's behavior is so out of control he or she can't function at all.

A cheap, quick, dinner recipe for busy moms and dads:

1 can biscuits
1 lb ground beef, turkey or mix
bbq sauce to taste
onions to taste
shredded cheese to taste

brown meat in sauce pan. Add onions and bbq sauce. Press biscuits into muffin pan, one biscuit for each space. Fill biscuits with meat mixture, place in oven at 350 for about 10-12 minutes, sprinkling the cheese on for the last few minutes, in order for it to melt.

The biscuits probably have some preservatives in them, but minimal amounts. You could probably make your own biscuit dough, if necessary.
Kids love this meal-my nieces, nephews and cousins all love it. We call it Barbecups. Make a salad or a vegetable for a side dish.

[Ironpost]

7. I think you are right

and I'll be trying your recipe tonight. thank you

[WildClarySage]

12. I know you mean well

but what I'm hearing here is that it's the parent's fault if a kid is hyperactive (and I've seen a hyperactive infant whose exclusive food was breastmilk!) ADHD is a cluster of symptoms (grouped into four subcategories, of which hyperactivity is necessary for diagnosis of only two of those subcategories) ADD for me means being bombarded constantly with sensory input which I cannot filter out. Instead of responding to this with hyperactivity, I tend to shut down completely and become hypoactive. Walmart practically puts me in a coma. Diet is a part, but only a part, of my treatment. And it wasn't my parent's fault because of what they fed me because my mom used only health food naturals and cooked everything.

[noonwitch]

31. I did not say that it's the parents' fault if their kids have ADD

But medication is being over-precribed and a lot of kids who are not really ADD, but have high energy levels, get misdiagnosed. My suggestion about diet of course does not apply to every kid/person with hyperactive symptoms, but it has helped a lot of people I know to reduce the problematic behavior without medicating the kids. There are a lot of chemicals in foods that kids eat, things that weren't in people's diets 75 years ago or so.

Walmart puts you in a coma-I hate Walmart, it gives me a headache. But I've worked with kids who have the same problem with overstimulation and usually they do need meds to help filter it all out.

[tsuki]

23. No,

no canned biscuits, no bbq sauce. Ick. If you can't pronounce it, don't eat it.

[lumpy]

15. Dysfunctional parents/families can produce

kids with ADD,ADHD, etc. Kids need to live in a serene environment. Excess stimulation provided by TV, bickering/arguing adults, overloaded activities, very little quiet time, no routine in ADLs make for nervous excitable children as well as adults. The outside world is chaotic at best and should not be brought into the home.

[kohodog]

24. The drugs help kids survive our current educational system, BUT

That system depends on kids being able to "behave" which in many instances means "be quiet." While never formally diagnosed, I believe I am ADD, and one of my sons has been diagnosed and while in college, he has access to a prescription of Adderall. I don't think it really helps him because he recognizes that it changes him in a way he doesn't really like. He is very creative and would be fine if society had a different understanding of education. Thom Hartman has written great books on the subject. Einstein, Edison, Ben Franklin and many inventors have classic ADD patterns. Where would we be now if they were madicated their whole youth?

And now the Bush Administration wants to evaluate all kids??? Creative kids and other people who don't quite fit into the box have always been anathma to people like them. Before you make a statement like that you should consider another point of view. What you consider disfunctional might in fact be better than being a Stepford citizen.

[DemExpat]

32. I supported my friend's attempt to keep her son drug-free

when schools and a child psychiatrist were advocating medication for his inability to sleep well or to pay attention in school.....

Needless to say, now he is studying music and doing extremely well....very passionate about his drumming and piano..and almost a miracle - a happy young adult!

He always was a creative, very different from the usual kid, and I believe that his energy and creativity did not at all match with what the educational system requires.

Here is to finding alternatives to drugs for many young people today!

DemEx

And I totally agree with your statement about avoiding being Stepford-like citizens....:scared:

[seabeyond]

36. this is fun, cause took kid out of private

to public lol yesterday. gosh just so interesting. this si a child that would do wonderful in the roman times of being scholar sitting under a tree talking theories

i can just see the apple dropping on his head and saying, gravity

[HuckleB]

19. Indeed.

A recent longitudinal study has linked poor nutrition during the first three years of life to a very significant increase in the likelihood of a child facing mental health issues in the pre-teen and adolescent years. Of course, this also begs the issue of providing healthy food for those who can't afford it themselves.

[reprobate]

27. Write to congress?

Won't work. Can't work. All congress critters are owned by the very mony that push the drugs, antibiotics, and ritalin. How you gonna get a legbreaker to turn on his capo? People get killed that way.

Anyone remember Wellstone?

[Debbi801]

6. The problem is that a lot of teachers and doctors buy in to this, too...

When my older kids were much younger, my daughter had a kindergarten teacher who demanded conferences almost weekly to discuss the my daughter's behavior. You see, she couldn't sit still for a full day without fidgeting, playing with her hair, changing her position at her desk, etc. She even (ready for this?) broke her sandwich into little pieces before eating it at lunch. The teacher practically demanded that we have her tested for ADHD and get her medicated. My son, who is 2 yrs older than her had similar issues in kindergarten with similar requests by the teacher.

I was younger and bought into what the teachers were saying and took the kids to the pediatrician for testing. Thankfully for me (and my kids), our pediatrician is of the "there is too much medicating going on" belief. He was livid and said that the teacher was the problem and maybe she needed to change her teaching techniques. Neither of my kids were ever tested for ADHD, neither have ever been medicated. After talking to the pediatrician, I stopped going to the teacher conferences, too.

Fast forward to today...My older kids are almost 12 and almost 10. Both are A students in all GT classes. While they do have times where they fidget more than teachers would like, talk when they shouldn't, etc. I chalk it up to typical kid behavior. We're all happier.

Debbi

[TexasBushwhacker]

16. The real problem is the school districts, ....

crowded classrooms, and not enough physical activity. When I was in elementary school over 35 years ago, we never had more than 25 students per classroom. It's not unusual for elementary classrooms to have over 30, even over 35 students now. That's just crazy! Students get less individual attention, and performance starts to go down. The solution? Effectively lengthen the school day by cutting PE, art, and music. No wonder the kids can't sit still!

[shrike]

9. My niece has been helped with medication

She was failing school and is now getting As and Bs. However, medication isn't the answer for everyone, and for her, behavior modification is part of the program. Thankfully, she has two interested, loving parents and teachers (she switched schools) who take the time to work with her.

[samplegirl]

10. With Madatory Mental Testing

More and more pre-school children will be prescribed drugs. Nothing
is ever done about the root cause which is diet. Americans should
be demanding stricker guidelines for meat & packaging.
Lots of toxicity in just the saran they use to package our meats.

[leftchick]

11. My son was evaluated and they recommended a drug cocktail...

a little bit of the uppers, then the downers, then the heart evaluations and meds if needed! It was fucking frightening to think of medicating my 6 yr old like that! So I did a LOT of research which helped my husband and I cope tremendously. Long story short, after watching his diet and doing special exercises he is thriving in school and has lots of friends. He is still pretty wiggly but we think in time as he matures he will get better self control. It amazes me how in the US drugging your kids is so accepted.

[Karenina]

13. That's what Big Pharma DOES

$ell you lot$ of DANGEROU$ drug$ and PROTECT DEY PROFIT$$$ from you saying "YOU FUCKERS DONE POISONED ME AND TOOK MAH MONEY DOIN' SO!!!!!!"

[knowbody0]

14. the most abused group of children

is foster kids. standard procedure for those who cannot adapt.

[TexasBushwhacker]

17. Also a scam to get more money

The amount of money paid by the state per child is more if they are "disabled". They will figure out any way they can to label a kid, just so they get more $$$.

[knowbody0]

18. a majority of my kids

were crack babies. can you believe this group would even be considered for this treatment, as their propensity toward drug abuse is their birth gift? one little boy's left side went completely slack, droopy eye, mouth, cheek, and he cried non stop.

[RobinA]

37. OK, So Here's the Deal

10-year-old kid comes into foster care from a totally unstable, screwed up home life. The kid is off the wall. Goes to a foster home and in two weeks he has the parents ripping their hair out, bio-kids, formerly fine, are freaking, none of their friends will come around because foster kid cases them and the family dog with a baseball bat. Family says forget it, come get this kid. Kid is moved to another foster home, process for mental health servcies is started. Process will take several months. In new foster home, foster kid attacks bio baby sister, threatens to throw her in the family pool. Asks baby sister if she wants him to show her how to do it doggie style. Family calls and says get this kid out of here. Kid moves to third foster home....

Kid needs some stability, but he's not able to get it unless he can stay in a foster home for more than two weeks. How do you get this kid some stability so he can begin to learn what it's like to live in a family and how to behave there? Off to the MD, who prescribes meds. Meds work to calm the kid down. You know the kid has a million reasons to be acting the way he does, and meds don't address a single one of them, but you can't help this kid if you can't get the kid in a stable environment. What do you do?

Just pointing out that it isn't quite as simple as some here seem to believe. This is the rule, not the exception.

[HuckleB]

20. Indeed, there are big problems with ADHD diagnosis.

ADHD should always be a diagnosis of exclusion. Attention is a big symptom of depression and anxiety, and no one is doing any depressed or anxious kid any favors by misdiagnosing him or her as ADHD. Anxiety and depression must be ruled out before an ADHD diagnosis should even enter the picture. Further, the diagnosis should always consider functionality. If a kid is still doing well with his or her schoolwork, then the behavior does not meet criteria for medical intervention. Further, ADHD symptoms must be seen across all areas of the child's life, and they had to be in effect before age seven. If not, then you're not dealing with ADHD. The next time I have to assess a kid because some teacher, administrator or parent thinks he or she must be ADHD and that kid sits down and can tell me the entire plotline of the most recent Harry Potter book (no movie out yet, so I know he or she read it), I'm going to prescribe some medicine all right, but it's not going to be for the kid. That said, let's not forget that medicine has provided a great deal of relief to many thousands of children who truly do have ADHD.

[fshrink]

21. Physicians do almost as much.

Consumerism does the rest. It's so much easier for most busy parents to pop the pill to their kid than to take a look at what pisses him (boys at 80%) off. Parents then go beg their physician to help them, which she does. Believe me, pharmaceutical firms do not need to push that one!

[HuckleB]

26. Indeed.

Any good practitioner must begin by taking a look at the entire family. Far too often, the "identified patient" is the most mentally healthy one in the bunch.

[tsuki]

22. Son was ADHD, but I cleaned up his diet. NO petroleum byproducts,

coal tar byproducts, kerosene byproducts. Guess what? It works. Son is now 25, out of university, a genius, according to his mother (me.) Not a doper, no stimulants, no vitamin R, complete impulse control.

It can be done.

[kohodog]

28. That's great!

And let's not forget that ADD and ADHD are a little different. The hyperactivity is not evident in all cases. I truely believe that ADD people have a different view of the world and that it can be helpful. I teach my son to celebrate the way he thinks. He has tremendou=s insight and needs to learn coping mechanisms to get by the dumb stuff while being sure to take advantage of the great opportunities he has. (He is in college)

In the 60's education went through a huge self diagnosis and new models were formed. With "No child left behind," we are back to regimentation and testing. It will hurt ADD and ADHD kids as there will be fewer alternative solutions.

I believe ADD is not bad, except by this society's standards. History has proven this as many greatly regarded historical figures and leaders were probably afflicted if that's what you want to call it.

[tsuki]

29. Remember Thomas Alva Edison was ADHD, and was expelled

from school because he "didn't fit in." He was home schooled.

[tsuki]

25. If you are interested in alternatives, PM me. Drugs are not the answer.

Son thanks me every week. Mom, he says, you would not believe these ritalin kids. They have no impulse control. (And that is at 25.)

[seabeyond]

30. i certainly agree with you

before it became a pharmacutical right wing push, it was the pc gonna take care of your child democrat that was pushing the drugging of the kids. half a decade ago. many are now coming to conclusion that drug pushing was abused and many of the kids thru parenting and behavior modification and diet, the child doesnt need to automatically be pilled. but having a child walk into the system when all this drugging began, i know i was pressured to drug my kindergartener to make it easier on the teachers

now the right has picked up on it for profit

6 years of a child totally obtuse and oblivious to the world around him, a brain so powerful and in works all the time that he has static in his ears and cant hear, when he is in this zone. we have learned thru observing he is weak in sequential thinking, step by step, gets lost in the first instruction, certainly cant follow beyond. so we work on that thru repetition.
works in quiet space. and continually make him aware when he is zoning so he can recognize and pull himself out. also understanding this is a weakness like an unused muscle and thru practice he will become stronger in that. and patience in his non perfection, yet embracing the grand his brain is

no way would i drug this kid, possibly making less his kick ass part of his brain

not to mention these drugs not tested on kid
conditioning kid to drug enviroment
dependent, ergo not learnng tools for adulthood to adjust

[DemExpat]

33. See my post nr. 32.....

My friend's son could not tell TIME at the end of elementary school.....at least not on command in the classroom.

I refused to believe that he was not smart enough for this, or that the answer would be in drugging him. When he finally made it out of compulsory education and got into the Music Academy on the merits of his excellent musicianship, his life turned completely around and he learned to apply himself because he WANTED to.....

It was hellish years, also for the parents, but they saw it through to the most positive possible end - a drug-free, happy and busy young adult!

DemEx

[seabeyond]

35. we are bombarding our kids with info

input into brain like never before. this creates energy, effecting flow of chemicals in brain like never before. we had before work hard and fast in keeping up with these kids. they are kicking ass in amazing power. it is allowing it to flow in ease tho, by connecting to spirit like never before. (whatever you want to call the energy we are)

each kid has the ability to do it in different way

edmund (9), the child i speak knows the political interaction of today with individual interaction in the real world, the everyday energy of who we are. this kid is amazing in grasping other people. an amazing understanding of the dynamics feeding life. that is pretty intense. he wrote a letter to 10 year old friend the other day, listening to both sides of the political arguement, strng will of being alert ot what is going on

now wtf? lol

we demand a lot of our kids in this time. i think we parents can be a little patient

[xerox]

38. It's

just legal speed.