Mother’s little helper. (1996, March 18). Newsweek, pp. 51-56.

OVERVIEW

Today’s most controversial childhood diagnosis is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). In America, some two million children are presumably "afflicted" with it. Most parents question whether it is a real disorder, as even today, diagnosis "remains as much an art as science." The drug Ritalin is usually prescribed for those who are diagnosed with ADHD; the sale of Ritalin in the United States in 1995 topped $350,000,000. Many are asking, are parents and doctors overmedicating kids and relinquishing responsibilities by overdiagnosing ADHD?

Ritalin, "Vitamin R" as it is commonly called, is sold for $3-$15 on the street and produces "a relatively modest buzz." Technically, the drug increases dopamines to the front part of the brain where attention and impulsivity are stored. Ritalin is classified as a "schedule II controlled substance," on the same level as cocaine and methamphetamine.

Many doctors agree that Ritalin is overprescribed. Doctor Jensen, chief of Child and Adolescent Disorders Research, suggests that it is going through the "disease of the month phase." The actual use of Ritalin in the U.S. is five times greater than any other nation. Instances have been cited in which preschool teachers and counselors have recommended that certain parents administer Ritalin to their child. Dr. Bruce Epstein, of St. Petersburg, FL, was asked by several parents to prescribe Ritalin to improve their child’s grades. When he refused, the parents found a doctor that would accommodate their requests. Even some doctors are encouraging the use of this drug. When the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine administered a questionnaire to pediatricians "almost half the pediatricians surveyed said they sent ADHD children home within an hour." But one hour is hardly long enough to obtain a medical history, talk to teachers or parents, or establish any kind of psychological follow-up—"all essential diagnostic elements."

Still, ADHD is a foggy disorder. In fact, those afflicted with ADHD do not exhibit an attention deficit; they have an attention surplus—"too much attention paid to too many things." Boys are affected three times more often than girls, and they ADHD kids tend to be bright. These kids "tap their pencils, wiggle their legs, lose their bookbags, not sometimes, but constantly!" There are three indicators of ADHD: inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.

The side effects of Ritalin are supposedly minimal, "but results are inconclusive." Some suggest that it may cause liver failure. There are widespread reports of sleep loss, irritability, and even (though rare) facial tics. Perhaps the biggest problem is street dealing. Those who buy it off the street and consume it can become addicted. The U.S. states experiencing the highest consumption of Ritalin include South Carolina, Alabame, Georgia, New Hampshire, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Delaware.

Many believe that Ritalin has become the drug of choice for parents who can’t find the time to spend with energized children. Some doctors estimate that one in every three cases actually turns out to be a hyperactive kid—the rest use Ritalin as a babysitting aid.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

1. Based on your experience with ADHD children, do you believe that it is a genuine disorder? Explain.
2. What are the side effects of Ritalin? Which have you seen exhibited in Ritalin users?
3. How should we respond to providing young people drugs to stabilize themselves?
4. What are some alternative remedies?
5. What do local teachers think about Ritalin therapy?
6. What role do parents play in the exponential increase in the diagnosis of ADHD?
7. How can a youth worker help a child diagnosed with ADHD? What is the youth worker’s responsibility?

IMPLICATIONS

1. Parents are wanting and doctors are supplying Ritalin more than any other remedy among children.
2. It is tragic that so many parents and doctors are overdiagnosing ADHD. Some children truly suffer from ADHD, and they need care. But many parents are looking for and accepting an ADHD diagnosis in order to relieve their guilt of not being better parents. For many parents, ADHD is an excuse for their child’s unacceptable behavior. Youth workers need to recognize when this is the case, and work to address the deeper family issues.
3. Many kids save their pills or raid prescription bottles to sell "Vitamin R" on playgrounds for $3-$15. This is a horrifying practice that could lead child to the life of drug trafficking.