There is no shortage of controversy still looming over whether or not children with ADHD should be, or need to be placed on medication.  While most things don’t tend to shock me…  I was somewhat caught off guard by this story of a man who kidnapped his own son to keep his mother from medicating him for his ADHD symptoms.

The Debate Rages On

If you ask me, there is no stronger story to demonstrate to what lengths parents will go to protect their children as well as how misunderstood ADHD continues to be…

Maybe throw in a little bit of confusion around how to support a child with ADHD.

Yea…that’s right.  Despite what we know about ADHD, families continue to be torn apart (in debate) about how to best support a child.

And I’m not sure I can blame anyone.  Is it easy walking around, taking advice from multiple people – none of whom you feel you can trust?

What’s At Stake (And What’s Really Going On)

It would be unfair for me to comment on this situation without recognizing that there were likely MANY MORE issues going on between this family than what has been revealed.

Most families “battling” over how to approach treating ADHD, particularly in a child, are facing many more things.  Among these difficulties and stressors are:

• Communication problems
• Relationship issues
• Financial stress
• Outside influence
• And more…

So while the surface issue here is one Dad’s attempt to “save his son” from the evils of medication, I can almost guarantee so much more was happening – and the signs were ignored.

Rather than be a backseat driver and pretend to have any opinion on the matter, I’ll use this story as an example to encourage families (or just loved ones in general) to make sure you are taking the time to listen.

Pay attention (no pun intended) to what is going on between the people in your life, and hear what people are saying.  Most people don’t just come out and tell you what is going on.  And when they do (and if they do), it’s usually met with immediate resistance and defense.

Be an active listener, and really hear what someone is saying.  You don’t have to agree with it, but sometimes people just want to be heard and acknowledged.

A new report released today suggests that more and more teens are abusing stimulant medications like Ritalin and Adderall.  Depending upon which news outlet you are listening to, the angle and agenda is going to be slightly different.

I’ve seen reports from Reuters (article here) that focus on the substantial increase in calls to Poison Control centers across the country.

The Associated Press (article here) seems to be focusing on drug abuse, and a report from CBS News (article here) begins with a comparison of the abuse of marijuana to ADHD stimulant medications.

Caution: Here’s What The Media And Scientific Reports Leave Out

I’ll be honest with you.  I glanced over these articles quickly.  I saw what I needed to, and immediately had to weigh on this issue for my readers.  Out of the three reports, I am very pleased that an expert for CBS talked about the increase abuse being related to an increased awareness of ADHD and ADHD stimulant medications.

I am NOT suggesting this is okay, or stops the issue dead in it’s tracks,  BUT, a report like this can be quickly misinterpreted and take on a life of it’s own.  I know as a parent I would be scared by rising numbers.  And it doesn’t help that ADHD medications are already one of the most controversial, hot-button issues related to attention deficit hyperacitivity disorder.

For the record, I am NOT here to weigh in on the use of medications…or even the abuse of these medications.  What I am here to do is make sure you know all the facts.

#1 – These reports concern me becuase people are likely to see the large number or percent of increase over time.  What often gets down-played is that we really didn’t talk a lot about ADHD in 1988 like we do now (and is subsequently reported in the 2005 numbers of calls to poison control).

#2 – There also doesn’t seem to be much focus on the evidence that supports less drug abuse by those teens or children who are appropriately treated for ADHD.

I’ve held interviews on this very topic, and the consensus is that someone who is properly treated for ADHD, is less likely to abuse drugs.

#3 - I am also a little frightened about this topic because it is during the teen years when kids tend to start experimenting with drugs.  With ADHD stimulant medications now being more popular than ever, I can understand why their abuse is on the rise.

Not too mention, I can fully understand the passing around of these stimulant medications as kids prepare for college exams.

I do NOT condone or support this type of behavior.  But let’s recognize what is going on here.  Whether we like or not, kids will look for any competitive edge to help them around exam time…  I know this was a hot topic when I was at college studying for exams.

The Implications:

The implications from a report like this are likely to create widespread panic, and add more fuel to an already raging debate over the use of medication to treat ADHD.  Heck, it’s likely to spark fires about whether or not ADHD even exists.

Let’s accept reality for what it is…  Kids are going to try and experiment with drugs.  We are placing more and more pressure on teens and students to perform – with expectations getting higher and higher in a very competitive and volatile workforce.

Substance abuse of any kind is concerning.  It’s troubling.  I’ve lived it…  I’ve been affected by it…  And I’ve supported families fighting substance abuse.

Let’s leave the hype of ADHD drug abuse out of the mix, and report the facts about WHO specifically is abusing these drugs.

Medication… Medication… Medication… Oh how you frustrate me! You promise great and wonderful things, yet I am very skeptical about the unrealistic expectations you imply. From ads on television to magazine pages — I can’t help but wonder your intentions.

Knowing conditions like depression, and bipolar disorder are largely biologically based, I understand the necessity for using medication. While I don’t reach for medication (first) to treat ADHD, I do know that there are some people who swear by it. Fair enough! But it really burns me up when I see advertisements suggesting “if your current medication isn’t helping, then maybe you need more medication!”

So let me get this right… We take something that isn’t helping, we know it isn’t helping, and then we should consider taking more medication? Take more medication on top of medication?

Please know I am being a bit over dramatic on purpose here. I know certain medications work, whereas others don’t. I know that some medications are more effective for certain types of conditions, and various spinoffs of said condition. But it just fires me up that we would suggest these things – implied or other – without taking a look at the underlying issues.

Take depression – again, biologically based. Medication is absolutely one of the most important methods of treatment to start with. There are many benefits, but you don’t necessarily have to be on medication your whole life. At least not everyone needs to be…

But here’s the problem I see:

1. Medication works by “covering” up the symptoms.
2. Medication has become a catch all to provide simple solutions to complex problems.

The effect is that by “covering” up the symptoms, we start to feel better.  Great, right?  But with the symptoms covered up, some people will take this for granted and NEVER address the behaviors or habits that have been formed.  We are overlooking the underlying problems or root cause behaviors.  Eventually, people who feel better stop taking medication, and ultimately will fall back on their bad habits.

Shouldn’t we be addressing that?  Shouldn’t we insist upon providing people with the support and information that is vital to reaching health and wellness?  Trust me, I understand “therapy” claims to do that, but I’ve got my doubts…  Especially as a former therapist.

I’m NOT suggesting there is a silver bullet out there.  But I am a firm believer that we really need to take a really hard look at what is going on – and address that with as much devotion as we do with thinking medications are the answers.

What Do You Think?

We’d love to hear from you. Go ahead and give us your thoughts in the comments below.

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For a long time now, there has been a great debate about whether or not stimulant medications (e.g., Ritalin, Adderall) offer those taking it an advantage.  After all, the medication’s purpose is to help improve focus, attention, and concentration.

Who wouldn’t benefit from that?

Back in college, I remember students talking about using these medications like this (even those not prescribed) during exams or finals.  **This is something I DO NOT encourage or advise!

I’ve really stayed away from this discussion because quite honestly, it ranks up there about whether or not ADHD is even a real condition.  You all know how I feel about that…

Anyway, last night, my wife called my attention to a renewed debate about whether or not stimulant medications like Ritalin and Adderall offer students an unfair advantage?  The information I found suggests no evidence to support this benefit, but what frightens me the most is that we are having this discussion.  It’s NOT a good idea to suggest we supplement our childrens “diets’” with mind enhancing medication.

I found the following blog post on the US News and World Report website – if you’d like to read more.

For me — there are plenty of other natural ways to improve focus, concentration, working memory, and more…

What do you think?

I would love to hear from you.  Leave a comment below on your take!

PS – Sign up today to get your FREE ADHD Essentials Audio Kit.

This morning I woke up to rumblings from other noted bloggers and news feeds, addressing once again, the debate of whether or not ADHD is real.

You’ve heard it before – and you are likely to hear it over and over again.

Skeptics, non-believers, conspiracy theorists, and a few professionals have said:

“ADHD is a disorder created by the pharmaceutical companies to sell drugs and make billions.”

First off – let’s give this statement some credit. It’s a great idea, and probably well thought out. But let’s also be real, ADHD is heavily researched and highly studied. In the last 15 years, research in this particular field has exploded. And while I can understand people wanting to believe or say that ADHD is not real – just simply is NOT true.

Moving past this debate – ADHD is here to stay. So whether the skeptics care or not, ADHD is a disorder that has moved far beyond the medical and mental health communities and are deeply rooted in popular, mainstream society.

Other questions raised under this headline, include:

• Is ADHD overly prescribed?
• Are we over-medicating people?
• Is ADHD under-prescribed?
• Does everyone have a little ADHD?

Interesting questions, all with their own “facts” and all with their own opinions.

The answer: Depending upon who you ask, you will get different answers.
But perhaps what is most important is what you think the answers are, and how that relates to your child’s ADHD. Beliefs are everything, and have all the power to impact our success and understanding.

While it is important to be grounded in fact and reality, it is also important to recognize your own beliefs and how that shapes your child’s ADHD.

I don’t know how I did it – but it looks like I skipped right over reviewing Chapter 2 for you all. Oops!

I am so glad I caught this, because Chapter 2 has some great content.

Chapter 2:

“Parenting Doesn’t Cause ADHD – Genes Do.”

Dr. Monastra reviews and dispels some of the major myths around parenting as a cause of ADHD. Well, as you might be wondering – parenting or parenting style does NOT cause ADHD.
Instead, it is our genetics that we pass down which is said to be responsible for ADHD.

Much of the remainder of Chapter 2 is spent talking about the very scientific, technical aspects of what is believed to cause ADHD. There are some interesting points in there – but when you are looking to help your child, this is NOT the part of the chapter that does it. However, I cannot stress enough the importance of digesting this information so you can understand what we believe causes ADHD.

Perhaps the most useful part of Chapter is towards the end, where Dr. Monastra discusses effective treatment. In his opinion (and I agree), effective treatment includes a combination of techniques.

This can include medication (but NOT always), along with therapy, education, social skills classes, parenting classes (to learn strategies to help your child), and the development of a communication channel with school professionals to better assist your child with his or her learning habits or struggles.

Well – that’s it. I must say there were some really GREAT strategies mixed with some very powerful content. Just watch out for the technical part, and focus on getting a general idea of how our bodies work and this relationship with ADHD.

In closing, I want to add that this content is reviewed from Dr. Monastra’s book, “Parenting Children With ADHD.” Like in previous posts, I have pulled out what I have found to be useful and important. However, there could be incredible information that I overlooked which might pertain to your individual situation.

Disclaimer:

That said, I always want to share that I added the part about medication not always being necessary. Remember folks, medication can and does make a difference with many children struggling with ADHD. And – as always, please do not make any changes without first speaking with your treating physician, psychiatrist, therapist, or other direct care professional.

The more I get into this book, the more great content and strategies I am exposed to and become aware of. I also have to say that Dr. Monastra does an excellent job really explaining some tough level concepts that often can go overlooked. For example, he talks about specific ways that medications work and how to gauge whether or not they are making a difference for your child.

But that’s not all!

Chapter 3 is titled: “Medications Don’t Cure ADHD.”

This is a pretty important statement to consider. There is NO CURE for ADHD. In fact, there is no agreement among professionals about what the exact cause of ADHD is. That said – medications are only known to help people with ADHD better manage their symptoms the world around them.

Key points and lessons in Chapter 3:

• Medication should NOT just be prescribed. You need to consider the impact of a child’s dietary habits, weight, and additional factors.
• Doctors should really account for the child’s daily activities (sleep patterns, diet, medical conditions).
• Different types of medications are reviewed – what they do, how they work, and why they are different.
• How to start out on medication and ensure you have the right dosage.
• Why it is so important to track behavior patterns.
• The importance of protein in your child’s diet.
• Emphasizes a TEAM approach to treating and managing symptoms of ADHD.
• 15 – 30% of children don’t respond to one particular chemical or component of stimulant medications.
• Some medications can take 4-6 weeks to show real improvement.

Wow! What a chapter. The only negative thing I can say (and this is being really particular) is that one part of the chapter becomes very technical – even for me who has training in academia and research. But that said – I still HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book.

Dr. Monastra takes an approach and view towards ADHD that not many psychologists – let alone physicians do – on diagnosing and treating ADHD. I really like this book so far.

In this almost 60-minute interview, my good friend (who also just happens to be a Licensed Psychologist) reveals his 15 year personal struggle with ADHD.

I have been pleading with him for a few months now to make this happen. Having witnessed his struggles and personal victories firsthand, I knew he would reveal a wealth of information about ADHD.

I want you to know – there is no holding back in this interview. Together, we covered a lot of ground – some of it totally unexpected. For example, Matt is the first person (professional or other) who finally revealed how medication can be helpful, while at the same time sharing his limited use of medication over the lifetime of his diagnosis.

That’s just the beginning. In this interview, you will hear:

• How my friend had to look inside himself to find strength.
• How he had to rely on his strengths, and leverage the strengths of others in order to achieve great success.
• 7+ strategies for successfully managing symptoms of ADHD.
• The 1 “critical factor” that likely made the difference in his success.
• The 3 most important “gifts” a parent possesses and can give their child.
• And so much more…

To gain access to this interview, just sign up below:

This interview is just loaded with information. After listening to the call again – I have a 5-page outline of the information contained within this interview.

If you are a parent who struggles with a child who has either been diagnosed with ADHD or who suspects their child might exhibit symptoms of ADHD, then you will want to listen to this interview.

One the most frequently asked questions I receive relates to whether or not a child really needs medication for his or her behaviors – or behavioral problems – depending upon how you look at it.

The unfortunate answer I have to give parents is: “It depends.”

I have often said that I am against medications as a first line of defense or treatment in behavioral disorders, particularly in young children and adolescents.

While medications certainly have their use, I have seen far too many cases where children, adolescents, and even adults are medicated when they might not really need to be.

Diagnoses and illnesses like ADHD, depression, and bipolar disorder are far too real. Their implications are also far too real for couples, families, and children.

However, they exist in very small percentages of the population. Yet these diagnoses are popular today and frequently assigned to people with behaviors and symptoms that mirror the classifications and criteria for diagnosis.

“The Real World”

I would like to share a brief story with you about why it is so important to consider what else is going on before making the leap to medicating your child.

While working at a hospital, I was assigned the case of an 18 year old African American male. He was recently transferred from an adolescent unit, to the adult criminal section of the hospital among career criminals and persons diagnosed with persistent major mental illness.

He was diagnosed with Depression, and his treatment staff was concerned about his withdrawn behavior, unwillingness to participate in groups, and his apparent lack of interest to interact socially.

All classic signs of depression.

Yet, when I met with him, he was outgoing, energetic, connected, and all too real. I tried to explain this to his treatment staff, but I was apparently the only person who recognized the additional circumstances that led to my understanding of his situation.

I asked myself one simple question:

“If I were 18 years old, how would I respond in this situation?”

What I realized was that even at my age (older than 18), I would have likely responded the same way as he did.

The Moral:

My patient was anything but depressed.

Instead, he was an 18-year-old male who was likely frightened by his surroundings and the sudden change from being surrounded by his peers and friends (that he had made) to a population of criminals who had spent most of their adults lives behind bars.

While my patient did need a specific regiment of medication, he was grossly misunderstood.

As I always, I encourage you to first ask yourself: “What else might be contributing to my child’s behavior?”

Look in the mirror if you have to, even if it hurts to acknowledge that your life might be impacting your child.

It’s not to say you are to blame.