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The Drugging of our Kids

How Many Students Are Truly ADHD?

Jun 11, 2006

Prescribing children with anti-psychotic drugs has increased 500% in the past seven years. There is no real evidence that many of these drugs even work.

Every year more and more students come to school medicated for attention deficit, behavioral problems and other non-psychotic reasons.

Concerns

The Associated Press states that parents, schools and doctors are becoming concerned that students are being over medicated. The line to the nurse's office at lunch time is alarming. Dr. David Fassler, a psychiatry professor at the University of Vermont, said more research is needed before these anti-psychotics are considered as treatment for children. "Given the frequency with which these medications are being used, there's no question that we need additional studies on both safety and efficacy in pediatric populations," Fassler said. The side-effects can include diabetes, weight gain, liver damage and elevated cholesterol.

Who Is Pushing?

Parents go to their doctor with behavioral concerns. The drug companies have been heavily marketing the new drugs and the doctor prescribes a drug for what could be solved in other ways. Many of these drugs were created to treat schizophrenia but are now being tried on ADHD and behavior problems.

Options

Children need structure. They like schedules. They want to know where limits are. When they do not have these needs met, behavior problems can occur. These behaviors can resemble ADHD, ODD, and other disruptive behaviors. Before children are placed on medication, behavior plans should be tried.

Who Can Help?

School counselors may be a good resource. They are in the building daily and may be able to see the child often and provide incentive programs. Social workers, private counselors and psychologists may also help. Quite often the child's behavior is a result of something happening in the home, bullying, nutrition, allergies, lack of structure, or inconsistent discipline.

Take a close look at all of these options before trying the medication route.

Read previous articles on Educational Issues.

The copyright of the article The Drugging of our Kids in Educational Issues is owned by Barbara Pytel. Permission to republish The Drugging of our Kids in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Comments

Jun 11, 2006 6:15 PM

Lynn Byrne :

Interesting article. My colleagues working with PreK-12 families tell me this is one of the number one reasons parents approach educational consultants. They need help negotiating options other than medication in order to keep their child in school. Unfortunately, there continue to be many cases here (ADD/ADHD especially) where the school (teacher, counselor and principal) insists that a child be medicated to attend. Parents must then either choose to push for a prescription with their medical doctor in order to keep their child in school; run the gauntlet of professionals to prove their child doesn't need meds--and take the chance that the school will transfer their child into special ed. or an alternative center for behavioral/emotional problems; or pull their child from the school completely. Regardless of laws to protect students and families, this is just an ongoing nightmare for too many.

Jun 11, 2006 6:38 PM

Barbara Pytel :

I totally agree. I don't think that an effective behavior management program is tried very often. I think medication is easier for the school to suggest. It is a lot of work to create an incentive program for a child and then follow through daily for months until a new habit is established. But, when it works, it is worth it. A behavior management plan is not the same as punishment. Instead of using extrinsic motivation with the teacher or parent standing over child being the motivator, I try and create an intrinsic motivation plan where the child takes on the onus of changing behavior. When you find that, you've struck gold.

What breaks my heart is parents insisting on medication when the school sees no need for it.

Jun 14, 2006 6:30 AM

Veronica Rowland :

I worked in a group home for high school girls in VA for over a year, and part of the "routine" was to give many of them anti-depressant, ADHD, and birth control medication everyday. I couldn't believe my eyes - the way most of the girls were being medicated in such a nonchalant way, when it was pretty apparent that all they needed was stability adn care. I've kept in touch with one girl who is now married, working, and NOT medicated with the lithium she was prescribed as a girl. Great article - I enjoy reading your ed issues often.

Jul 8, 2006 8:53 AM

Barbara Pytel :

This should not be the case. There should be a diagnosis first and perhaps a gentle nudge from the school to get an evaluation. The staff at a school should not be insisting that a child take medication without knowing there is a medical reason. Behaviors have many origins.

4 Comments