Recent studies have suggested that the number of U.S. youngsters with emotional and behavioral problems has soared, specifically Attenion deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Pediatricians have been overwhelmed by parents seeking treatment for their children with this problem. The basis for diagnosis has been a list of behavioral symtoms and guidelines, and whether or not they have persisted for at least 6 months. However, many critics among the medical community are questioning the existence of the disorder as well as the use of psychostimulant drugs such as Ritalin.
The question still remains as to whether or not a child truly has ADHD, or is it that he/she is just a little fidgety. An increase in Ritalin prescriptions over the years is reason to ask if physicians and parents are treating typical childhood misbehavior as an illness. One psychiatric expert and leading critic says the surge in the diagnosis of behavioral conditions such as ADHD is yet another sign of a society suffering from a lack of personal responsibility. Dr. Peter Breggin, author of Talking Back to Ritalin and Reclaiming Our Children, said that labeling children, some as young as 3 years old, is nothing short of child abuse. Breggin also says that by labeling our children, we are setting them up for failure while discouraging them from reaching their full potential.
Basically, this "ADHD Epidemic" could quite possibly be hogwash while the real reason for kids' acting out is their family life, a physical disorder, or simply not being intellectually challenged in the classroom. In reality, there is no solid evidence that ADHD is a disease or just some other way for doctors and pharmaceutical companies to make money off of prescribing drugs for treatment.
Talking Back to Ritalin and Reclaiming Our Children by Dr. Peter Breggin
http://breggin.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24&Itemid=42
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