Strong Opinions about ADHD

ExchangeEveryDay on January 18, "The Plague of ADHD," clearly touched a nerve. Here are excerpts from a small sampling of the diverse feedback given. Feel free to add your views by scrolling to the very bottom of this page to the "Post a Comment" section.

Gwen Morgan, Lincoln, Massachusetts, USA:
This speech is greatly enhanced by the graphics; I hope your readers were able to download them. It's not really about ADHD; it's about education and its harmful effects on children and older students. Everything we know about brain development enforces the author's belief that the model is creating toxic stress in our children's bodies — stress that prevents them from learning and achievement in life. That's a chemical process in the brain and nervous system. It can't be offset by deadening children's senses to affect their behavior in class. So ADHD is relevant, but the problem is the education system.

Megan, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA:
While I applaud his assertions about changing how we think and structure our educational system here in the U.S. to allow every child to learn from their individuality, I do take issue with some of what he says about ADHD. I do not advocate for always medicating a child with ADHD; medication is a part — a very helpful part for some, in managing the symptoms of ADHD. I can say that for my son, medication does not put him to sleep, it supports his brain in doing what it is not naturally built to do. It helps him filter incoming information, determine what is most important at that moment, and focus on it. Not all individuals with ADHD need medication to help them filter stimuli. I agree there is not an epidemic of ADHD; there are no more individuals with ADHD than there were 100 years ago, but then could we not say the same thing about individuals with other conditions, such as arthritis? It is simply that we are more advanced in the medical field and have identified it and begun to treat it when indicated. Changing the education system would support all children for who they are and as they EACH learn best... that I am all for.

Mary Brown, Statesboro, Georgia, USA:
I read ExchangeEveryDay daily. I must say this one stabbed me to my heart. I have always felt this way about giving young children medications (drugs) to calm them down. I am glad to hear that there is someone else out there who feels the same.

Sent by email -- not posted as public comment:
Please be more responsible when you publish things. The existence of ADHD is NOT open for debate. It is backed by solid empirical evidence with scientific scans and countless studies. The drugs that are used are not dangerous. The most common, Ritalin, leaves the body when its dose is over. Neither are they in any way addicting. These are facts. In fact, people with ADHD who don't take medication often self-medicate with alcohol and drugs, which are addictive substances. Properly medicated children with ADHD are not zombies. With the proper medication and dosage, they are able to function as the rest of the neurotypical students do. Medication levels the playing field for these students, much as giving glasses to a student does who can't see.

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