Medications
Children are given addictive medications to treat their symptoms of ADHD; these medications should not be given so frequently. A large number of children are overmedicated or are given the wrong dosage when trying to correct their actions in school or at home. Grigg’s research shows that a child was put on a medication that was supposed to help his problems with focusing. Instead, his symptoms were exacerbated. Rather than being given different treatment methods, he was given another medication to try and aid those symptoms (Grigg par. 26). This young boy was given the wrong medication that inadvertently decreased his level of focus and made his symptoms worse. In addition, too many children are given medication without first being carefully evaluated (Wiseman par. 1). Doctors are prescribing drugs without really understanding what is going on with the young patient. While physicians are lazily prescribing medicine, there are many different medications that are being given for ADHD symptoms. Research compiled in a chart by Barbara Wexler and the National Institute of Mental health found that there are more than 17 different types of antipsychotic drugs that are used to medicate children with ADHD; some are used in combination with other drugs (Wexler). These medications are not fully understood by scientists and doctors and, if given the wrong dosage, will be harmful to a young child’s body and mind.
Furthermore, the percentage of children that are being medicated for ADHD is growing every year, which is resulting in more serious behavioral issues and is leading to more deaths. Countless numbers of children are being given the careless diagnosis of ADHD each year and are given medication to help their problems. Writer for the Toronto Star Christopher Reynolds studied patterns of the amount of medication given for ADHD: “The concern… [is a] a study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that shows an eyebrow-raising 75 per cent of American children aged 2 to 5 with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) take drugs to treat their symptoms. But less than half receive behaviour therapy” (Reynolds par. 1). Thousands of children in the United States are given drugs to help with their issue of focusing, but very few are actually getting physical help. Also, senior reporter for The National Post Sharon Kirkey conducted research in Canada that showed that Quebec gave antipsychotic drugs to over 25 percent of their youth under 18 years old (Kirkey par. 1). These numbers are ridiculously high and should be considered a serious problem to parents and doctors. Another issue with antipsychotic drugs is the behavior problems they are causing. Nonfiction Author Bruce Wiseman found that high doses of antipsychotics are heightening compulsive behaviors in children (Wiseman par. 8). Children are taking the drugs, which is resulting in worse behavior than before the medication was consumed. Obviously, these drugs are not being used in the proper way and should be more closely inspected before being prescribed. In addition, some young children have died from consuming the wrong dosages of ADHD medication that in reality, wasn’t necessary (Grigg par. 1). The issue of children being overmedicated is continually growing and needs to be monitored more closely to save the lives of adolescents.
On the other hand, supporters of ADHD medication feel that drug therapy is the most effective way to cure a child of his or her continuing symptoms. Many people feel that young children should receive drug therapy. Grigg reports that “Advocates for the forced medication of schoolchildren diagnosed with ADHD… are unapologetic about the use of such totalitarian methods” (par. 37). Members like these believe that the powerful drugs can save the lives of children with ADHD. Others believe that overmedication for ADHD has never existed. Author and journalist Hannah Seligson conducted research in opposition to a book she read on overmedication of ADHD; she urges that the over prescription of antipsychotics for ADHD is embellished by the media. The media is only trying to scare the public, and these fears should not be acted on (Seligson par. 5). By focusing on the media, Seligson overlooks the deeper problem of the number of children that are proven to have died from receiving the incorrect dosage of ADHD medications. Overmedication is a real problem that needs to be addressed and taken care of before more young children have fatal encounters with the wrong medication.
Furthermore, the percentage of children that are being medicated for ADHD is growing every year, which is resulting in more serious behavioral issues and is leading to more deaths. Countless numbers of children are being given the careless diagnosis of ADHD each year and are given medication to help their problems. Writer for the Toronto Star Christopher Reynolds studied patterns of the amount of medication given for ADHD: “The concern… [is a] a study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that shows an eyebrow-raising 75 per cent of American children aged 2 to 5 with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) take drugs to treat their symptoms. But less than half receive behaviour therapy” (Reynolds par. 1). Thousands of children in the United States are given drugs to help with their issue of focusing, but very few are actually getting physical help. Also, senior reporter for The National Post Sharon Kirkey conducted research in Canada that showed that Quebec gave antipsychotic drugs to over 25 percent of their youth under 18 years old (Kirkey par. 1). These numbers are ridiculously high and should be considered a serious problem to parents and doctors. Another issue with antipsychotic drugs is the behavior problems they are causing. Nonfiction Author Bruce Wiseman found that high doses of antipsychotics are heightening compulsive behaviors in children (Wiseman par. 8). Children are taking the drugs, which is resulting in worse behavior than before the medication was consumed. Obviously, these drugs are not being used in the proper way and should be more closely inspected before being prescribed. In addition, some young children have died from consuming the wrong dosages of ADHD medication that in reality, wasn’t necessary (Grigg par. 1). The issue of children being overmedicated is continually growing and needs to be monitored more closely to save the lives of adolescents.
On the other hand, supporters of ADHD medication feel that drug therapy is the most effective way to cure a child of his or her continuing symptoms. Many people feel that young children should receive drug therapy. Grigg reports that “Advocates for the forced medication of schoolchildren diagnosed with ADHD… are unapologetic about the use of such totalitarian methods” (par. 37). Members like these believe that the powerful drugs can save the lives of children with ADHD. Others believe that overmedication for ADHD has never existed. Author and journalist Hannah Seligson conducted research in opposition to a book she read on overmedication of ADHD; she urges that the over prescription of antipsychotics for ADHD is embellished by the media. The media is only trying to scare the public, and these fears should not be acted on (Seligson par. 5). By focusing on the media, Seligson overlooks the deeper problem of the number of children that are proven to have died from receiving the incorrect dosage of ADHD medications. Overmedication is a real problem that needs to be addressed and taken care of before more young children have fatal encounters with the wrong medication.