Pros And Cons Of ADHD Medication

Case Kunz

Mrs. Obray

English 10 B3

11 December, 2017

ADHD Medication - Good or bad? Did you know that according to the Center of Disease Control (CDC), over six million kids are affected by ADHD? That is a lot of kids, and most of them are treated by using prescription drugs. But sometimes the meds are not the best for the kids. ADHD meds should only be prescribed as a last resort, because alternative methods are available, and they can be less damaging, as well as teach the kids to control themselves. So to start, let’s inform ourselves. ADHD is an acronym that stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This disorder causes kids to be unable to focus for long periods of time, as well as making them more prone to outbursts.

A 2015 study shows that for those without ADHD the fidgeting didn’t affect their cognitive skills at all. But for those with ADHD, the fidgeting seemed to be directly correlated with the accuracy of answers. The fidgets can be distracting to others, but it is an effective treatment to ADHD. The popularity of fidget spinners for example, has increased a lot. And this most likely has to do with more ADHD kids trying them out.

Fidgeting devices are a great way for ADHD kids to focus. If they are doing something in one hand that keeps them calm, they can do great things with the other hand. They can remain productive, without solely relying on meds or any meds at all.

Although not about alternative treatment, a false diagnosis can be a problem. As stated earlier, some doctors may be diagnosing kids incorrectly for ADHD. Studies have shown that most kids with ADHD are those that are young in their grade. The immaturity shown simply because they’re younger, can be mistaken for ADHD. Because they act more immature compared to their more mature classmates, they can be mistakenly diagnosed.

This is definitely possible, and could affect many kids. At an older age such as high school, the immaturity factor may not be as present. But for younger kids, this is extremely

In their defense, meds have been most popular with treating ADHD. But their statement is false because success has already been seen in alternate treatment. If alternate methods were researched and developed more, they could easily become as reliable and widespread as medication. And since these alternate treatments are less harmful to the kids, they could easily become far more popular as well.

To reiterate, medications are not the healthiest solution. In fact, there are much better alternatives available. These alternatives, from video games that teach, to fidget spinners, are healthier options that are safer too. They help the kids to overcome the ADHD, not just slap a band-aid over it.

So why is this important? What do we need to learn? The most important thing we can learn from this, is that meds are not always the answer. These treatment methods won’t completely replace the drugs, because the meds are needed in severe cases. But they can help the majority of kids affected by ADHD. If the kids can learn about what the disorder actually is and how to overcome it, they gain valuable skills that will help them to maintain a normal lifestyle. And in turn they can live happily ever after, in a way.

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