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The Pros And Cons Of ADHD Medications

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When I was young my parents would argue about anything and everything, even after their divorce. My brother was ten years old and diagnosed with ADHD. My father insisted that he should take the medications prescribed to him, but my mother thought it was an unnecessary risk until he was in high school. Of course, this debate lasted a while and I decided that I would do my own research and form my own opinion. One in 15 children ages 4-10 are currently diagnosed with ADHD and one in nine for kids ages 11-14 (“Statistical Evidence”). This number continues to increase for all ages, but is it necessary for children this young to take daily medication to treat it? I believe it is not necessary for children to take ADHD medications before they are in high school because the side effects are not worth the risk considering grades do not affect your future until high school and there are many other ways to treat ADHD. …show more content…

About 83% of children that have tried medication have experienced side effects and 35% of children who stopped taking the medication said it was because of the side effects they were experiencing (Pros and cons). The most troubling side effect is irritability and anger. About 28% of children taking the medication reported having anger issues and children with ADHD already risk a higher chance of developing depression (Pros and cons). Also, about 18% of parents whose children took medication said that their child lost their personality or that the medicine had a “flat effect” on their behavior (Pros and cons). Having a flat personality at a young age and being angry can lead to children having a difficulty making friends and could also add fuel to the fire of developing depression. These are just a few of the side effects and development issues these medications can impose on young

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This growth creates a necessity for our society to consider the effects that this disease and its treatment have on our generation. According to research by two professors at Berkeley University, they expect that the number of ADHD diagnosis will increase by nearly 47% over the next 5 years (Hinshaw and Scheffler). Not only is this a staggering rate of growth, but the large majority of the new patients will be children, and they will set the precedent for how we view the treatment of such disorders. Therefore, the significance of the issue of ADHD and its treatment cannot be underestimated, and demands attention to the moral and medical consequences of the use of ADHD

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Adderall is a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, central nervous system stimulants that affect chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to focus and other behaviors. Adderall is often prescribed to those diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, also known as ADHD, and other brain disorders. Although the prescribed use of Adderall has helped those suffering attention deficit disorders, the recent rise in nonmedical use of Adderall has led to unfair academic advantages along with an increased pressure to use stimulants among students. Adderall is easily accessible on university campuses due to the lenient health care clinicians and the fact that one can find a person with a prescription willing to sell their pills or even give them away which has created a black market for the drug on campuses. College students are able to bypass psychiatrists and more stringent testing by going to the campus health clinic for an ADHD misdiagnosis (Stolz 2).

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Prescription drugs pose many health risks including both short term and long term side effects. Every prescription information sheet from any local pharmacy lists a plethora of warnings, cautions, and possible side effects. In many cases, the patient is forced to wonder if the prescription drug will help their illness, or cause further medical issues. Side effects that are considered “mild” are still troubling. Side effects such as drowsiness, sleeplessness, muscle pain, dizziness, nausea and bouts of depression may not appear to be harmful but can cause serious consequences.

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An effective argument is nothing if it’s not convincing to the audience; regardless of how much groundbreaking evidence an author has, they won’t sell a single book if it isn’t persuasive enough for people to pay attention. Marilyn Wedge is no stranger to these devices, as she uses numerous appeals throughout her book A Disease Called Childhood. Written in the height of what Wedge refers to as “an ADHD epidemic,” this book attempts to detail various causes and solutions to ADHD. In chapter six of A Disease Called Childhood, Marilyn Wedge appeals to ethos, logos, and pathos through a variety of rhetorical strategies and devices to convince the audience that the American education system is contributing to the ADHD epidemic. Wedge appeals to

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In the article “ADHD Is Overdiagnosed”, by Caryn Carlson, the author Carlson is discussing the factors that are leading to ADHD currently being overdiagnosed and overtreated. According to Carlson, based on recent studies there is reason to believe that ADHD is being overdiagnosed in certain regions of the U.S., namely the use of the drug methylphenidate has skyrocketed soon after the turn of the century. Its usage had doubled from 2001 to 2006, with its largest increase stemming from teenagers and young adults. Carlson states that the dramatic increase most likely supports the theory of over diagnose. One of the reasons behind this is that clinicians sometimes diagnose without assessing all criteria and rely mainly on parent reports.

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Kids on Meds The use of anti-depressants in children and teenagers is controversial at best. On the one hand there are studies conducted by neuroscientist which seem to prove that the use of these medication at a young age could possibly alter the brain's wiring permanently, thus altering its normal development. On the other hand, some psychiatrists claim that the benefits of using the medications far outweigh the risks of not treating the depressive episodes in children, due to the fact that each subsequent episode is usually worse than the previous. Who is right and who is wrong in this debate?

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As with all drugs, the side effects of Adderall vary in severity and frequency depending on the individual and how they take it. When the drug is taken recreationally in high doses or in conjunction with other drugs, undesired side effects are more likely to occur. Some of the more common physical side effects include hypertension (high blood pressure), tachycardia (increased heart rate), and loss of appetite. Amphetamine also activates the area in the human brain stem that controls the respiratory center, this process consequently accelerates the rate and depth of respiratory movements (cite). The psychological effects of Adderall are partially dependent on the individual user’s personality and their state of mind, typical side effects in therapeutic doses are alertness, apprehension, concentration, decreased sense of fatigue, and increased sociability (cite).

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I know many students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and have seen how they read and do homework and this study put it into a bigger perspective. I learned more about the correlations between the factors of genetics and environmental as well as homework and reading comprehension. I also learned more about its effect on twins which I had no idea how significant that results would be. It also allowed for me as I was reading to put ideas in my head of what to do in my future classroom. It is important to provide students with and without Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) a positive learning environment and I think when I set up my classroom or lessons that I need to take my students environment or learning behaviors into considerations, whether that means letting one of my Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) students work on their homework with me or in a spot on the floor where they feel comfortable as well as letting them choose their own reading books and spend a little extra time with them on their comprehension.

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Those without ADHD who were treated at a young age, 29% of them abused drugs by their mid-20s. In boys who were treated at an older age, 44% were found to have substance use disorders later on.

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The parent or caregiver has to use the reward and consequence system for the entirety for the child’s childhood, promoting good behavior. VIII. Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, also known as ADHD or Hyperkinesia, has no known cause and affects a substantial amount of people in the U.S. The disorder effects how children and teens interact with each other and the child’s schoolwork and school performance.

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Which leads to parents pressuring doctors to ‘fix’ their child (Perlman 1). The children being medicated are the youngest ones in their class, but they are just expected to act older than they are (Weber 2). Society has tricked people into thinking there is only one way a child should act. It is true that some children need medicine, but four out of five do not need to be (Richard 4).

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Children with ADHD Attention Psychiatric Association says that up to 11% of children in the U.S have been diagnosed with ADHD. This is a concerning percentage considering the possibility for misdiagnosis. Many children have been misdiagnosed with ADHD due to parents being overwhelmed by their high energy children, Schools not questioning a misdiagnosis because they get more funding for a child with a mental handicap, and because doctors choose the easy way out when treating a child with high energy. The first reason why children are being misdiagnosed for ADHD because parents are being overwhelmed by their high energy children.

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The three mental ailments associated with ADHD are inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Living with these conditions is no easy task. Anyone of those symptoms can individually lead to not having good grades, or even losing track of a simple conversation. Put all of them together and you have a dangerous mix that in undoubtably going to lead to poor school performance and an inept social life, if the proper means are not taken. Therefore, the effectiveness outweighs the risk when it comes to this medication, which in turn makes ADHD medication a promising and efficient treatment for children with attention deficit hyperactivity

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However, little study has been undertaken on what long-term effects that a child is expected to have during his/her early years of life (Eyberg, Nelson & Boggs,

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