David was in the first grade when he was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The father of this bright, high-spirited boy resisted the recommendation to medicate him, but one psychiatrist after another insisted this was the only way to go. So a year later, David began what was to be a lifetime of drug abuse. It started with Ritalin, Adderall, and the whole gamut of ADHD medications that are supposed to help kids like him focus and behave. He then moved on to harder stuff—but it all ended at age 21, when he died of an overdose of drugs and alcohol.
His grieving father, who shared this story in a poignant op-ed in the New York Times, makes no excuses for his son’s addiction, but he does place some of the blame on the prevailing mindset. “Ours is an age in which the airwaves and media are one large drug emporium that claims to fix everything…. I fear that being human is itself fast becoming a condition.”
One in Five Boys is a Target for ADHD Meds
Being a boy certainly seems to be. Nearly one in five teenage boys in the United States has been labeled with ADHD. These are the kids who are disorganized and forgetful, chatty and easily distracted, and squirmy and fidgety. They misplace things, put off their chores and schoolwork, don’t always listen, and make careless mistakes. In other words, they’re boys—active, noisy, rough-and-tumble boys.
I don’t doubt that some of these children have more serious problems, but there can be no justification for the well-documented 53 percent increase in ADHD diagnoses over the past decade. It’s certainly not scientific. There are no blood tests, brain scans, or other diagnostic tools for ADHD. None! It’s all subjective, based on a list of diagnostic criteria that most of us would consider to be normal characteristics of childhood.
More often than not, children whose parents or teachers are concerned about academic or behavioral problems are taken to a pediatrician or other physician and, after a cursory 20-minute visit, given a diagnosis of ADHD, along with a prescription for powerful, mind-altering ADHD medications.
ADHD Meds = Kids on Speed
Doctors may tell parents that these ADHD medications will improve their kids’ behavior, school performance, and even their chances of success in life. But do they tell them there’s no good evidence that these prescription drugs’ benefits last more than two years (although many children stay on them well into adulthood)? Or that long-term effects on developing brains are unknown?
No parent would encourage a child to take speed or cocaine, but Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta, Vyvanse, and most other prescription ADHD meds are disturbingly similar to illegal stimulants. And not surprisingly, they have similar side effects, including insomnia, anxiety, agitation, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, dizziness, headaches, vomiting, decreased appetite, stunted growth, and, in rare cases, psychosis or sudden death.
Like speed and cocaine, ADHD medications are also addictive and subject to abuse. In fact, they’re among the most-often abused of all prescription drugs. Adderall is particularly popular among high school and college students, who use it not only to get high but also to help them stay focused and awake while studying. There seems to be little stigma surrounding this use—after all, this generation has grown up with these drugs. Furthermore, they’re remarkably easy to get, either illegally for a few bucks or by making a quick visit to a doctor for a diagnosis and prescription. The downside, of course, as with any addictive drug, is that things can and often do spiral out of control.
Even when these ADHD meds do “work,” there’s a drawback in addition to the side effects noted above. I’ve spoken to a number of parents who report that their kids calm down, but they lose their spontaneity and zest for life—even to the point of becoming “robotic.” Furthermore, one drug, Strattera, has a black box label warning of changes in mood and behavior and increased risk of suicidal thoughts, and an FDA advisory panel has recommended a similar label for a second ADHD med, Focalin.
Underlying Causes and Natural Treatments for ADHD
Childhood should be a time of unbridled joy and exploration, not docile obedience—and certainly not indoctrination into drug use. We must put an end to the arbitrary labeling of children with this bogus diagnosis and the indiscriminate use of ADHD medications.
Sure, it’s easier to pop pills than to look for and correct underlying causes of behavior and attention problems, but aren’t our children worth the effort? Sleep apnea and other sleep disturbances can make anyone unfocused and inattentive. A diet rich in sugar and refined carbohydrates may lead to reactive hypoglycemia, which often causes irritability and concentration difficulties. Nutritional deficiencies (specifically iron, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids) are linked with ADHD-like behaviors. Gluten and other food and environmental allergies and sensitivities, heavy metal exposure, lack of discipline at home, inadequate opportunities for exercise and play, unrealistic expectations at school—all these can cause behaviors that lead to a hasty, inaccurate diagnosis.
Childhood is NOT a Disease
Dismal as the current ADHD statistics are, I’m afraid they may get worse. The American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), used to classify mental disorders, includes guidelines that “…ensure that children with ADHD can continue to get care throughout their lives…”
Translation: More ADHD diagnoses for adolescents and adults, more ADHD meds, and many more sad stories like David’s. Meanwhile, Big Pharma—and make no mistake of its central role in this charade—is laughing all the way to the bank.
Suggested Natural Treatments for ADHD
Avoid sugar and food additives, and make sure kids get plenty of exercise, preferably outdoors.
Consider Dilantin, 50–100 mg per day. This safe prescription drug is primarily used for seizures but is very effective for improving focus, impulsivity, and mood in children and adults.
Provide a good daily multivitamin and mineral supplement, along with omega-3s (DHA/EPA from fish or krill oil). Test ferritin levels before supplementing with iron. I also recommend Nature’s Plus Pedi-Active (phosphatidylserine and DMAE).
Finally, find a physician who will explore underlying causes and be on board with natural treatments for ADHD. To locate such a physician in your area, visit aaemonline.org (American Academy of Environmental Medicine) or come see us at the Whitaker Wellness Institute.
