The Truth and Responsibility in Mental Health Practices Act [STOP DRUGGING OUR CHILDREN ACT]

Joyce Johnston ^ | 3/17/02 | Joyce Johnston

[joathome]

"Just because we are conservative and have a healthy distrust of social workers and the like, does not mean that ADHD is just something teachers invented because they don't want to deal with disruptive students all the time."

I happen to believe that ADHD "is" real, but that doesn't mean that it isn't GROSSLY overdiagnosed.

As far as the good ol' days, my brother, by any stretch of the imagination, would be diagnosed ADHD today. He DID need lots of playing outside, running around, etc. He "did" behave in class because he knew he would be disciplined if he didn't. (But with reasonable expectations.) He also graduated from college, and is quite succesful. The idea that kids like him won't be successful is ludicrous.

[Osinski]

There are people who think and act inside the box and those who think and act outside the box of what is considered regular.

Public schools operate a lot like factories whose employees can do the assembly line work but do not know how to deal with the custom work. Custom work requires more time and patience and skill and usually the customer gets better product. Hard to do custom work with unskilled or semi-skilled labor. Custom work usually goes to the custom shops where they can specialize.

Slowly, parents are getting savvy about how to make the public school address the custom work.

[Slyfox]

There are kids who are difficult to teach, but there have ALWAYS been kids who have been difficult to teach.

One big difference today is that the schools get paid extra for each kid they find that is difficult to teach.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

These drugs even make it to where a child cannot remember what he/she reads. Learning becomes impossible in a highly over medicated state.

I'll buy that! I got a bachelor's degree in engineering 2 years ago. If I drank a 6-pack of beer everyday before school, and then another 8 or 9 throughout the day, how well do you think I would have done in college?

Hell, why pussyfoot around? Just prescribe the little tykes a few Budweisers before school and dole out a few more throughout the day. Whether it's little white pills or beers, it's all just don't-give-a-damn medicine. Feed them beer, it's cheaper.

[Grendelgrey]

...Note to Atomic Punk... there are some law suits developing concerning Drug companies giving school districts monies in return for tracking information on school children. It may be that some school districts have played middle man with the drug companies for a pay off.I smells an Agenda here. Children on prescribed drugs can not learn ....and that can not be the teacher's fault...you can't fire us ha! ha! ha! ..The sad part is there are some small few numbers of children who really do have this problem...too bad the NEA has figured out how to take advantage....

[all4one]

I think that ADHD and all the other supposed disorders being diagnosed in children today are a result of a "fast food" society. Doctors, Teachers and Parents looking for a "fast" fix.

Parents who are barely involved in their children's lives and are too busy to spend time with their children. Pharmaceutical companies looking to create a new generation of buyers from cradle to grave.

Children these days are not nurtured, given proper nutrition, exercise or proper rest.

I have a 6 year-old and a 3 year-old, they have yet to drink soda, eat junk food, or visit a fast food restaurant. They both ask for apples, carrots, yogurt, etc. for snacks. Wow, the marketing companies must really hate us.