CRITICS CALL ATTENTION TO THE RITALIN ‘CRAZE'

New York Post ^ | 8/11/02 | ANDY SOLTIS

[dtel]

We have a 9 week old Auusie pup and I am sure she has ADD.
All she wants to do is bite and run around, harass our older dog, chase the chickens and get in the bull pen, and sleep.
I am almost postive a little Ritalin would reduce her to a zombie state.
Then the chickens could chase her.

That is what will happen to a boy on Ritalin, he will run from the chickens.

[FreedomFriend]

Yes, Ritalin may do the job. I prescribe it for your pup, and come on into my pharmacy when you need a refill. We can't have active puppies, not can we?

[who knows what evil?]

It is all about government incentives. Kids who are placed on Ritalin are often eligible for SS disability payments. When the government provides an open check book, certain activities occur.

My niece was vacationing here in east Tennessee this past week with her family. During the course of conversation, it came out that she had been "diagnosed" with ADHD, and was being medicated with 'adderal' (sp?), which is similar to ritalin. She also revealed that her father ( a vile piece of trailer trash who collects a monthly check for a 'permanent disability') ALSO collects an SSI check for his daughter's 'disability'. Poisoning your own daughter with mind-altering drugs in order to collect a check from the taxpayers of this nation? It was all I could do to restrain myself from pounding him down through the pavement after I heard this. Fortunately, vacation is over, and they have returned to New England to be with their own kind. G-d have mercy on the poor girl. (She has two younger brothers, who I suspect will be 'diagnosed' soon, as well; as soon as Dad decides he could use another couple of checks.

[ward_of_the_state]

It's amazing who gets to be parents in this world and who doesn't, isn't it?

[who knows what evil?]

What I find frightening is the knowledge that there are tens of thousands more just like him running loose in this country.

[ward_of_the_state]

I know I'm going off on a bit of a tangent here, but I just don't understand some people! I look at my three beautiful children and not just in my head but in my heart know that I want to be the best and do the best for them that I can. I adore them! If I have to give up something in order that they may have what they need, it doesn't even occur to me that I'm making a sacrifice. It's that important to me that they know they are loved, cared for, wanted, etc.

About a week and a half ago, a couple lost their precious toddler because of a choking accident. They probably can't have any more children and had a hard time conceiving him. At his wake, you could just tell how dearly cherished this child was, with all the pictures of him. It is heartbreaking to me that these wonderful, loving parents have lost their "ray of sunshine" as they called him, but your niece's father gets to use her and probably the two others to fulfill his own selfishness. I wonder where the justice is.

[who knows what evil?]

I wonder where the justice is.

Posts like yours always make my eyes mist over. As for justice? It's coming. Maybe not in this world, but it's coming.

[spetznaz]

Part of the reason why i always tell my friends that when they do decide to get kids they should try their very best to either homeschool them or if that is not applicable (or they are not able to do that for underlying reasons ....eg work, or the fear their kids will not get 'adequate social exposure) then they should take them to private school.

The reason for this is in my experiences i have seen some stuff that has totally shocked me! Totally.

For example this professor giving examples of war torn African countries (on a lecture on why some American companies are adverse to investing in parts of Africa) and continuing to mention Slovakia and the Czech Republic as examples (i thought of putting up my hand, but when i saw the rest of the class so engrossed, and obviously oblivious, i decided to let sleeping dogs lie). Another example was this person who totally believed going south would be faster than going north (his logical progression for that assertion was because 'gravity would assist him when heading south').

Anyway that is why in my studies i can say that although i have managed to maintain a 4.0 in Finance i have still noticed there is virtually no challenge! Actually there are several exams i have done the calculations by hand just to see if i still have the edge while the rest of the class is struggling with their Graphical calculators (and what is funny is that i finish long before they do, and score the answers correct. Which is why i always say ....a calculator may give you extra speed, but if you do not know how to solve the problem in the first place you are in a quagmire. It is like buying a Ferrari Modena but not knowing how to drive, and having no gas).

And what is even funnier is that even when i first came in the mid of '99 i was more versed in everything American than these guys were! Everything from American pop culture to American politics to American history! The only thing that differentiated me was that my accent was British(back in Kenya many of the educators in my school were Scottish or British), and that i dressed in clothes i considered appropos (instead of jeans hanging off my knees and some other atrocious garb that is referred to as 'clothing' by some in college). However the most shocking thing was the amazingly low drive these kids had. Most had no real inclination towards success, and many did not even know what they wanted to do once they 'grew up.' Imagine seeing a Senior who is still undecided when it comes to his major! Yet my peers from 'outside' have already started making connections! One of my pals from my country has already started purchasing realestate in Florida, and as for myself i have hhoked up with a pal to establish a financial linkage business that will be incorporated in the US.

Personally i think the problem with my American pals is public highschool somehow messed up many of them. Highschool here is too PC, too diluted, teachers fear overburdening kids with the workload they deserve, and when these kids go to college they face competition from kids from overseas who did the stuff they are being 'taught' in college in 10th grade! And i will not even mention work ethic.

However my point is public highschool is the bane of many a college student. And if you see my previous post (no. 5)you will notice why even Ritalin is prescribed to these kids (another symptom of an atrophied high school education system).

And the ironic thing is that in my opinion American universities are the best in the world (because they do not only teach but also establish the ability to incept and develop communicative skills which are extremely important). However the public higschools (based on the people i have met) must be atrocious!

[Maximum Leader]

Is your niece overweight and do you know if she snores?

I'm in my late 20's and a few months ago, I decided I must have ADD... I couldn't concentrate and I do fidget a lot. I talked to my cardiologist dad about it, he noted that I'm overweight, I snore, so I probably had sleep apnea. I went to a specialist and sure enough I had apnea. Once I began treatment for it (using a CPAP machine), I felt much calmer and focused without taking any drugs.
Apparently the symptoms of chronic sleep deprivation-- which results from the apnea-- mimic the symptoms of ADD.

Any child diagnosed with ADD-- particularly if they're overweight or they snore-- should see a sleep specialist before taking any drugs.

[who knows what evil?]

Is your niece overweight and do you know if she snores?

I'm not sure about the snoring, but she is definitely overweight; although not terribly so. Sad part is; the father probably won't pursue the avenue you suggest if it puts that SSI check 'at risk'. I'll try to pass the info along, however. Thank you for your advice!

[Kaslin]

She also revealed that her father ( a vile piece of trailer trash who collects a monthly check for a 'permanent disability') ALSO collects an SSI check for his daughter's 'disability'.

Do I understand this correctly? He collects an SSI check for his daughter's 'disability'? Something is wrong here

[who knows what evil?]

Do I understand this correctly? He collects an SSI check for his daughter's 'disability'? Something is wrong here.

I should have made it clear that the daughter is not yet eighteen...she told me that he gets the check.

[Kaslin]

Ok I understand that, but is the check made out to him, or to the daughter, or was it just mailed to him? The reason I ask is because the daughter of my ex daughter-in-law was also diagnosed as DDI when she was a child and received SSI checks when she was a teenager. As far as I know, although my ex dil had controll of the checks she was not allowed to spend it as if it was hers, but she had controll how her daughter could spend it. This has been several years ago, and the girl is married now and she and her husband have a beautiful 2 year old girl

[who knows what evil?]

I have no further information on the check. All she said was "he gets a check every month because she was on adderal after being diagnosed with ADHD." I have no idea whose name is actually on the check. (I have a feeling she was told to 'clam up', because she was very withdrawn and quiet when I saw her the next morning before they returned to New England.) The father controls the family money with an iron fist, however. He even confiscates the money from their paper routes. Neither the father or mother works for a living.

[goodieD]

Yes, the high schools here are just as bad (if not worse) than the elementary schools because of the emphasis on sexual freedom in the guise of "sex education", and the inability of the principals to think for themselves..i.e. "zero tolerance policies". I had the best high school in Oklahoma in the mid 70's.. wish I could have attended there longer..but even my high school in California at the time was way better than now... Back then many of our classes were taught by professing Christians including "health".. any mention of sex ed always included abstinence as the best way. Now, this same high school is hosting "diversity days"... and we all know what that means. It's sad.