(Debate) Children with attention deficit disorder being forced to take drugs - Is it ethical?
Question:
Now, about the medicine:
1) Medicine affects children in both positive and negative ways, but does one side outweigh the other?
My opinion: I can concentrate better when I am on Adderall, but on the contrary, I have suffered from headaches, weight loss, panic attacks, periods of moodiness, lack of sleep and self-doubt.
Is it ethical to use drugs to try to change a child?
My opinion: I'm not so sure myself. I may be a little slow in doing certain things, but I excel in spelling, abstract math and vocabulary. I believe that attention deficit disorder is just an alternative (but equal) way of thinking, with its own attributes.
Do parents consider the possibility that their child can become addicted to methamphetamine?
My opinion: I don't believe mine do. On the days that I don't take it, I feel horrible. Although it is used to treat attention deficit disorder, it is still methamphetamine, and cravings are quite possible, even without nicotine as an ingredient.
And, finally, shouldn't children with the "disorder" be taught to consider their creativity and abstract thinking a gift?
My opinion: I'm not sure about considering it a gift, but Hell will freeze over before I ever conform to calling it an impairment, as does most of society.
I would love to hear from parents and teachers who have children with ADD, as well as other children who have it.
Answers:
You are asking some very good questions, and make some good points. Consequently, my response will be a long one. I am an individual with ADHD - primarily inattentive type and I also have a learning disability. I learned this when I was 39 years old.
You mention that you have good manners and are compliant. I can relate to that . You also mention that you have trouble focusing, remembering and following directions, and finishing work on time. Man can I relate to those things too. In fact, while writing this response, I have had to look up where you mention these things at least 5 times.
I would agree that individuals with ADHD tend to be creative, some of our most innovative inventors have been ADHD - Edision for one. Thomas Hartman has a theory that he compares people with ADHD as the "hunters" of the world, (explorers for example) and the ones without as the "farmers" (the ones who settle the land and establish communities and such). Both kind are needed.
I can understand your concern that the stimulant medications can be addictive. However the chances of that happening are much less when your medications are being closely monitored. In fact, individuals with undiagnosed ADHD have a strong liklihood of becoming addicted to the street chemicals and alcohol as a form of self medicating. I was a social worker who worked with many clinical populations, and I saw this repeatedly among those with addiction problems.
I am glad that you do receive some benefit from the Adderal. However I am really concerned about the reaction that you seem to be having when you take it. Those could be significant side effects that your parents and doctor need to be aware of. I took Adderal for a short time and while I was on it, had a big increase in my depression, that let up when I stopped taking it. I would hope that you have the opportunity to try some other medications. I have tried several, and found that Dexedrine has been the most effective one for me. I have found that the benefits are more subtle - and that the coming down from them is less noticible than the other ones. For me, it is a much more gentle drug. I also take some anti-depressant medication, so that I don't have to take as much stimulant meds.
There are some computer tests that can be taken to measure the effectiveness of the medication. One of them is the TOVA, and the other is the Continuous Performance Test. They are administered by a psychologist.
You mention that when you don't take the Adderal that you feel horrible. I don't see that as a result of being addicted, other that you are not receiving the benefits of the medication, and so your thinking process gets messed up kinda. Let me explain.
Research has shown that there are certain parts of the brain where there is less activity during certain tasks - like remembering, focusing, being able to work quicker (what are called excutive functions). One of the things that the stimulant medication does is to speed up those parts of the brain to where it can better meet those tasks or make it work closer to what it should be doing naturally. So in the case of someone who is hyperactive, the part of the brain that helps control movement is underpowered. So the meds just give it what it needs to do it's job. Even though I have been on very high dosages of the medication, I have yet to experiance a "high" from it. I know ways that I could, but don't need too.
ADHD can present some significant problems. The energy that you need in order to focus, remember, follow directions and work faster takes away energy needed to meet the other tasks you need to be doing. The tasks you describe are essential for getting the most out of your education, and also working satisfactorily.
When I am not on my medication, I tire much more easily, don't think very clearly, and lack alertness. Sometimes I have not been able to drive a car when there has been people talking because I have to concentrate so much and can't easily divide my attention between driving the car, and listening or trying not to listen what is going one.
I don't see medication as changing me. I see it as helping me work up to my potential. As a parent, I see it as morally and lovingly responsible to make sure that my children are recieving the best medical care possible.
I do hope that you will be given the chance to try some other medications for your ADHD. From what you are reporting, it does seem much more unpleasant than it should be.
I wish that I had known earlier that I ADHD and the learning disability. It would have helped me seek employment that was much friendlier to my condition, and would have helped me work around the effects of it so that I wouldn't have eventually gotten let go from my job. I could have gotten help in school and did better academically. (In fact, I am now in technical school and found that the accomodations that I am now receiving have been real beneficial, and I am doing better than I did, when I was first in college. I say this seriously, my high school teachers were surprised that I could graduate from high school, much less get a college degree. Yet at the same time, I with the exception of a few areas (connected with my ADHD and learning disability) I have average to much above average capabilities. But one would never know that by looking at my grade school and high school records.
This is probably much longer of a reply than is liked, but I hope it is helpful. Take care and I wish your sucess.
It is sad that it has come to this no1 can be made to do wat they dont want to do
My son was diagnosed with borderline ADD when he was 7. I didn't beleive in giving medication because it was overused at the time. I was upset that noone was trying to give me alternatives. I have worked heavily with the teachers when my son starts to fail (no one subject.just depends on the way the teacher is and how they connect or don't to my son). My son still struggles with school where his friends and relatives that take meds are exceling. But I also know that he isn't being doped up and is learning to cope (I hope). Sometimes I wonder if he would do better (now 15) with meds. I have asked him about if he felt he was ADD. He says that he isn't.but then I know for a fact that he still forgets things told to him 2 minutes ago.
I am thirteen, tho my birthday is on thursday, and I have ADHD, and I agree with everything you are saying.
I once told a kid at my school last year that I had ADHD, and his responce was "Wow, Cool! Everyone with ADHD is sooo cool!"
I am extremely smart, and I point to my ADHD as a cause. I have always viewed my ADHD as a gift. It gives me the ability to compose whole symphonies in my head, tho not the ability to understand how to write them down, to create pictures worthy of Piccasso, tho not the ability to correctly draw them. I read so fast that people are afraid of me. I can work out very complex math problems, and overall, I think that my ADHD helped produce most of this.
My mom was against giving me meds when I was young, but when I got depressed when she died, my dad put me on depression meds and ADHD meds. He says they increace my IQ. I disagree. On days when I forget to take it, I feel absolutely no difference. In fact, I am usually happier than elsewise. My ADHD is NOT an impairment. It allows me complex thoughts that I would elsewise not acheive. I always refer to it and my depression as mental anomalies, never illnesses. I am not sick. I am not weird. And I do not need meds to make me any better than I already am.
I believe it is a gift. Think about it kids with ADD and ADHD have energy and drive to get things done. Yes they have a hard time concentrating on things, but when they find something that they really dedicate themselves to, there is an endless amount of things they can accomplish. I believe it is an alternate way of thinking, but i know for a fact that even without drugs if they find something they see needs to be done, or changed, or just something they are really passionate about they do it with such a drive, it amazes me. Of course Im one of the people thats very much into the Indigo/Crystal thing so some may not agree with me. But yes, I think that kids with ADD should not be forced to take drugs that make them conform with the society they have the ability to change for the better.
People aren't born with the ability of focusing, remembering and following directions, finishing work on time. They need to be taught by their parents how to. Just as some kids have talent when it comes to playing a musical instrument, they still need to be taught the discipline needed to use their talents.
I don't understand how parents expect kids to be skilled in focusing, remembering and following directions, finishing work on time, and given their kids drugs when the parents don't teach them those skills.
ALL kids have trouble with focusing, remembering and following directions, finishing work on time unless they learn how.
You sound like an incredibly bright teenager. I'm impressed at the depth of your thought about these matters.
I study psychology and work with children that have a variety of "diabilities" and I agree with many of your points. I know that ADHD medication can be good to help people focus and get their work done, in the school environment... but I also believe that if children were not exposed to the rigid school environment of regular public schools, then they might not need the medication to help them fit into that particular box.
I'm not sure if the ethics question can be raised here - parents decide things for their children all the time, based on the information they are given.
Now, is it ethical for psychiatrists to prescribe these medications to children? That's a slightly different question, and hard to answer. Is it ethical to withold a drug that might help, when a child is frustrated and depressed at school, because of not being able to fit into the pattern that they must, to be able to perform well?
I think it all depends on the individual case. If the child only has access to a regular public school and cannot afford tutors or a Montessori school or something of that nature, then perhaps drugs are a good short term solution.
On the other hand, I firmly believe that the public school system is terrible and should be abolished and replaced with something that helps children learn naturally and draw on their own particular strengths... because I too believe that what we call ADHD is just a "different way" of doing things.
In an ideal world, all children would be free to learn in their own way and we wouldn't need drugs. They're just a "patch" that fix the child enough to be able to fit into the "system". It actually sounds horrible when I put it that way, but unfortunately that is the way our society is currently set up.
Keep asking questions and wondering about things, the world needs more people like you : )
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