The American Academy of Pediatrics is now on record for recommending drugs for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This is nothing new. It has obviously been the common practice for years or else there would not be five million children in the United States taking psychiatric drugs. This rubber stamp of approval from the American Academy of Pediatrics may shoot those numbers even higher. While this should make the drug companies happy, I don't think it is a very safe or effective way to help our children. Here are some compelling facts which support my position on this controversial subject.

1. ADHD is a psychiatric diagnosis with no valid test to prove it exists.

2. ADHD was voted into existence by a show of hands.

3. Side-effects of the drugs used for ADHD include psychosis, paranoia, aggression, heart attack, cardiac arrhythmias and high blood pressure.

4. Ritalin has the same dependency profile as cocaine.

5. Ritalin treatment predisposes takers to cocaine's reinforcing effects.

6. The United States uses 90 percent of the world's Ritalin supply.

7. There are underlying health and learning issues which can cause attention and behavior problems.

ADHD is a subjective label

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is officially a psychiatric label. In 1987, ADHD was literally voted into existence by the American Psychiatric Association and inserted into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Psychiatrists write the book and decide what behaviors or groups of behaviors are psychiatric disorders.

Within one year of deciding to insert ADHD in the DSM, 500,000 children in the United States were diagnosed with the disorder. A common denominator of these psychiatric disorders is that there is no objective way to define or to diagnose them. If you have high blood pressure, your doctor can objectively measure and diagnose the problem. If you have diabetes, your doctor can objectively measure your blood sugar and give you a diagnosis. There is no way to measure for a psychiatric diagnosis. It is this subjective standard that the American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending for pediatricians to use when deciding to give a child a mind-altering drug which carries many serious risks.

Drug risks

In addition to the most commonly prescribed drug, Ritalin, other drugs used for ADHD symptoms include Adderall, Dexedrine and Metadate (long-acting Ritalin), which are amphetamines or "speed" type drugs. Amphetamines are classified as controlled substances because they have a high likelihood of abuse. Ritalin is similar to cocaine, affects the same receptor sites in the brain and triggers the same effect on the body when taken in the same manner. In medical research, Ritalin and cocaine are used interchangeably. Ritalin is being sold and used by teenagers and college students as a street drug.

Adderall and Dexadrine are straight amphetamines. Another drug prescribed for children is Clonidine or Catapres, which is an adult high blood pressure medication. This "adult" drug has never been tested on children under the age of 18 and is not indicated for use for anyone under age 18.

The SSRI drugs, including Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Luvox and others are also used on children. These drugs list as possible side-effects heart problems, paranoia, suicide and aggressive behaviors. I have seen many patients who were prescribed these drugs by other doctors who have become extremely aggressive and suicidal while taking them.

There are many other side effects to the drugs prescribed for ADHD symptoms. I recommend to all my patients that they get a drug insert from the pharmacist or purchase a Physician's Desk Reference (PDR) for themselves. If the side effects sound worse than the problem, they might not choose to take the drug. The reason the PDR lists side effects is because they can and do occur. Everyone should decide individually if the benefit of taking the drug is worth the risk of the potential side effect.

Causes of attention and behavior problems

Every child deserves a complete medical work-up by a physician who understands that allergies, blood-sugar problems, learning problems, diet and nutrition can affect how a child feels, thinks and acts. When a child has attention and behavior problems, it is not ADHD. These children don't have psychiatric problems. They often have medical conditions or academic problems interfering with their attention and behavior.

In my practice, I see thousands of children from all over the world who have been damaged both physically and psychologically by the ADHD label and the drugs prescribed to them. Prior to seeing me, most of these children have never had a medical exam to rule out any health problems causing the symptoms. In fact, countless children have suffered frightening side-effects to the drugs before seeing me. After a comprehensive history and medical exam, I have uncovered a variety of underlying health problems in my patients that are overlooked by other doctors. I have seen time and time again how the attention and behavior problems resolve after treating the identified health issues.

Drugs and behavior modification have no place in the treatment of these children, and doctors who use them are not taking the time to do the appropriate medical and educational work-ups. So if the American Academy of Pediatrics thinks we should be drugging these children, then ADHD might as well stand for Another Doctor Handing-out Drugs. Our children deserve better.

Dr. Mary Ann Block is an international expert and author on the treatment of ADHD without drugs. She has served as a peer reviewer for the Agency for Health-care Policy and Research and the American Academy of Pediatrics for the diagnosis and treatment of ear problems. Additionally, Dr. Block has been a guest on The Montel Williams Show and interviewed on CNN News, NBC's Home Page, Fox Network News, Extra, TBN, and The Today Show in New York as well as such magazines as Better Homes and Gardens and radio and newspapers across the country. She is scheduled to be a guest on this week's edition of CBS' "48 Hours" television program.

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