Plus…
It also helps the parents, or responsible adults, managing the child by making the child far more malleable.
Wanna know why?
BECAUSE THE CHILD IS DRUGGED UP!
Researchers are saying that Adderall, Ritalin and other drugs may be far less effective – perhaps almost completely ineffective – in helping performance…but they sure do make users [And the users PARENTS] think they’re doing better. From TheWeek.com: “Researchers gave 47 subjects tests on a ‘variety of cognitive functions,’ from memory tests to IQ problems. Each was tested while on Adderall and on a placebo, but were not told which was which. Students on Adderall were far more likely to say ‘the pill had caused them to do a better job on the tasks,’ even when their performance was not markedly better….Why might students think [this]? Because the drug releases the ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitter dopamine; thus, it’s logical that users feel they’ve done a great job, whether they (objectively) have or not. [Read More]
Ugh.
My parents had my little brother on Ritalin for while when he was little (many years ago) because of ‘behavioral issues’, until HE got HIMSELF off of the drug by refusing to take it anymore. He didn’t like the way it made him feel…
And good for him!
Eventually they agreed, but it took them awhile to come around initially.
I told them then, at the time, having him on the drug was hogwash, it would not help him, DISCIPLINE would. (Ritalin’s chemical similarity to cocaine.) But at the time, so many parents had just discovered a much easier way to parenting (Drugging your children) and they would not heed my advice.
I tell you, back then? Ritalin and an ADHD diagnosis was all the craze.
Heck, it still very much is NOW.
But for those of you who THINK getting your child onto prescriptions is the way to go, please read the above quoted article again and reconsider. DRUGGING your children, of course is easier, but it does not work and will very likely harm them in the long run.
These drugs do not work.
Finally. Proof. And can I just get a big ol’ “Duh”.
Drugs, no matter the form, DO NOT FIX THE PROBLEM (except in possibly very EXTREME cases). Sure they make you mistakenly assume there is no problem, because the problem is drugged out of your mind, but they do not fix it. Drugs simply mask it with a ‘Hello Kitty’ band aid and although it is pretty and it does make you feel good, underneath the problem still lurks until you address it.
And it will continue to rot and fester until you do.
Word of advice: Do the parenting yourself. Don’t leave it up to the drugs to do it.
I always felt sorry for the poor kids who were drugged for the behavior problems . I agree with your opinions completely . Love and attention and discipline can be better for the child then anything else. The consistency of messages that parents are giving to the child is very important too.
I was a child long time ago but what my parents did was talk to me and explain things. there was why , what and how . i dont know did that make me logical or i was born logical but I love to follow from A to B to C and they did treated me like equal with like child . They thought too that I was smart to understand everything . That accomplished one thing I never had fits and tantrums .
Drugs messed up child brain and make him fell strange .
And how old were you when you said your parents not to treat your brother with drugs ?
Early twenties. It was back when I was in college, when ADD was the cause of ALL parents problems. Heck, it seemed like all a kid had to do was blink too fast and they were diagnosed. I was pretty lucky, I had a great chemistry professor who really broke it down for me how close Ritalin and cocaine were and he made me see it in a way I probably wouldn’t have otherwise. Mr Hammergrin. I tell you, HARDEST professor I ever had. But he was also my favorite in college.
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