Attention Deficit Disorder †Is It Myth or Reality? :: essays research papers fc

Attention Deficit Disorder is one of the more controversial topics for parents, educators and physicians in their efforts in identification and treatment of the disorder. Imagine your son or daughter being involved in this horrifying, grotesque, nightmarish hell. â€Å"On December 1, 1997, Michael Carneal, a fourteen-year old opened fire on students at a high school prayer meeting in West Paducah, Kentucky. Three teenagers were killed, five others were wounded, and one was paralyzed. Carneal was reportedly on Ritalin.† (Wiseman) â€Å"On March 24, 1998 in Jonesboro, Arkansas, eleven-year-old Andrew Golden and fourteen year old Mitchell Johnson shot fifteen people killing four students, one teacher, and wounding ten others. According to one report, the boys were believed to be on Ritalin.† (Wiseman) This is just a few of the numerous events that the one common denominator was the use of Ritalin or other mind-altering drugs. These drugs drive some of the children who take them to acts of violence, murder, and suicide. Bruce Wiseman is one of the many who believes that Attention Deficit Disorder is widely fraudulent labeling and drugging of our nation’s youth without proper identification and without trying other remedies or solutions. (Wiseman) We claim that we are a society of â€Å"Just Say No To Drugs.† Then why are there are approximately four million children on Ritalin today. (Connecting with Kids, Fox News 43, November 13, 2000) The World Health Organization and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) place Ritalin in the same category as cocaine, morphine and opium. These drugs are known to have the highest potential for abuse and are very addictive. Literature that is given to parents, does not address the abuse potential or actual abuse of methylphenidate, a generic for Ritalin. It is portrayed to be a mild substance that is not associated with abuse or serious side effects. In reality, there is scientific literature, which indicates that methylphenidate shares the same abuse potential as morphine, opium or cocaine. There are case reports that abuse can lead to tolerance and severe psychological dependence. (a 30 page report by the Drug Enforcement Agency in 1995 entitled, â€Å"Methyphenidate†) These reports are not taken seriously and in many cases not referenced at all. Therefore, the parents are not given the opportunity to make an intelligent decision based upon information mainly due to information that is very vague, general and possibly misguiding. There is no biologic, organic or scientific basis for Attention Deficit Disorder.