I used to be one of those people that thought ADHD was just a discipline issue until my young son was diagnosed. After being removed from 2 preschools for being uncontrollable and at times hurting others (he is only 4). he began a drug regimen. Now he excels at reading and math and a joy to be around. So trust me, don't judge everyone by that documentary.

If the companies will not produce enough medicine that is needed. Then the PATENT should be forfeited.
Then other companies can fill the shortage.

Real simple solution, I was diagnosed with adhd when I was younger and prescribed ritalin, I took it for a few years, and it didnt really do much. Then I found pot, started smoking, and I could concentrate, sit still long enough to get my work done, and just had a better attitude in general. To this day I smoke a little after work, and it keeps my brain chemistry in balance throughout the next day, no problems whatsoever. There's a reason it's medicinal!

Arieus Do you really believe everything you see on TV or in the movies. I am not saying their are not a pill happy doctors. However for ever bad doctors out their their are thousands of good ones out their. As far a saying allot of these kids don't need medication and need a kick in the butt makes me think you are the one who needs the Kick in the AZZ. It safe to assume that you never know anyone with a child with ADAHD and the only way to help the child live a semi-normal life is medication. Parents who have these kids don't what to hear their child has a ADAHD and for the most part only allow their kids to start taking these drugs when its their last choice.

Watch this the real drug dealers aren't on the corner selling drugs to your kids, they're established and they've got your number.

Aries has a great point, many of meds were originally remedies in search of maladies.

You want to be sure you don't had ADD/ADHD? Condition yourself to pay attention. We're conditioned nonstop to only focus for short periods of time, turn off the TV, learn to read, learn to play an instrument and to sight read music. All kids have boundless energy, they all want to jump about has their systems are set to GO. Making them medicated zombies hopped up on hallucinogens is not the way to do it, it is only the way to make the chemically dependent. Rather, as parents it is our job to condition them to be able to resist their impulse and to focus on tasks at hand.

It is a conditioning problem, not a medical problem. Sadly they're using a medical remedy that should be conditioned remedy.

I have a child with adhd and a husband who has it. They both take medication. It definitely makes life easier but if they don't have their medication it's not the end of the world. I would say this woman in the article has far more problems than just adhd. I am saddened to see that she would medicate a 4 yr old child too. If a child is not in school, then they should not be medicated. Yes, it's hard to deal with them but you have to accept ownership and deal with it! I struggle with the constant thought of having an 11 yr old who has been medicated since 1st grade. It's very sad to think about. Her academic success is depends up on it, why give it to a child any sooner???

a lot of these kids forced to take these drugs when all they needed was a good swift-kick in the azz will be just fine

I used to think like that until watching my sister's daughter grow from an infant to a toddler to a kindergartener. The child was hyper as a baby jumping up and down in the playpen at night and would hardly sleep. As a toddler she would misbehave and just not listen. My sister would spank her so hard her butt would be red. As a pre-schooler she disrupted other kids and was an even bigger problem at home. They tried time-outs. Nothing worked. Finally when the child entered kindergarten, the teacher could not control her and she wouldn't do her school work or homework.

Only then did my sister and brother in law finally make the decision to see a pediatrician and psychiatrist about her behavior (it only took them 6 years to figure it out!). She was diagnosed and is on medication. Now she can focus on her academics, is much better behaved, and also finally can sleep through the night. Six years of hell they went through before realizing they had an ADHD child. So, as others have said, it is a very real problem to many.

Yes, I know there are legitimate needs for all this but in most cases, we are simply medicating our children instead of parenting them as they need. Parents are needed now more-so than ever. It is a tough job and you must love your kids to be able to shelter them and discipline when needed. Drugs are not the only answer.

AKRandy - The patent for Adderall has already expired, as I am looking at my supply. I think the issue is more that the raw materials to make it are restricted by the DEA.

If they didn't put every kid that's a little over active on ADHD medication, there might not be as much of a shortage. We can't medicate our way thru life with pills that do this or that. Granted, some people like the lady in the article really needs this medication but, sometimes it's just boys being boys! I'm probably a little OCD myself but I manage to get along without taking pills for it. My wife takes an anti-depressant to keep herself coping with life in general, otherwise she just goes ballistic over every little problem.

When the brand AND generic manufacturers are both reporting shortages on traditionally blockbuster medications, something tells me this is not profit driven. On the other hand, you have two large government regulatory agencies that both have their hands in the manufacturing of these products. DEA oversees the materials, FDA oversees the processes. Each one is passing the blame on to the other, round-and-round, while no progress is made. It's like having not one, but two bosses over your shoulder watching your every move. Does not make for a productive nor efficient work environment.

What concerns me is that unless things have changed in the past 2 years, the last I heard there were NO ADHD treatment drugs that had been tested and approved for use on children as young as age 4. They simply don't know what might be getting mucked up in developing bodies and brains that young. With all the children being diagnosed and medicated younger and younger, it worries me what changes we'll see 20 years from now.

Let's look at the real issue.......most of the patents have EXPIRED and the companies that held them are no longer raking in the big bucks and no longer have the incentive to keep these drugs on the market in large quantities anymore because insurance companies will no longer keep their expensive name brand on the formulary list anymore. Again, the drug companies are putting profits about people. Yet, another reason to go to single-payer health care. Once we do that, drug companies will no longer have the power and will have to negotiate and will have to go back to putting patients first.

ADHD is a neurological disorder that runs in families. I have four people in my home (two kids and myself with autism and ADHD and a husband with ADHD) on meds and we cannot go without meds here. It's utter chaos and dysfunctional. My ADHD is not as bad but the other three have severe ADHD. It's not about a "swift kick in the rear". It's about underdeveloped frontal lobes of the brain that doesn't produce enough dopamine. It's the part of the brain that controls focus and impulse. Stimulant drugs help the brain produce more dopamine, helping the person to focus and control impulsivity. I get sick of people who don't understand basic bio-chem who think that it's a behavioral issue. It's not and no amount of physical abuse will control ADHD.

Hi, YELDARB. Long time no see.

My father, myself and my 2 sons are all extremely active.......extremely. People are constantly asking where we get our energy.

I sometimes believe it is simply a personality type. What I hate to hear is parents talking about, "Oh, he/she is such a good baby/child." Inevitably, many of those "good" babies and children are simply sluggish, inactive and passive by nature. An active baby/child is by nature more work for parents, teachers, etc., but they have great potential for accomplishing much in life.

1984?, I agree that she has a lot of other problems. Come on. She's 32, in college, 4 (!!!!) kids and is concerned about the needs of her boyfriend, at least according to the writer of this article. If the boyfriend has needs, I'd suggest he take them somewhere else because this woman is all full up.

You don't get to use performance enhancing drugs in sports. Amphetamines are highly addictive and cause brain damage. You can't expect everyone to perform at the same level. It isn't fair to competing students or employees as a lot of people do not need these drugs. They do not just work for people with ADHD and that is the problem. Anyone can go to the doctor and say they have trouble concentrating and sitting still and come home with an Rx they don't need but could benefit from. They might as well do cocaine. Maybe ADHD isn't so much of a disorder. Maybe other people are just higher functioning. Diseases like this are all relative.

Man, do I grow weary of all the ignorance on this issue. ADD is a neurological disorder that manifests in behavioral symptoms. In other words, hyperactivity/inattention is to ADD/ADHD what coughing is to the common cold. Would you treat a cold with a "swift kick in the azz?" Would you try to "condition yourself" out of a fever? Of course not. That's why such suggestions in relation to ADD/ADHD are so thoroughly misguided.

Hollywood I disagree whole-heartedly. Your logic about patent expiration works for the brand manufacturer, but most of the shortages are generics. The brand mfgr has no incentive to produce large volume of drug, but this is the perfect situation for a small generics manufacturer to step in and reap high rewards for high demand products. Now you may argue "pay for delay" is the culprit, but that reasoning is not financially sound either. The reason they have not, is likely raw material shortage which is repeated time and time again.

Drug companies do put profits first. As does every other company on the planet, nothing new there. But thousands of pharma employees, researchers, etc. do not have this profit motive. It is an insult to the honest, intelligent, hard working people when you say nobody cares about the patient.

Lastly, I just need to point out that going to single payer system will do nothing to drop or even level rising healthcare costs. Pharma spending accounts for about 6-8% of all health care, so even if there were a government mandate that all medications were given away 100% free (which we know is impossible) you would not be saving much out of pocket, and you would completely stifle innovation and research. Besides, single payer systems only change WHO is paying, not WHAT they are paying for. There will still be efficacy and safety issues, there will still be raw material issues, there will still be profits and marketing and advertising even under a government run HC system. Remember many big pharma companies are NOT US-based, they are in Germany, or Switzerland, etc. They come from countries with government run health care. The pill is still the same, with the same safety and efficacy, no matter who pays for it.

We had really great success treating our ADHD child with interactive metronome therapy - it was noninvasive, simple, and best of all, it worked! It is also worthy of note that schools can get more money for kids with diagnosed issues who take medication.

@Prohibition doesn't work

Real simple solution, I was diagnosed with adhd when I was younger and prescribed ritalin, I took it for a few years, and it didnt really do much. Then I found pot, started smoking, and I could concentrate, sit still long enough to get my work done, and just had a better attitude in general.

Sooo, your simple solution is to give our kids a joint? Um yeah, that's helpful to a developing brain.

Interesting points of view throughout these comments and probably a lot of good stuff to think about.

Here is my thought. ADHD - hmmm, why is this so prevalent in America and nobody else is harping about it in the world? When you go and read up on this so called sickness there is really not much to support anything with facts. Kids being fidgety, don't pay attention etc. that is standard stuff and does not need medication! Fix it, parents, and be there for the kids and control their lives as you should instead of letting them run around loose like a cannon ball! Too bad you have to work, both. Don't have kids.

Over medicating is a "great" thing in our country and it shows with this ADHD thing(millions of people is not believable). When the doctors don't know or want the patients to shut up - medicate them into a stupor - done.

What a country and what a statement of mental bankruptcy. Put 'em on drugs.

So called sickness??? Poor parenting?? You haven't a clue what you are talking about. There are loads of facts out there. Check out the CDCs site if you believe there really isn't any evidence to support that ADHD is a true and neurological disorder. You think that ADHD is just that millions of parents out there don't spank their kids? And that it is just kids being fidgety kids? Again, you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.

I struggled with my son's diagnoses for years because a*hole people like you try to make it out to be my fault. Well my family doesn't fit in the mold you like to place on ADHD parents. We are well educated and my husband and I have a wonderful marriage. We do things as a family as often as we can. We live in a nice house and have nice cars. We spank our kids and have absolutely no problem taking away their most beloved things to teach them life's lessons.

This is not just a little fidgety and a little inattentive we are talking about here. This is massively disruptive to the entire class and NEVER paying attention! Not the same thing! The teachers were doing the best they could. but how do you punish a child who does not relate consequence to actions? Grounding? Did that. Cancelled trips that were already paid for? Remove every personal item from their room and make them sit in there for days? Yep, did that too. How bout a swift spank on the behind? Oh yeah, almost to the point that we thought that we may have crossed a line.

We are still coming to terms with what is happening to him. It is not easy to watch him struggle. Knowing that some day, he will have to try to be a productive member of society worries the heck out of me. People like you make it even scarier.

And by the way, ADHD is thought to be as prevalent in other countries as it is here in the US. However, some countries have different diagnoses for it which makes it difficult to compare. Here is a link to the study should you choose to stop talking out your behind and really look into this disorder.

Don't people realize that articles like this are indicative of the dependance people get onto these unnecessary drugs? She has to spend days trying to determine if she'll get her fix...rather than doing the things she needs to do. This is just more of an example of why these kinds of drugs are DESTROYING our sense of responsibility and will power and will be an important ingredient in the downfall of our overzealous and overworked society.

Tell kids, "All you need to do is take this drug, and you'll never have to think about self-discipline again." Then you can't get them the drug and they have no idea what self-discipline is at all! Rather than being over worked and underpaid, our society needs to recognize that "productivity" is causing our youth to depend on performance enhancing drugs because (1) we want humans to work beyond our natural capability because international economic competition is the #1 priority and (2) we're willing to overlook this simple fact and use outside chemical enhancements to continue with the trend rather than recognize that we need to spend more time parenting our children rather than at work. It's a vicious cycle and will only get worse because of the way the world is; it's not really any individual's fault but nothing's going to change unless people can recognize these simple observations and begin to do something about it. The more distractions we have in our daily lives (whether it be more hours at work or more apps on our iPhones), the less time we spend parenting ("we" as in our society). This is the problem. The external scaffolding of things like iPhones certainly enhance productivity, but at what cost? Clearly, the cost of our children's well-being and mental health and stability. We need to recognize this and choose our children and our future over our fancy toys.

This drug is the worst thing that could have ever happened to colleges. Students get hooked on the drug because they need to keep up with the other students that are taking it. But then their grades are artificially inflated by a performance enhancing drug; therefore, when they enter the workforce, the employer sees their grades, which are simply a reflection of their unnatural ability, and hires them based on these false numbers. As a result, when the individual enters the workforce they either (1) under perform from their employers expectations and could possibly be fired or (2) must continue to be dependent on these drugs. Either way, it is a system of social destruction that will collapse on itself if the drug companies can't keep up (as it appears they can't or won't) or if it continues our society will be dependent on a chemical brain enhancement drug and will become too fragile to succeed. WAKE UP and stop pretending like self-discipline and attention are not things that can be fostered in children and enhanced in adults without chemically induced manipulation of brain chemistry.

There has always been talk of over-prescribing some drugs, but when there is a real need this is torturous for these people.

The truth about ADHD is that it's more often than not, a culmination of different conditions combining in basically a perfect storm and, rather than diagnose and treat, doctors choose to use a catch-all "disease" with numerous catch-all drugs.

The "disease" didn't exist (and no, not just because it wasn't on the books) until after the big pharmaceuticals and the U.S. Government started testing the use of amphetamines on entire classrooms in the early-to-mid 1900s. Soon after the FDA approval of the use of amphetamines for human consumption, a tidal wave of prescriptions were written, and ADHD gained a comfortable spot in the diagnostic manual.

Without further pressing the point, which do you think is more likely...big pharma created the need for an easy and cheap to manufacture drug, or that a disease suddenly appeared and spread en masse to only the population of the United States that is easily treated by the administration of mind (and body) altering amphetamines which, whether or not you like the realization, are not unlike their sister drug, which is manufactured in your friendly neighborhood meth house.

she shouldn't have had so many kids in the first place.

I like how this affliction came about within the last 20 years, and now people literally "cannot survive" without these drugs.

As previous posters have mentioned, like it or not, these drugs are basically diluted crystal meth, and the longer they are taken, the more the brain is "hard-wired" to need them. The long term effects of these drugs arent even known yet.

Maybe we should start looking at the type of food we give our kids on a daily basis before blaming our brains. Anyone think just maybe it has something to do with the fact that children are ingesting multiple soft drinks a day flavored with straight corn syrup? The cocktail of chemicals used in foods nowadays is certainly to blame for a percentage of these kids' problems.

How about lack of physical exercise? Do you think its just as healthy for the mental state of a child to be shooting people with M16s for 5 hours on a Tuesday night on their XBOX as it is to be running around all night, expelling energy with the neighborhood kids playing "Kick the can". Not exactly a great comparison, but when my dog doesnt get her daily walk in, she's a nervous mess and is boucning off the walls the rest of the day.

And adult ADHD? Please. Smoke a damn joint to mellow out. I do it when Im stressed about work and it works great!

How in the world can you let your kids get hooked on drugs in the first place?What are feeding these poor kids?Sugar?I grew up in the Fifty's and early sixty's,so i didn't have an xbox or a nintendo and a cell phone.There were seven of us and we did get to listen to mom and argue a lot,but we got over that.We played outside and i don't think mom and dad ever mentioned a thing about taking anyone of us to a mind doctor.How many of the kids are actually getting their medicine?It looks like the parents need it more than the kids do.If our way of life is causing all this histeria we need change.I know for a fact that a lot of us are overworked.Those kids should not have to be on any kind of drug that is like speed.Take these kids camping.Give them something to do that they can tell their kids about when the time comes.Kids where i live hardly see their parents,so they run amuke.I have a neighbor that has a little 4 year old boy that broke my windsheild.I called the cops and asked the cop to talk to the little boy and tell him that i forgave him.He came a talked to me and said the little boy was crying and told him he thought sure i was going to press charges and the little guy just could not understand what i had done.I know the little guy and his family and his parents are do nothing drug atticks and the last thing they needed was a son in trouble with the law.This same little kid set fire to 2 house's after the insedent with me and the winshield.There is still hope for the little guy though.What in the world has he got to look forward to with his parents doing drugs all the time though.I do agree that children should not be doing any kind of drugs,but parents with this condition could subtutute the drug their doing with a sativa cannabis and win their battle of this condition and not have the side affects that this legal meth is going to give them.The drugs they are taking is really meth,but worded differently.Who ever is selling that stuff needs to be arrested.

I'matthebeach, nice to hear from you again. I agree with what you wrote. Parenting is a tuff job even when things go right. My experiences with the whole ADHD, situation are a bit unique. My wife taught school for 14 years before up and quitting to ensure her own personal safety and my sanity. Yes, it got that bad. At one particular elementary school she worked at, 60-75% of the kids were on some form of ADHD drug. See, the crackhead parents got more money from the sate and feds if their kids were considered slow. They put them on these drugs just for the hell of it. They got more assistance money for their crack habits. This is no exaggeration. Just the facts. Since my wife quit, she has never felt better. Things are so much nicer at home too. She took up another private child care job and couldn't be happier to be away for America's public school disaster.

YELDARB27: I am not a crackhead. I have a son that has ADHD & PDD-NOS. We avoided medications until it became clear that the behavior modification, diet (though he's always been on a healthy diet), exercise, etc., weren't cutting it (we still do all of these things even with the medications). Funny thing - I've never gotten ANY financial assistance. Parents don't get money because their kids have ADHD.

Summer, I don't think anyone on here has accused you of being a crackhead. Their are legitimate needs for these medications but they are also being over-perscribed due to greed and a lack of parenting. Trust me, the ones I am speaking of ARE CRACKHEADS. Come visit, bring your body armor and I will take you by some of these lovely schools. You too will no longer be a doubter.

But, it is a fact that the parents monthly welfare subsidy is greater with their kids being classified as learning disabled. All that is needed here in the state of Virginia, in order for them to gain this classification is for them to be perscribed an ADHD drug. This is happening every single day. This is not something I just made up.

YELDARB27: I realize you weren't calling me a crackhead - I was just saying that because you made this comment:

See, the crackhead parents got more money from the sate and feds if their kids were considered slow.

Basically, it was my way of saying - "wait, awful broad brush you're painting with there - not all of us are crackheads"

But, it is a fact that the parents monthly welfare subsidy is greater with their kids being classified as learning disabled.

No, it's not. When I was in undergrad (I went to undergrad after I divorced my ex-husband, and graduated in 2009) - we were eligible for all sorts of assistance (food stamps, housing, medicaid, daycare and utility assistance) - I was NEVER eligible for more because I have a son that had ADHD and is on the autism spectrum. I don't necessarily think you are making things up - I think you are mistaken. Those are two very different things - making things up implies you know it's not true, but you're just saying it anyway; being mistaken implies you are simply misinformed. I think you are just mistaken about this, not making things up. Everyone is mistaken sometimes.

I appreciate you giving me the benefit of the doubt and you are right, I was mistaken but only slightly. Extra money was and is still being paid to the parents of so-called special needs children. All that is required of the parents is to have a Dr. put them on any ADHD type drug. My mistake was stating "welfare". Is is not a "welfare" program but it is a SSI program. I just revalidated this FACT with a Portsmouth VA public school administrator. You are welcome to do the same if you still have doubts.

Yeldy, Again you have the facts while others just spout opinions. These metal wars that you wage against unarmed folks really aren't fare. Just for the sake of a fact check I will call one of those public elementary schools and report back. "after the holiday period"

Please do and don't forget to leave the name and phone number of the person you spoke with.

Some people will not admit they are mistaken even when publicly proven so.

The whole thing is...This is just another way that so-called parents are being persuaded into needlessly medicating their children strictly for profit to themselves all while the public schools are forced not to teach but to parent them.

YELDARB27: Ah, thanks for the clarification on that. Yes, there are some kids that receive SSI that have ADHD - however, I don't know a single family that of a child with ADHD that the child qualifies for SSI (and being a mom of an ADHD & PDD-NOS kid, I know a lot of them - but, certainly not all). Typically, this is only for those that the ADHD is severely disabling for them. SSI, as I'm sure you know, is to help provide for the needs of people that have disabilities. If a person has disabling ADHD, then they should be entitled to SSI. If the person doesn't have disabling ADHD, then they should not be given SSI.

Like I said earlier, my son has ADHD and PDD-NOS (which is on the autism spectrum) - I've never looked into nor has it ever been suggested to me to look into SSI for him.

Summer, please look into it. Also as I stated earlier, my wife worked for the public school system for 14 years prior to quitting for her own physical safety. Now she teaches one on one with a child with autism in the parents home. It is called "respite care" and is another state funded program. This program not only provides teaching and care for the child, as the name implies, it also provides a much needed respite for the parent/s. Again, I do not know what state you reside or exactly what programs are in it.

Also again, I never meant to imply that you are like any of the crackheads I first spoke of. What these terrible parents are doing is a shame and just another taxpayer ripoff. basically they are taking normal children who need some form of stability and discipline in their lives and filling that void with medication for profit.

YELDARB27: Thanks for the suggestion. My son with PDD-NOS, is what some people would call high-functioning autism. He does go half day to a specialized school program where they do school work and provide therapy for his autistic behaviors. Then he transitions to a mainstream class for half the day. He use to be fully mainstreamed, but we found that it simply wasn't working. He also has therapists come to our house 2x a week, in addition to appointments I take him to every week. Fortunately, I have very good insurance through my school that has no lifetime cap. However, once I go to my residency, my insurance might change, and we might have to look into other programs due to cost.

It's sad that your wife had

Arieus

Well, a lot of these kids forced to take these drugs when all they needed was a good swift-kick in the azz will be just fine.

That is a surprisingly ignorant comment. Would you prescribe a swift-kick in the azz for a cancer patient? How about a diabetic? Epilepsy?

A chemical or physical dysfunction of the brain is somehow different from a dysfunction of the kidney or heart? Perhaps a basic course in Anatomy and Physiology would help you to understand that the brain is an internal organ...you know, like the liver or spleen.

ADD/ADHD is NOT a recognized as a disability...please get your facts straight....u cannot get SSI just because you or your kid have been diagnosed as having ADD or ADHD....sheesh!

Capitalism at its finest!

How is a Government created shortage Capitalism. Vote for Ron Paul to legalize drugs and the shortage would quickly disappear, because the DEA would no longer be creating shortages, rationing, and creating pain an misery for patients.

you are exactly right!!! I am dyslexic and ADHD and have been my whole life. School was hell for me growing up. I came close to getting kicked out of school, but you know what... I learned to deal with it, (WITHOUT DRUGS!). Now I have a BS in Biology and MBA and have had a successful career (48yo). I still struggle at times but in the give me a pill to solve my problem society we have now, how does anyone stand a chance to develop the true skills needed to help with the problem. Thank you drug companies, who will have a life time customer because they didn't allow them to learn coping mechanisms

Good for you pal. Wat about ppl who really do need meds to keep level and sane? Hey, im ok why not you? Not everyone is like you.

I would not be shocked if this was a pharmaceutical ploy to get us to have to use the name brands more because they make more money on them. The companies can get together and say, "I'll stop producing generic X for your name brand, if you stop producing generic Y for my name brand." Quid pro quo.

It's all about the profits, not people.

I have a son that was diagnosed with ADDHD. He was taking medication twice a day. One day I had to run a refill up to his school at lunch time. I headed in the direction of the nurses office and was dumbfounded when I saw a line of little boys that went all the way down the hall and around a corner, waiting for the nurse. I wonder how much we are just drugging our kids. If the situation is this bad that that many kids need ADDHD meds and drug companies are running out, maybe we need to explore what is causing this huge increase in the diagnosis.

Randy-840072 - You're full of poo. Yes, many people will take drugs instead of buckling down and doing the work that needs to be done, but there are others who genuinely have issues. I went unmedicated for 33 years and managed to run an IT department for a large company, and write books for kids on the side. However, taking medication filled in a gap that was missing and allowed me to fully reach my potential. Your reductionist attitude toward this issue is idiotic and adds nothing to the discussion.

Randy, being dyslexic is completely irrelevant in this context -- but it does sound like just another way you can pat yourself on your back and convince yourself that your problems are soooo much worse than anyone else's but you make do, so you are soooo much better than everyone else. Good for you. Glad everything is working out for you. Glad your ego is so "healthy." But it is not possible for you to legitimately pass judgement on all others based on your personal experience. But if it makes you feel even better about yourself to do so... No one can stop you.

This isn't capitalism. The state is dictating quota's and controlling the supply of the precursor chemicals.

This is what happens when government interferes in the market. Shortages and market collapse.

Nannette, you are lying. No one needs to take ADHD meds in school anymore because no one takes short-acting Ritalin anymore. With the invention of the long-acting meds, you take one pill in the morning and it lasts ALL DAY. And that goes for most drugs, like Depakote (for bi-polar), etc. And it's not just boys. Girls are now being diagnosed.

hollywood,

How can you call Nannette a liar?! You know for a fact that everyone takes Ritalin CR?! I, for one, cannot and do not take a control release pill. It does not disperse the medication evenly throughout the day for me.

I highly doubt there are lines of boys in her school that cannot take the control release pills and have to take short-acting methylphenidate. There are many other drugs that there are once-a-day and there is hardly any children going to the school nurse, let alone lines of BOYS. Try again.

Well, is 20 or 30 kids really that large of a fraction of say, 800 students? How about a 1,200, or even more? And how long is the hall in the first place? And what proportion of these children have ADHD?

It's all relative, so yes, there is a possibility that there is in fact a line of little boys. Maybe a few girls, but boys are mostly diagnosed.

Also, might depend on the school, but I know in my area, these kinds of medications are usually dispensed by the school nurse.

Sorry Hollywood, but unless you got pics showing her hallway is empty, it's best you just keep your mouth shut and avoid calling people liars.

Money, drugs, and government; money, oil, and government; money, war, and government: house wins every time.

Howard Roark-1138273

This isn't capitalism. The state is dictating quota's and controlling the supply of the precursor chemicals.

This is what happens when government interferes in the market. Shortages and market collapse.

Interesting theory Howard. So which Guvmint agency dictates how much of a specific drug Pfizer Inc can produce?

I've used L-Tyrosine before - thanks for reminding us about it.

One caveat, though - if you DON'T need it, too high a dose can cause anxiety attacks.

Although this is something to consider, there is great variability with the effectiveness. Also, over the counter items are not regulated and you may think you are administering a consistent dosage only to find variations from bottle to bottle.

People who have lived with the ADHD reality know what works for one person may not work for the next, so again becareful in giving medical advice without a license.

None of this has worked for my son. If he had this slightly worse he'd be sitting in a corner rocking himself. All the psychologists who have diagnosed him have told me this.

You should be grateful that you can overcome your problems rather than telling everyone else that they don't need drugs or medical assistance. You have no idea how difficult it is even to get my son to remember to medicate himself. Not everyone with ADD, ADHD, OCD or Asperger's can drive a car. 'I put the things I need the next day in my car.' What of those who must ride a bus or walk where they need to go? Such arrogance you people exhibit.

I wish my son could go to college. He's very bright but he can't get organise himself enough to register for classes. There's nothing in place to help him due to budget cuts. He still has tantrums and he's clinically depressed and suicidal.

This problem is complex and different for everyone who suffers from it. I've never taken a cent of government support or social security to help but things are hard for us. I'm a survivor of ovarian cancer and I don't know how long I'll be around to help him. When I'm gone I don't know what will happen to him.

Peridot-1693859 I feel for you and wish I had an answer.....please don't give up trying to help him...concerta was my GODSEND and I don't even believe in god....I've actually been able to go to college and graduate after getting kicked out of highschool at 15 and I keep a steady job now....I'm married too...very happily....anyone that knew me before does NOT even recognize me now as I've done such a 180 with my life after getting diagnosed and getting on proper meds....good luck to you and your son:)

The ole digital parent paradigm.

It doesn't necessarily mean they don't have ADHD. One of the traits of ADHD is the ability to hyperfocus. I've got ADD (without the H), and I can hyperfocus like crazy on a given task, then spend the rest of the day looking for my car keys.

Actually, hyperfocus is a symptom of ADD. It sounds like you don't know enough about it to make judgements.

Money, power, work, soda, "drugs", etc. can all cause the same type of problems as video games. As with everything "moderation is key", too much of one thing is almost always a bad thing.

Too much oxygen is a bad thing, too much water is a bad thing...I could go on and on.

There are two natural herbs one being Kava Kava and another that is outlawed that have the same effect. Kava can cause liver problems so be careful of the type and the other can cause jail problems. I think it is unamerican that I cannot go down to the corner store and pick up a box of weedies grown on American soil, by American farmers, while paying tax to our government...:).

Vidoe games can be addictive for ADHD kids because of the constant action and movement. They move at a high rate of speed and keep the kids engaged like other things can't. I limit my sons gaming because once he starts with certain games, I can't get him away. Those games are not allowed in my house but some of the neighbor kids have them.

I too have ADD my two primary symptoms are hyper focusing and Thought process wandering. I can sit for hours doing one thing and have absolutely no clue whats going on around me. The thought process is the worst though. I find it hard to focus on when needed, Ill have a hundred thoughts in my head at one time. Its the worst at night and I describe like a blender with all my thoughts and I need to pick the ones that I need to focus on and discard the rest, all the while the blender is on puree. Yes it seems like two opposite ends of the spectrum but the hyper focusing is my minds way of resting taking a break and recharging. It can be watching traffic or birds, washing the bike or car, watching a TV show or listening to the radio.

Through the years Ive learned to control it somewhat but on occasion I might need my ritalin. Thats usually when I know I will need to focus, say in a technical work class or seminar, or if we will be on a trip where the outside stimulation will be to much to process.

I do agree that many kids and adults are medicated for this when the real issues are other things. Those other things can be as one poster said about video games. Other issues can home life school issues and even learning issues. Dyslexia is one thing that is not noticed because teachers and parents will assume that the child cannot focus on school. When children lose focus for what ever reason they will become disruptive. And as stated those issues can be many other things besides HADD and ADD.

Fawn, first of all, you can hyperfocus with all three versions of ADHD (ADHD-Inattentive, AHDH-Hyperactivity, ADHD-Combined). Secondly, it is no longer referred to as "ADD"....I think you mean ADHD-Inattentive which the writer eluded to when saying ADHD without the H. Fawn, I think it is you that does not understand the disorder.

That being said, a hallmark of ADHD is the ability to focus on what is considered interesting. It is the area of where something may not be as enticing (school, listening to parents) that these kids struggle. Let's face it, normal kids have to be kept on track, imagine having ADHD.

Also, the symptoms of ADHD are vast as it is an impairment of the Executive Function of the brain. Not limited to inattention or disorganization, but also include emotional control, lack of empathy, short term memory, failure to complete tasks, distractibility,figeting, interrupting, etc. I say this as I have had teachers tell me that they did not see how my son has ADHD and then tell me that he does not finish his work and is easily offended. Gotta luv Dr. Teacher!

ADHD has strong physiological connections and CHOP has found genetic links and actual mutated DNA in their studies. It is not poor or lazy parenting, it is a real disorder that turns lives upside down.

As far as video games being addictive....that is a stretch, there is no withdraw! :) They are attractive and like BMX said, interactive. Many times they are an outlet for these kids at the end of a schoolday to be able to play without receiving negative responses from their friends or teachers. Nothing wrong with that, but just control the time. Let's face it, anything a kid loves to do is difficult to interrupt with more important issues. Video games have key moments where if stopped, it defeats the efforts of the entire game, not to mention the ADHDers are more intense!

The real issue is the medication. The shortages cause major problems for the families that already struggle to get through everyday. The situation needs to be addressed. Understand the cause. The quotas imposed by the FDA on the manufacturers that produce methylphenidate products has created the shortage. Once they get behind the production schedule, it takes months to catch up. I spent 20 years in the industry, it is a complex process from manufacturing to getting the product to the end user. Many steps and regulations.

Bottom line, the FDA needs to be more responsive to supply and demand and operate in a less bureaucratic manner.

Just to be clear, ask any psychiatrist or psychologist, and they will tell you the same thing, a person with ADHD can be so focused on one thing that they forget everything else around them. My son was eight years old when he began using the bathroom on himself. We took him to his physician who for months had been telling us he was possibly ADHD. Me, being one who thought ADHD was a crock, insisited it was something physically wrong with him. Two different pediatricians later, the same diagnosis, ADHD. We went through six months of testing and therapy with a psychologist, who gave us the same diagnosis. We started him on medication, and within a month he went from reading on a kindergarten level to reading on a third grade level. Yes, the medication scares me, however I have seen first hand the result of my son not taking his medicine. People need to understand, that it is not always just the hyperactivity or the inability to pay attention that causes problems for these kids and their families. Were you aware there are some children with ADHD who also have sleep disorders? Some become so frustrated they do nothing but cry? Did you know that some suffer from severe anxiety making it even harder for them to function everyday? Alot of them have learning disabilities? Some of these children even hoard!! My son is one of these children, please don't judge until you have walked in our shoes.

My son also hoards and has sleep/anxiety issues. It is so hard to get him to lay down. I have recently heard that meletonin(sp) works really well and is a natural sleep aid. I was told to get it from health food stores. I personally haven't tried it, but I thought I would share.

KJ55

Yes melotonin works I have another son that has sleep issues. He is 5 and takes 3mg at night, It usually works within 30-45 window, but its short acting and he will wake 3-4 hrs later but usually goes back to sleep right away.

Don't get your hopes up. Big Pharma, like Big Oil and the others, have contributed to our corrupt Congress. Simply replacing one party for another come election time will make no difference.

I suggest we solve the problem by making two variants of adderalll - one for each sex - call them ATTABOY and , yup, ATTAGIRL.

This is a shortage that is the result of FDA restrictions for products with the main ingredient of methylphenidate. There is no benefit to the manufacturers to impose a shortage. It is actually more expensive for a manufacturer to overcome backorder situations as once the product comes off of the line and is apporved for release, they have to rush to fulfill backorders. Since it is a Class II narcotic, there is specific government paperwork that is time sensitive and required for each order. The paperwork is required from the manufacturer to the wholesaler, from the hospital/pharmacy to the wholesaler (no one buys directly from a manufacturer) and adds 3-4 days to the process of the order as it must be signed and physically carried. You can see how the productions restrictions snowballed into a huge problem!

So if you are going to point fingers, point them at our friendly government!

Retired, you truly believe that the pharmacy companies are the ONLY ones who charge the consumer for their R&D? That's ridiculous. ALL companies do it. It's built into the prices you pay for cars, the latest techno craze, whatever.

I agree with what many others are saying here. The doctors are in cahoots with the pharmacy companies, and as such prescribe whatever they can to as many as they can. There are many alternative options to drugs out there. Before you subject your child or yourself to a lifelong addiction to drugs, try looking into the homeopathic alternatives. They can work just as well, without the side affects or costs.

This is correct in part. If the auto makers charged 100 % for their research and developement cost, we would all be taking the bus. The average family car would cost over $100,000.00. I prescibe 100% to the hoempathic route as it has been around a lot longer than the pharmacutical companies, and in most cases more effective.

This was not created by the manufacturers, please research the issue before making insults!

The FDA has restrictions on the production and that created the shortage. It takes months to overcome backorders in manufacturing, not to mention the issues with it being a Class II narcotic which complicates everything.

The price has not changed and the manufacturers are already locked into contracts.

Here's some research for ya' ...

Adderall was introduced by a company called Richwood during another American attention deficit drug crisis - the Great Ritalin Scare of 1993. Drastic shortages of THAT groundbreaking ADD drug prompted thousands of panicked parents to switch to Adderall, despite Richwood's dubious pedigree as the startup of a former Kentucky schoolteacher, Roger Griggs. Following in the tradition, Shire is now attempting to use contrived Adderall shortages as a chance to convert ADD sufferers (and their long-suffering parents) to the cause of their new(ish) ADD drug, Vyvanase.

This has been done before. Different drugs. Same game.

Here. This would have been a meaningful story for MSNBC to source, instead of this fluff, shallow story ...

http://www.thefix.com/content/pay-attention-adderall-add-big-pharma7004

for the people saying its the governments fault jeff just said what the real issue is.

Jeff, not everyone can take Vynase as it is harsh on the digestive tract. It has been around for a few years. Shire provides different varieities of meds for ADHD, they are the industry leader.

Essentially, they have already pretty much cornered the market. They make Adderall, Adderall XR, Daytrana, etc. They are competing with theirselves. Although Adderall in its original formulation is off patent, the others are not.

Jeff, should you become educated about the issue, you will learn that most people have to switch medications numerous times throughout their lifetime. It may not digest well, they may have side effects that interfere with everyday life (tics) or a med may simply stop being as effective.

Instead of claiming contrived conspiracies by yourself, become part of the industry and learn how it operates and under what conditions. It is well documented by not only the manufacturers, but the FDA this is the result of the limitations on production.

I envy anyone who has found treatment for their ADHD. I have yet to find a doctor who will diagnose it, though I have had a few doctors allow me to try some of the various ADHD meds out there. None have worked for me. In fact, a few have made my symptoms worse. It is hell to not be able to focus or start tasks that need to be done. I also have a lot of anxiety because of it. I am raising 4 kids, one with severe ADHD (so bad he was diagnosed at age 3 1/2). It's a daily struggle.

Lovely--if you've tried stimulate-based ADHD meds and they've made you worse, then you're not hyperactive. You may still have "straight" ADD. Meds in the Ritalin family won't help you in that case. I'm straight ADD-inattentive, or whatever they call it now. I take both anti-anxiety and anti-depressents, which treats those issues and gives me the energy to focus on my ADD symptoms. There are some ADD meds out there that are not stimulants. But keep in mind, if several doctors have not diagnosed you, then you may just be a mom raising four kids, including an ADHD one. That's a struggle for anyone. Good luck.

My son's doctor told me in the beginning that if the meds didn't work, then it is not ADHD. This is because the part of the brain that needs the stimulant is not misfiring and the meds would have the opposite effect. Perhaps you need a psychologist to help you. Also, don't overlook your hormones! They can cause some massive issues in your body if your chemistry is out of whack! Good luck.

huh, my son who has ADHD and PDD-NOS (on the autism spectrum), eats a very healthy diet. We use organic foods, I prepare everything we eat at home (no eating out, no pre-packaged meals) and am very careful with what we consume (not just diet-wise, but household products, etc.). Yet, he still had ADHD.

I agree that having a healthy body is the first way to ward off various diseases and, yes, it can have an impact on behavior. However, to say that this is a cure for ADHD is a stretch.

Janell, ADHD is a brain disorder. Many parents of ADHD kids try all the things you suggested and some may help and some may not, but at the end of the day there is no cure for it. Some kids are lucky enough to outgrow it, or learn to compensate for it. But for others the drugs are the only thing that work and they will be on them for life.

your right jannel, my sisters doctor is an old school one. when the school started complaigning about one of my nephews they wanted her to put him on drugs for adhd. their doctor instead ran a diet panel on the boy. they changed his diet, so that he no longer had anything with dyes in it. they changed over to all natural foods and a healthy diet, he no longer has adhd issues.

if more doctors did things like this first, there might not be a shortage of the drugs, instead most just toss the drugs at you first.

I can agree with you there Jannel. I had a co-worker from years back whose son was diagnosed with Touretts syndrome. Rather than having their child become brain dead on the Ritalin that was prescribed, they went on what was known as the Feingold Diet. Getting rid of all the toxins, chemicals etc. It worked wonders. The whole family was on it, and the child did beautifully.

This disorder begins with the very first days of brain development in utero. Following a certain diet, even from day 1, will not guarantee that you or your child will not have ADD/ADHD. There is some merit, though, in working with the diet of an ADD/ADHD patient. There is a growing amount of research that suggests diet can help lessen the symptoms, sometimes greatly. Artificial dyes are a big one to eliminate; so are artificial sweeteners and preservatives. But while holistic remedies can be a cure for some and a help for others, don't expect it to be a cure-all any more than a pill could be. Getting ADD under control often requires a combination of meds, therapy, and yes, diet. And it can take months or years to get treatment exactly right.

Wrong. ADHD is real, try doing your research and asking someone who really has it. I've got it, and I can tell you it's no picnic.

As do I, and I'm sick to death of people telling me I'm lazy, or stupid, or immature, or scattered, or that if my parents had beaten me good with a belt as a kid I'd have grown up better, or that if things mattered to me more I'd focus and get it done, or whatever other self-righteous comments people can come up with.

Tami, ADD/ADHD is not a hoax. I had struggled with it my entire life until I got a prescription for Adderall. When there is something wrong with your body, or more specifically your brain, you can feel it. As hard as this may be to believe I could feel my chemical imbalance. And when I took my meds for the first time I felt the balance I had needed for so very long. I was in tears from the overwhelming joy I was taking from everything I did, that I could carry a conversation with others, that I was able to organize my thoughts that were normally racing around like the ball in a pinball machine. The world around me became so much easier to handle, it was easier to focus and do my work because the right chemicals were finally flowing as they were supposed to. Saying that ADHD/ADD is a hoax is as big an insult to me as saying cancer is a hoax to someone with cancer. I'm assuming you don't struggle with this as I have and for that I envy you. But I do, and I've finally gotten the help I need so don't you dare tell me that it's all a joke.

Applemomma, I also haven't had a problem obtaining my son's ADHD medication (he takes Concerta).

Like you, I was taken aback by the caption of the photograph. You are 100% right about diagnosing a 4 year old with ADHD - this is NOT right. Recently, there was an article published about a push to change the lower age limit for diagnosing and treating for ADHD to 4 years old. I think this is absurd. A 4 year old is barely out of the toddler age, developmentally speaking - these behaviors are entirely NORMAL for a 4 year old. IMO, until they are school-age (and not even in kindergarten - I prefer at LEAST 1st grade), there is no way to actually determine if the child has ADHD or not.

Agreed! As someone who's been taking ADHD medication for about ten years (started in high school), it appalls me to see that people are giving it to 4 year olds! I was shocked when my sister put her 8 year old child on it -- in fact I still think that is much too young, but she switched him to a milder medication. But 4?!?! That is MUCH MUCH too young! Sure, it might make them easier to deal with, but that will have a serious long-term effect on their mental and physical health. I should know, I'm speaking from experience. I often wonder how my mental faculties would be different if I'd never started taking it.

Oh, and BTW - this shortage has been extremely bothersome for me as well. For the past six months at least it has been quite difficult for me to find a pharmacy that has it in stock, to the point that it has essentially rendered my insurance moot because pharmacies that my insurance covers never have it. Fortunately I live in a large city and can always eventually find it somewhere before the prescription expires.

I'm sorry, but in some cases, yes, you can diagnose ADHD in younger children. My son is one of them. BECAUSE they don't diagnose earlier, he, we ALL suffered for almost three years. Three years of anger, frustration, tears, etc. I wasn't versed on ADHD, hadn't even considered it until halfway through his kindergarten year, but if it had been diagnosed, we would have all benefited much sooner. There is one thing to be said about younger children all showing signs due to plain ole' energy and being young, but when your child on the far end of the spectrum, well, looking back, it was quite evident. He was like no other child I had ever been around... He was almost kicked out of kindergarten at the end of the year, and had me AND his teacher in tears. One thing people need to realize, if you DON'T have ADHD, then the meds will make you hyper. When you DO have ADHD, the mind (and body) is in hyperdrive. Scattered. The medicine helps settle the thought process down. I HATE that my child needs these meds to function, but without them he is actually a danger to himself.

Hi everyone... I am the woman in the photo. Just to clarify, my son is seeing a pediatric psychiatrist. Before we went to the psychiatrist we did two years of cognitive behavioral therapy. Markus's behaviors went beyond inability to focus. He exhibited many risk-taking behaviors, was violent to himself and others, would scream in frustration and have tantrums that lasted for hours. He has had EEG's, EKG's, and MRI's. Trust me, I don't want my child to be on drugs... the fact is that he was suffering.

After Markus started the Ritalin, he became a happy child. Markus's ADHD was holding our whole family hostage. I spend all of my time with my son, when I'm not at work. We are actively involved in cognitive-behavioral therapy to teach Markus coping skills. You must understand also that there is a genetic link here, and I don't want my son to suffer the way I did... I know that this medication is what is best for my child.

Hi Kate thanks for being here, that way we don't have to get the msnbc spin on it, have y'all ever thought about homeopathic "meds"? For all of you? I'm slightly disturbed that more than half your family is on some pharma drug, I hope that the cognitive behavioral therapy works (I was a special ed teacher for years and highly believe in it)

My son was diagnosed at 3 1/2 because his behavior was so extreme. He is 11 now and takes Concerta, which helps but does not "fix" it. He can be fine in certain situations (especially when he is alone), but as soon as there is a little excitement or a change in routine, he becomes so hyper, he is running around like crazy. He has no control. Undiagnosed and untreated or under-treated ADHD can lead to ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder), which my son also has. This condition is a nightmare where kids do the opposite of what is asked or expected, no matter the consequence. No, spanking does not help. Just makes it worse, in fact.

I also have ADHD (though undiagnosed) and have not found relief. I do what I can, like keep lists, but it is a huge struggle. Planning and organizing are the worst problems for me.

It is frustrating when people say ADHD is made up, that kids just need a spanking and they will be fine. These people are speaking from their own point of view and can not fathom that other people's brains work differently. I wonder if these same people don't believe in mental illness. I say, just be glad that you don't suffer from ADHD (or mental illness) and stop being so judgmental. If you never experienced it, how can you say whether it exists or not? There are many things I have not experienced, but I do not question them just because I have not experienced it.

ADHD is not a disease. It is a brain disorder and shows up brain scans. The prefrontal cortex is underdeveloped in kids with ADHD. Before you call something fake, how about taking the time to learn a little about it. It is real and has been documented since the 1800's. The distant stares are what you see when they don't have their meds.

I'm sorry, but the article clearly states that that these people are having difficulty obtaining their medication, not that they don't have it at all. The blank stares in the picture (which are the first thing I noticed about it) are from medication.

I have a son that was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 6. After much debate, we decided not to medicate him. It's been a struggle at times, and it would have been MUCH easier just to put him on the drugs. Our biggest influence was a couple that we are friends with whose son was also diagnosed. After watching the changes in the boy's personality while on the drugs, we didn't want to make our son into a little "zombie". Most of you may not like it, but I'm of the opinion that our society and our parenting is the cause of this disorder.

My son is 12 now, and doing well in school. However, we as parents had to make adjustments to help. My wife is now a stay at home mother and we have strict regements on homework, home life, etc. We don't watch TV while the children are awake, and homework is a family affair. It's would have been easier to just put him on drugs and "coast", but that's not what being a parent is about, is it?

SilentMajoity-4759245

I am a mom whose daughter was very recently diagnosed as having ADHD. I also decided not to medicate her because i am afraid of what side effects the meds might cause. We are putting her through some counseling to help her learn how to cope and to better focus and stay on task. She also has some social skill issues that we will also be working on.

Some people in our family do not believe in ADHD and i face constant ridicule by some for continuing to stay at home, but if i didn't stay at home, my daughter's education may suffer because she needs me there to make sure that she starts and finishes her homework.she becomes very frustrated because she wants to be able to do so without my help, but most of the time she cannot.

We have made our home more structured as you have, with a certain time to do homework( which for us is right after school), chores, getting ready for bed, school ect. I am intersted in any advice that you may be able to offer.

Fellow parent of an ADHD child

Silent Majority and deb

my hat's off to you! You are what I would consider a great parents. Three of my co-workers kids have ADHD and on drugs, the youngest now 7 being on drugs for a while. His parenting skills are: the kid gets whatever he wants. Often he has to take him out of school, daycamp, etc. for biting other kids, kicking the teacher,etc., His comment: Oh, but he is only a baby. The kid does not know what consequenses are for his actions, he does not know right from wrong, it is excused away by his "condition". Both his parents work long hours and are away for days on end. So to me it sounds the easy way out to keep the kid on drugs.

Thank you justthefax-2437807. Caring for a child with ADHD without the medication is a full time job in itself. I will only consider medication as a last resort if nothing else we are trying works.So far my child is doing a bit better in school as far as being less impulsive, and less hyper, but still needs to redirected quite a bit. She does do good academically with only some problems with math.

I would never knock anyone for putting their ADHD children on medication if it is right for their child. Some parents probably do use it as an easy way out, but there are parents who have tried everything to help their child without meds and have ended up putting their child on them. I am really afraid of putting my child on ADHD meds because of the side effect that these meds can cause, and my child has been through enough already just having ADHD, which the symptoms were first noticed during her pre school/kindergarten years.

justhefax-

Thanks very much for the complement. You really hit the nail on the head when you spoke of consequences, and mentioned the "long hours" of the parents.

Folks, our kids won't raise themselves. I know life gets in the way, but our first priority as parents is to make sure that our children are prepared for life in the real world.

Deb, I sent you an emial.

ADHD is a spectrum. Some children are much more affected than others. I have 2 children with ADHD. One is very severely affected. Medication was a last resort and I agonized over the decision, but it is the only thing that helps. The other is not so severely affected and does well without medication. I just have to keep a good eye on him. So I would not be so quick to judge and blame it on the parents. Every child with ADHD has different needs. If it is the parents' fault, wouldn't I have both my children on medication?

And what if the parents who have children with ADHD are having a hard time coping? They themselves often have ADHD, making it that much harder to provide structure for their own children, especially if those children have ADHD as well and are more of a challenge.

It's definately optimal to keep your children off the medication if you can. Although it is a neurological disorder, behavioural therapy can still help.

I don't have ADHD, although I was originally misdiagnosed so. I actually suffer (well, not suffer, have) OCD. My parents and I were given the option of medicating me but went against it. I know I won't ever be fully free of it, but I can sure as hell cope, and can even now "wean" myself off compulsions slowly.

Parents, it's a painful process for both you and your kid--I know it was for my parents and I-- but at the end of the day, I really do appreciate all the support and effor my parents put forward so I could deal with this issue without having to rely on drugs, and I'm sure your children will too.

ADHD did not exist until the early 90's, what else happened in the early 90's? GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD!!!! If you are pregnant or nursing DO NOT EAT ANY GMO'S!!! I see it every day, children of mothers who ate a non-gmo diet versus children of mothers who eat processed food all day long. We have had sugar and caffine for 1000's of years, what we havnt had is GMO's.

Some ADHDers do learn to cope quite well without meds, but some can't no matter how hard they try. ADHD is not the same in everyone and can be mild to severe and everthing in between. Some will outgrow the symptoms, many will not. Congratulations on being able to function without the meds! I hope one day my kids will be able to.

And I am sure you tell diabetics, "Buck up and try to get along without that insulin! What a wimp!" Untreated adult ADHD has other difficulties, including depression, difficulties controlling anger, troubles with organizations, difficulties maintaining relationships, amongst other things. Basically, why torture yourself with a neurological disorder? It's not a personal failing. It's not a behavioral issue. It's a NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER. You do not "outgrow" a neurological disorder. Maturity causes the symptoms manifest differently. Obviously, an adult knows better than to fling himself onto the floor and have a temper tantrum. But they have issues with impulsiveness, which can lead to poor judgement. Many chalk it up to just being a loser but, instead, it's an untreated neurological disorder.

A while back I read of a study that showed higher use of illegal drugs in teenagers with untreated ADHD. They were apparently trying to find a way to cope. It is very important that ADHD not be ignored because the consequences can be very high. From drug and alcohol abuse, to anxiety and depression. There is a high cost to refusing to believe that ADHD is real.

We had kids in my class in the 70's who should have had ritalin - back in the day when we didn't have video games to keep us inside, and when after school activities involved playing outside with your friends until dinnertime. It's not just about having excess energy. Hyperactive kids have brains that don't stop running. It's a brain chemistry thing. Yes, hyperactive kids do better with more activity - like allowing them to move around the classroom more or having balance balls to sit on, rather than chairs, so that they can bounce up and down instead of tipping over their chairs because they're leaning back too far. But playing outside more isn't going to relieve the compulsions to move around or blurt out answers in class.

I'll say the same thing I said to eric1964--I hope one day you wind up with an ADD kid, and tell him/her how worthless he/she is because they won't respond to your discipline, and if they'd just make a little effort they'd do just fine. After all, that's what my parents did, and--oh, wait--I still have ADD!

In 1920, ADHD behavior resulted in a bus ride to Boy's Town.

An ADHD diagnosis isn't as simple as going to the DR and asking for a prescription. The child is evaluated, school and teacher input is used, parents fill out a questionaire on behavior, it takes time and observation. It isn't just a little hyperness or trouble concentrating, it is way outside the norm. They can't, no matter how hard they try, concentrate or sit still. The brains in these kids don't work like normal brains. They have a deficit in the executive funtion area of the brain.

BMX mom- I'm going to argue with you on this one, my step-son was and has been getting straight A's forever, but he's very hyper, so his mother took him to the doctor and they put him on ritalin, no question's asked, if they actually DID test him they would find out there's nothing wrong with him other than he's not allowed to be a 13 year old boy at his mom's house, he has to stay in the house when he gets home from school and take care of his autistic sister (can we say pent up energy?) instead of going outside and playing with his friends like a normal kid, his mother is a pharmacist tech she should know better, but then again she over medicates the autistic daughter so that she just stays in her room and watches TV instead of having to deal with her.

If that Dr did not do any type of proper diagnosing, then he was wrong. Not all Dr.s are qualified to diagnose and treat ADHD. It takes special training and if he didn't have it he should have refereed her to someone who is qualified. My son is under the care of a psychiatrist who is also an MD and specializes in treating kids. My daughter who is twenty see's someone under him since he only deals with children. Kids can be ADHD with only the hyperactive component and not attention issues. My daughter never was hyper only has attention issues, my son was both when he was younger, but the hyperness fell off dramatically when he was in middle school and mainly has attention issues now. Hopefully your nephews activity level will fall off too. Someone who is not ADHD taking the meds would have a higher activity level since they are stimulants. ADHD brains work different and the meds actually calm them down but not so in regular kids.

In the 1920's this was called a wandering mind. It was mentioned in a book published by Napolean Hill in 1925 called The Laws of Success. Specifically, it mentioned that healthy living and structure were needed to counter the effects of the wandering mind. As it happens, coffee, and other mild stimulants, combined with rigid structure will help, as will other forms of medication. I, for one, am on Strattera, a non-stimulant treatment, as well as the generic adderall. the combination works for me, but one must also remember that there are high rates of comorbidity with ADHD. This means that what works for one person will not work for another, as they might have completely different comorbid disorders.

mwilliams433--You've hit it, exactly. Everyone is different, and thus every treatment is different. Some people can rely strictly on homeopathic remedies, some need meds, some need a LOT of meds, some need therapy and coping skills, and some need a special diet, and some need all of the above.