Stepford kidsYa know, it is
Stepford kids
Ya know, it is about time that
this finally happened. I don't entirely blame the manufacturer's totally for the overprescription of Ritalin, but I do think that they have entirely too much influence over doctors.
No, I truely blame the doctor's for overprescribing the medication. They prescribe it for problems that are not listed in the labeling for the medication and there is no supporting information for these treatments on any of the inserts, and they tend to be prescribing it for younger and younger kids.
This article in the Journal of the American Medical Association also addresses the need for further testing of the medication for the other things that it is being prescribed for, and to try to address the appropriate ages for medicating. (Not about ritalin, but also in this article, it talks about giving kids as young as 6 anti-depressants for bed-wetting. Gimme a break.)
I know I read somewhere that up to 40% of school kids have been on Ritalin, but I can't find any kind of link to point to that backs this up, but is sure wouldn't surprise me. It seems like more and more parents would rather raise a quiet little drone, than the normal energetic, sometimes overwhelming kids that they really are.
I am not saying that Ritalin hasn't helped any kids, but my personal opinion is that I don't think it is possible for that many kids to need to be medicated. It just seems like an easy out for teachers (who don't have any type of disruptions in the classroom to deal with), parents (who don't have any kind of unruly kids to deal with), and the doctor (who gets preferential treatment for a very grateful manufacturer). The comment in the ABC article that really made me mad was the mother of the 14 yo girl that had been on Ritalin for 2 years and in counseling for several years also, "Ritalin wasn't the cure, but it helped to take the edge off." Well, ya know, 3 shots of Scotch takes the edge off too, but it sure as hell isn't good for kids either.
Posted by thatothrgirl at August 10, 2000 12:03 PM