The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Treatments of ADHD Imagine a student in first grade who is always talking to another student and is always somewhere around their chair, but never in it. Imagine this student getting a note sent home for their poor behavior in class stating that they should be checked for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). Now imagine their parent getting the note, going to the doctor and being told that their child has been diagnosed with ADHD. This parent now has to make a choice between having their child medicated, finding a different treatment, or just letting the situation slide. This very situation has happened, and is still happening, to many families around the world. Parents are forced to answer the
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One type of treatment is medication. Pat Walters says that the most common medications used to treat ADHD are stimulant medications. Some name brands of stimulant medications are Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, and Concerta. Amphetamine is the active ingredient in Adderall, Vyvanse has lisdexamfetamine, and Ritalin and Concerta both contain methylphenidates (Walters). Edmund S. Higgins has found that methylphenidates have been found to have a similar chemical structure to cocaine. This causes dopamine transporters to be blocked. Higgins states “the dopamine surge is so sudden that in addition to making a person unusually energetic and alert, it produces a ‘high’” and “Many former cocaine addicts struggle with depression, anxiety and cognitive problems … Similar problems … could occur after many years of Ritalin or Adderall use” …show more content…
Higgins points out that “stimulants could alter the structure and function of the brain in ways that may depress mood, boost anxiety and, contrary to their short-term effects, lead to cognitive deficits” (Higgins). This observation makes it clear that the detrimental effects of ADHD medications are long-term, while the beneficial counterparts are only short-term. Higgins also brings up a study led by psychologist Stacy A. Castner documenting “long-lasting behavioral oddities, such as hallucinations, and cognitive impairment …” (Higgins). This supports an idea from Walters that states “Stimulant medications may cause … confusion, paranoia, hallucinations, delusions …” Some other side effects include increased heart rate and blood pressure and in severe cases, sudden death
One type of treatment is medication. Pat Walters says that the most common medications used to treat ADHD are stimulant medications. Some name brands of stimulant medications are Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, and Concerta. Amphetamine is the active ingredient in Adderall, Vyvanse has lisdexamfetamine, and Ritalin and Concerta both contain methylphenidates (Walters). Edmund S. Higgins has found that methylphenidates have been found to have a similar chemical structure to cocaine. This causes dopamine transporters to be blocked. Higgins states “the dopamine surge is so sudden that in addition to making a person unusually energetic and alert, it produces a ‘high’” and “Many former cocaine addicts struggle with depression, anxiety and cognitive problems … Similar problems … could occur after many years of Ritalin or Adderall use” …show more content…
Higgins points out that “stimulants could alter the structure and function of the brain in ways that may depress mood, boost anxiety and, contrary to their short-term effects, lead to cognitive deficits” (Higgins). This observation makes it clear that the detrimental effects of ADHD medications are long-term, while the beneficial counterparts are only short-term. Higgins also brings up a study led by psychologist Stacy A. Castner documenting “long-lasting behavioral oddities, such as hallucinations, and cognitive impairment …” (Higgins). This supports an idea from Walters that states “Stimulant medications may cause … confusion, paranoia, hallucinations, delusions …” Some other side effects include increased heart rate and blood pressure and in severe cases, sudden death