ADHD is one of the most common behavioral disorders that commonly affects children and adults alike; there are a vast number of medications that treat it, such as Adderall and Ritalin. However, prescribing and taking these medications is controversial due to the potential for dangerous side effects to be inflicted upon the user. Both drugs have a long list of common to rare side effects that range from headaches and dizziness to heart problems and sudden death (What is Adderall, 2014). To add on to the life-changing side effects, one source states that: “Rates of ADHD diagnosis increased an average of 3% per year from 1997 to 2006 and an average of approximately 5% per year;” and with these stats, comes a higher likelihood of being misdiagnosed
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The question is, how safe is it to take these drugs that come with the ‘disorder,’ and what is the cause of higher diagnosis?
One of the most alarming points of the argument against the drugs is the magnitude with which children are diagnosed and prescribed medicine. “…about 6.4 million children aged 4 to 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD at some point in their lives, a 16 percent rise since 2007 and a 53 percent increase over the past decade;” (1 in 10 U.S. Kids Diagnosed With ADHD, 2015) that is a lot of kids that need treatment for ADHD, and a high margin of them likely take drugs like Ritalin and Adderall. Even after medicine is given to these kids, “a child with ADD/ADHD might still struggle with forgetfulness, emotional problems, and social awkwardness, or an adult with disorganization, distractibility, and relationship difficulties;” (ADD/ADHD Medications, 2015). Although the drugs may not work well at all for some children, the side effects are devastating: “…nervousness, agitation, anxiety, sleep …show more content…
While it is hard to prove over-diagnosis numbers, it is easy to look at the statistics and see a disheartening trend. As one website notes, “…the chance of receiving an ADHD diagnosis [is] twice as high in Southern states as in Western states;” and that “…policy had an indirect influence over these diagnoses. …during the late 1980s and …1990s, several states passed …accountability laws, which basically changed the philosophy of schools: Instead of funding schools based on the number of students in them, funding became based on their students' …test scores. …At the same time, standardized test scores in the South were the lowest in the nation — and as a result, these states didn't get as much funding. … to improve test scores, …is to have children diagnosed so you can get extra money from the school district... Basically, you diagnose these kids because improving their performance helps the school's performance;” (Is It Really ADHD?, 2014) assuming that some of these children are getting diagnosed to benefit their schools is not much of a stretch given the evidence. The policy that got this all started may have had good intentions, but in the end it caused more harm than
The question is, how safe is it to take these drugs that come with the ‘disorder,’ and what is the cause of higher diagnosis?
One of the most alarming points of the argument against the drugs is the magnitude with which children are diagnosed and prescribed medicine. “…about 6.4 million children aged 4 to 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD at some point in their lives, a 16 percent rise since 2007 and a 53 percent increase over the past decade;” (1 in 10 U.S. Kids Diagnosed With ADHD, 2015) that is a lot of kids that need treatment for ADHD, and a high margin of them likely take drugs like Ritalin and Adderall. Even after medicine is given to these kids, “a child with ADD/ADHD might still struggle with forgetfulness, emotional problems, and social awkwardness, or an adult with disorganization, distractibility, and relationship difficulties;” (ADD/ADHD Medications, 2015). Although the drugs may not work well at all for some children, the side effects are devastating: “…nervousness, agitation, anxiety, sleep …show more content…
While it is hard to prove over-diagnosis numbers, it is easy to look at the statistics and see a disheartening trend. As one website notes, “…the chance of receiving an ADHD diagnosis [is] twice as high in Southern states as in Western states;” and that “…policy had an indirect influence over these diagnoses. …during the late 1980s and …1990s, several states passed …accountability laws, which basically changed the philosophy of schools: Instead of funding schools based on the number of students in them, funding became based on their students' …test scores. …At the same time, standardized test scores in the South were the lowest in the nation — and as a result, these states didn't get as much funding. … to improve test scores, …is to have children diagnosed so you can get extra money from the school district... Basically, you diagnose these kids because improving their performance helps the school's performance;” (Is It Really ADHD?, 2014) assuming that some of these children are getting diagnosed to benefit their schools is not much of a stretch given the evidence. The policy that got this all started may have had good intentions, but in the end it caused more harm than