The Pros And Cons Of ADHD Medication

Superior Essays
Have you ever heard of ADHD? ADHD is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Millions of people are diagnosed with ADHD every year; however the cause of this psychiatric disorder is still unknown (Carey). ADHD is a chronic disorder, which means it can last a few years or even a lifetime. The type of treatment that is used could affect the amount of time someone has this disorder. One of the main debates regarding ADHD is whether or not it should be treated with medication or not. Depending on the severity of someone's ADHD, a doctor may prescribe a medication or recommend therapy. But, the downside of medication is that there is many bad side effects that can affect the patient. Many parents and patients often choose medication because many …show more content…
Many people say medication is the best option, while others say it should be treated with therapy. Some even say that drugs are the most effective treatment (Karidis). What many people don’t realize is that there is more than one way to treat this disorder. Treatment options range from medication to brain mapping technology. Many families say medication changed their child’s life for the better (Kardis). But others say that it wasnt the best option for their child. It all just depends on the person who is being treated. The number of prescriptions filled for ADHD medication is slowly increasing every year (White). Some treatment options include: therapy, brain mapping, different foods that provide “brain fuel”, and medication. Medication is one of the most used treatment plans for ADHD. Many people also do therapy, however doctors don’t usually promote it as much as medication. There is many more benefits to therapy than there is with medication. First of all, therapy costs a lot less than medication does on average. Medications are not necessarily the best option for patients (Newmark). Also, medication can have many bad side effects while therapy has none. Therapy is the best treatment option for ADHD especially among young children Children can have some major problems while taking medication, however if they do therapy they do not encounter any problems along the way. Therapy is a better treatment option for ADHD …show more content…
N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan.
2017.

Carey, Benedict. "Behavior Therapy found to be Better First Step than Medicine.."
New York Times, 18 Feb 2016, pp. A.12. SIRS Issues Researcher, http://sks.sirs.com.

Karidis, Arlene. "ADHD: Still More Questions than Answers about how to Treat it."
Washington Post, 02 Jun 2015, pp. E.4. SIRS Issues Researcher, http://sks.sirs.com.

Newmark, Sanford, and Harold S. Koplewicz. "Are ADHD Medications
Overprescribed?" Wall Street Journal, 18 Sep 2012, pp. B.9. SIRS Issues
Researcher, http://sks.sirs.com.

Perry, Susan. "Evidence that Ritalin and Similar Drugs Help Children with ADHD.."
MinnPost.com, 30 Nov 2015, SIRS Issues Researcher, http://sks.sirs.com.

White, Nancy J. "Drugs Improve Lives of Adults with ADHD: Study." Toronto
Star, 21 Dec 2015, pp. E.1. SIRS Issues Researcher,

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