-
- "(The drug) produced a marked increase in compliance
and sustained attention to the activities assigned during the structured
task session."
-
- ----------------------------------------------------
-
- OVER ONE MILLION of America's children are being dosed
daily with amphetamines and amphetamine-like drugs like Ritalin and Adderall
at the insistence of teachers and school administrators. Why?
-
- What follows are quotes from various books and studies
as well as short essays on the pseudo-science behind this new form of "medicine."
-
- ----------------------------------------------------
-
- This is science??
-
- "When I first began evaluating...for ADD (Attention
Deficit Disorder), I wanted to find out how other doctors dealt with this
new group of patients, so I consulted with a fellow ADD specialist nearby.
It was no big deal to him: "Just count the symptoms," he told
me, "and if they meet the criteria, you can treat them" (with
medication, it was implied. The subtleties and contradictions of behavior
and emotions, the interactions of relationship and environment - none of
this seemed important to him. It made me wonder why a doctor was needed,
if this was all an evaluation required."
-
- Lawrence H. Diller, M.D. from "Running on Ritalin"
-
- ----------------------------------------------------
-
- Ritalin (and Adderall) logic: An imaginary conversation
-
- 1. What do psychoactive drugs do? A: They change brain
chemistry.
-
- 2. Why do you want to change the brain chemistry of small
children? A: Their brain chemistry is flawed.
-
- 3. What biologically based test do you use to determine
that this is so? A: We do not use such tests.
-
- 4. Why not? A: There are no valid tests available.
-
- 5. How then do you diagnose and prescribe? A: We use
behavioral tests.
-
- 6. Are you saying that merely by observing a child's
behavior you can tell exactly what problems he has with his or her brain
chemistry and then prescribe the correct substance in the precise dose
needed to correct it? A: That's the theory.
-
- 7. Why do you suggest to some parents that they give
their children a vacation from these drugs on the weekends and on holidays,
including summer vacation? A: These children have their biggest problems
in the school environment.
-
- 8. Are you suggesting that the brain chemistry of these
children is different on the weekend than it is Monday through Friday?
A: The problems are often more acute in the school environment.
-
- 9. Why do you think it is that countries with better
health care systems and longer life spans than ours (Japan, Sweden, and
Switzerland, for example) prescribe almost no Ritalin or Adderall for their
children and that the US and Canada consume over 85% of the world's supply
of these drugs? A: They are not as advanced as we are in the diagnosis
and treatment of ADD and ADHD as we are.
-
- 10. Since you have no biologically based test for the
drugs you are prescribing and there is no scientifically valid evidence
that proves these drugs are effective or even safe, how can you claim that
your science on this subject is superior? A: I'm an expert. How dare you
question me? You are obviously anti-child and anti-progress. This interview
is over.
-
- ----------------------------------------------------
-
- Adderall: The new wonder drug for Attention Deficit Disorder
-
- Ingredients:
-
- Amphetamine Asparate - 25% Amphetamine Sulfate - 25%
Dextroamphetamine Saccharate - 25% Dextroamphetamine Sulfate - 25%
-
- Before being prescribed for children, Adderall was prescribed
as an appetite suppressant for the dangerously obese.
-
- What the drug companies (and their client doctors) say
about this wonder drug and why it is an improvement over Ritalin:
-
- "Multiple Dose Availability Adderall tablets include
5, 10, 20, and 30 mg doses, more than any other psychostimulant. It is
now possible, using Adderall 5, 10, 20, and 30 mg tablets to prescribe
doses in increments as low as 1.25 mg rather accurately. This has made
Adderall BY FAR the most micro-manageable stimulant medication ever developed...
-
- Micro-Dose Incremental Flexibility All Adderall tablets
are DOUBLE-SCORED, thus can be accurately split into quarters or halves
for careful dose management...
-
- Using this strategy, it is possible to make incremental
adjustments in dose with accuracy in patients of all ages, and to do so
far better than is possible with any other stimulant preparation. THIS
IS A HUGE and IMPORTANT ADVANTAGE IN EFFECTIVE PATIENT CARE."
-
- In other words: It comes is a wider variety of sizes.
-
- ----------------------------------------------------
-
- Ritalin: What the studies really show
-
- * The unwanted side effects are (commonly) problems with
eating and sleeping, possible negative effects on cognition (diminished
creativity) and self-image, and rare or disputable increases in motor or
verbal tics.
-
- * There is no long term evidence of improvement of children
taking Ritalin. No improvement in academic outcome can be attributed solely
to its effects, no decrease in anti-social behavior or arrest rates, and
only small effects on learning and achievement.
-
- * There exist no neurological, physiological, or biochemical
means to predict or determine response to Ritalin.
-
- * Ritalin does not improve complex skills such as reading,
athletic ability, and social behavior. Grades may improve, but Ritalin
cannot correct a learning disability...Ritalin does not improve significant
emotional problems.
-
- Source: James M. Swanson, Keith McBurnett, et. al. "Effect
of Stimulant Medication on Children with Attention Deficit Disorder: A
'Review of Reviews'" Exceptional Children, vol. 60 (1993), pp. 154-61
-
- ----------------------------------------------------
-
- A sample diagnostic test
-
- "...One test indicated (Tim) was 'off task 100%.'
That sounded ominous. What was this test about?
-
- The test for inattention involved placing Tim in a room
where he thought he had privacy and then observing him through a one-way
mirror while he did math problems...every 30 seconds the observer behind
the glass marked down if Tim was 'off task' at all during the half minute.
-
- How was 'off task' defined? On cross-examination, the
psychologist explained that "If the child breaks eye contact with
the math problems, then he or she is coded as off task." Tim, unaware
that he was being watched, broke eye contact with his work in that lonely
little room at least once during every 30 second interval of time. Thus
the ominous conclusion that he was "off task 100%."
-
- ...Now for the crucial question. How did (ten year old)
Tim score of the math test? He got 100%...and this (became) a major piece
of evidence for diagnosing him with ADHD and for drugging him against his
father's wishes."
-
- Source: "Talking Back to Ritalin" by Peter
R. Breggin MD
-
- ----------------------------------------------------
-
- Pushing dope
-
- "EVALUATION/TREATMENT FUN PACKAGE" to Las Vegas,
complete with "2 nights FREE room accomodations in one of Las Vegas'
premier Strip casinos, Monday through Thursday only; Coupons worth $900
for discounts for meals, shows and many Las Vegas attractions!" Corydon
G. Clark MD - 1997
-
- For doctors only: "Building a Thriving ADD Practice
(Step by Step) Dr. Daniel Amen - 1997
-
- A true believer: "No respected doctor feels that
stimulants are dangerous when used as perscribed, nobody is vehemently
opposed to them, and there is simply no controversy in any circle which
is educated about ADHD." Mike - A 22 year old Ritalin advocate
-
- ----------------------------------------------------
-
- A dangerous drug marketed by liars
-
- * In 1968, Sweden banned the use of Ritalin because of
potential for abuse of the drug. * In 1971, the World Health Organization
concluded that Ritalin, amphetamine (chief ingredient in Adderall), and
methamphetamine were pharmacologically similar among themselves and to
cocaine in their abuse patterns. * Novartis (Ciba), the manufacturer of
Ritalin, through a front group it subsidizes, CH.A.D.D. (Children and Adults
with Attention Deficit Disorder), lobbied the DEA to reclassify the drug
from a Schedule II to a Schedule III. CH.A.D.D. claimed that Ritalin was
"a beneficial and relatively benign medication." The DEA refused.
* The International Narcotics Review Board: "Methylphenidate (Ritalin),
due to its high abuse potential, was one of the first substances to be
placed under international control in Shedule II (along with morphine,
opium, heroin, cocaine, and barbituates)"
-
- ----------------------------------------------------
-
- What some kids say
-
- "They are dreamers. That doesn't mean they are wrong.
They just don't fit the norm, so they are labeled and damned, labeled as
ADD. So the doctors dope us up with Ritalin and control our minds with
low doses of speed. The teachers pay us no mind unless are minds are under
control. It screws up our chain of thought and makes us one-dimensional...It
takes away that extra imagination and the flow of the mind, hence destroying
the true, purest ideas of mind...I look forward to the day when Ritalin
isn't an answer, and every student is labeled 'learner.'"
-
- Source: Matt Sherbal, age 14 writing in his school newspaper.
-
- "I don't want to play" "It makes me sad"
"I wouldn't smile or anything" "It numbed me out" "It
takes over of me. It takes control" "I feel 'wild' after it wears
off."
-
- Source: Institute of Child Behavior at the University
of llinois. Sleator, Ullman, and von Newman, 1982.
-
- ----------------------------------------------------
-
- The zombie effect
-
- "The amphetamine look, a piched, somber expression
is harmless is itself, but worrisome to parents who can be reassured."
-
- Source: Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry. L. Eugene
Arnold and Peter S. Jensen, 1995.
-
- "(The drug) produced a marked increase in compliance
and sustained attention to the activities assigned during the structured
task session."
-
- Source: Cunningham and Barkely, 1978. Cited in Greggin's
"Talking Back to Ritalin"
-
- ----------------------------------------------------
-
- Some of the symptoms of ADD and ADHD: A description of
childhood
-
- * Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless
mistakes in schoolwork * Often does not follow through on instructions
and fails to finish schoolwork * Often avoids, dislikes or is reluctant
to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort * Is easily distracted
by extraneous stimuli * Is often forgetful in daily activities
-
- * Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat
* Often runs about or climbs excessively in situations where it is inappropriate
* Often has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly
* Is often "on the go" as if "driven by a motor" *
Often has difficulty awaiting turn
-
- Source: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, IV, Washington
DC, American Psychiatric Association, 1994.
-
- ----------------------------------------------------
-
- Coming soon:
-
- * The long term damage caused by amphetamines and other
stimulants on the human brain and body
-
- * Familes that say "no"
-
- ----------------------------------------------------
-
- Resources:
-
- * Talking Back to Ritalin: What doctors aren't telling
you about stimulants for children by Peter Beggin MD, the bestselling author
of "Talking Back to Prozac"
-
- * One of the early proponents of using psychoactive drugs
to manage the behavior of healthy children: Reverend Jim Jones
-
- Share your story of how your family said no to the chemical
coersion of your children.
-
-
- The full page with all the links is at: http://brasscheck.com/druggingkids/
-
- All of Jeff Rense's interviews with Dr. Peter R. Breggin,
MD are available in the Broadcast.com Archives. To hear the most recent
interview of 3-8-00, go to: http://broadcast.com/shows/endoftheline/00archives.html
-
-
- Comment
-
- From Ken KcCarthy/Brasscheck <ken@brasscheck.com 3-9-00
-
- A parent wrote:
-
- I would like to say "NO" we have been trying
alternative things such as biofeedback and nutritional counseling but nothing
seems to work. Please tell me if you know of other things that can be
done. We have a major behavior problem on and off Ritalin but the Ritalin
helps her to focus on a task and keeps her from jumping all over the place
our daughter has more of the hyper and attention. She does not normally
have problems with her grades.
-
- PLEASE HELP or if you can suggest anyone that may know
some other things we can try.
-
- Thanks.
-
-
- Ken: I'm glad you notice that the behavioral problem
persists on or off the drug. You'd be amazed at how many parents say "great.
that's it. she's on the drug. I'm done."
-
- Have you had a chance to read any of Dr. Breggin's books?
That's where I'd start.
-
- Where do you live? I can suggest someone in Texas and
someone in New York State. What we really need is a national database of
people who deal with these problems in a professional way, not by prescribing
stimulants.
-
- Reply From Ron
-
- From Ken McCarthy/Brasscheck <ken@brasscheck.com 3-9-00
-
- Ron: He was punished for not doing what he was told.
School work, homework, picking up after himself, etc. You don't have any
children, do you? If you had witnessed the change in my son yourself, you
would have a different point of view, I assure you. I guess it's also wrong
to take an aspirin to get rid of a headache? Sorry, Mister, I've seen the
change in my son, and you ain't convincing me it's wrong.
-
- Ron
-
- Ken: Chemical compliance. That's what these people are
after. They just don't want to be bothered connecting with their children
and finding out what is going on.
-
- On one level these people must know how they are letting
down their kids. You cannot even talk to them without them taking everything
personally and going on the offensive.
-
- It's like the gun control debate. No reason. No discussion.
Agree with me or else.
-
- Why do people internalize the lies of people whose aim
is to profit from them by harming them? And then defend these lies with
all their might?
-
- Comment
-
- From Ken McCarthy/Brasscheck <ken@brasscheck.com 3-10-00
-
-
- Ken
-
- i just recently read you article on sightings.com titled
"Chemically Induced Compliance:The Drugging of Kids & Garbage
Science in America" in response of the comment "Share your story
of how your family said no to the chemical coersion of your children".
and because of this article,and may others i have read recently, i have
drastically changed my stance on the use of ritilin on my child........
-
- a little backround, i started therapy at the age of 6,
at 11 i was hospitalized for 6 months followed by a year and a half of
"day treatment" all in the name of depression....strangly enough
when my moms insurance ran out i was "healed" but there were
no indacations to prove so, if any thing it was the oppisite, my studies
only got worse through out the years between that and my reluctance to
accept authorities rule just becaues "they said so" or what ever
reason they thought the deserved respect even though they did no actions
to prove they deserved it were my only symptoms that there was a problem.
after my second freshmond year a dr. prescribed ritilin for me, and when
i started school the next yaer my grades went from d's and f's to straight
A's, i thought ritilin was the wonder drug, but once again i stopped taking
it when the insurance did when i graduated,
-
-
- Just a few years later i had a son that showed signs
of ADD and ADHD as soon as six months, and have been even more apparent
in the past 2 years, all along the way i couldn't wait till he was old
enough to "drug up" but in light of yours and others writing,
along with an honist account of my "ritilin days" i can no longer
allow my self to accept ritilin or any other drug as an option any more,
the problem is i dont know who else to deal with it with out taking the
free range of thought from him......
-
- i dont know, the point is were going to say no to drugs
for our child
-
- eugene
-
-
- Eugene,
-
- Do get Dr. Breggin's book "Talking Back to Ritalin"
and his latest (Reclaiming Our Children) for some positive things you can
do to work with your child. I believe his is 100% correct when he says
the ADD and ADHD labels are not to be trusted.
-
- Best wishes to you and your family. As you know, they
are worth fighting for.
-
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