With this study, it proves that the usage of the medication can be helpful to children with ADHD/ADD, but with that said, it is not quite so easy for doctors to differentiate the symptoms of ADHD/ADD from other disorders or even the symptoms of childhood.
Numerous psychologists and doctors believe that many children diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) do not in fact have the condition and are being prescribed drugs unnecessarily. While some of these children suffer from conditions other than ADHD, such as depression or dyslexia, others are being misdiagnosed for simply being bored in school or engaging in typical childhood behavior. (Meyer).
If the diagnosis cannot be completely positive, the prescription should not be given out, due to the risk of unnecessarily medicating a child who doesn't even have ADHD/ADD with potentially hazardous drugs such as Ritalin and Adderall. The most popular medications given to children with ADD/ADHD are Ritalin and Adderall, two very well-known drugs on the market. But are they well-known for the right reasons? "One in eight teens (about 2.7 million) now reports having misused or abused the Rx stimulants Ritalin or Adderall at least once in their lifetime." (Goldberg) These drugs are highly addictive with ingredients including Ritalin hydrochloride, methylphenidate hydrochloride USP. (National Institute of Mental Health) Methylphenidate also happens to be in the same family as methamphetamines, which is why on every prescription bottle of ADD/ADHD medication there is a warning label stating "WARNING: RITALIN-SR IS A FEDERALLY CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE (CII) BECAUSE IT CAN BE ABUSED OR LEAD TO DEPENDENCE." If this drug can lead to dependence, does it really seem right to be pumping it into the systems of young children? "The effectiveness of the medication was maintained successfully through the second year, but the dosage was increased an average of 15% per unit of body weight.
