Some experts believe that children who take stimulant medications are at increased risk for drug abuse. There has been a lot of concern and debate about this over the years, causing some parents to shy away from using Ritalin or similar medications for ADHD.
Fortunately, this does not appear to be true. Research suggests that giving kids stimulants for ADHD does not increase their risk of illicit drug abuse later on. Interestingly enough, it may be that just the opposite is true. Children who are not treated for ADHD are more likely to abuse drugs than those who are treated. In fact, treating ADHD with prescription medications seems to reduce the risk of drug abuse by 84 percent.
If you think about it a bit, I bet this will make sense to you, Children with uncontrolled ADHD are more impulsive and likely to take risks, have lower self-esteem, and have fewer friends - all of which increase the chance they may experiment with alcohol or illicit drugs. Adhd Drug Abuse College
However, when it comes to tobacco use, one study has reported that kids with ADHD who were treated with stimulants had increased rates of daily smoking and tobacco dependence as compared with ADHD kids not treated with stimulants.
Every medication has undesirable side effects and should be administered only when indicated and appropriate. Ritalin, for example, has a number of potential side effects. It can reduce the appetite and cause insomnia in some patients. Nevertheless, for the vast majority of ADHD patients, prescription treatments are remarkably effective and safe.
Dr. James Dobson assures parents, "If your child has been evaluated and diagnosed with ADHD by a professional who is experienced in treating this problem, you should not hesitate to accept a prescription for an appropriate medication. Some dramatic behavioral changes can occur when the proper substance is given to the proper child. A boy or girl who sits and stares off into the distance or or one who frantically climbs the walls is desperately in need of help. To give that individual a focused mind and internal control is a blessing. Medication often provides that opportunity - sometimes for the very first time."
One caution, however. The main danger of drug abuse from stimulants is from your child's friends or classmates who do not have ADHD and want to use the stimulant to "get high." In one study, 16 percent of ADHD children had been approached to sell, give, or trade their medication. The problem of Ritalin abuse seems to be worsening.
A January 2001 segment on NBC's Dateline reported widespread abuse of Ritalin among college students. A national survey showed that 2.8 percent of high school seniors in 1997 had used Ritalin at least once in the previous year without a physician's prescription. These data agree with the testimony before Congress of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reporting that in 1999, 3 percent of high school seniors had used Ritalin without a doctor's prescription. Adhd Drug Abuse College
Worse yet, there has been a tenfold increase in emergency room visits for abuse or use without a prescription of methylphenidate among children from 10 to 14 years old. The unauthorized use of Ritalin is now as likely as the use of cocaine. However, long-acting formulations of these stimulants are much less likely to be abused.
So, to protect your ADHD child's friends, be sure to carefully supervise his or her use of stimulants.
Herbs and Other Alternative Therapies
Alternative treatments used for ADHD include neurofeedback, homeopathy, herbal medicines, iron supplements, and dietary modifications or supplements - and many others. One recent review of all of these therapies, and the evidence for and against them, was published in a respected alternative medicine journal. These authors concluded, "Although anecdotal evidence is surfacing to support the efficacy of these alternatives, further research is needed before they can be regarded as effective, reliable treatments for ADHD. Therefore, the use of more conventional treatments should be considered if alternative interventions prove unsuccessful."
Next post, we'll go into different types of alternative treatments and listing their advantages and disadvantages. At mean time, if you like to find out more, you can check out Adhd Drug Abuse College.
