By Sheri Few for DAILY CALLER
When combined, a subjective list of common childhood behaviors (fidgeting, losing things, distractibility, not following instructions) is commonly diagnosed in the medical community as Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD. The drugs prescribed to treat ADHD have addiction potential, and a recent study published in The American Journal of Psychiatry found that a medium-strength daily dose of Adderall more than tripled a patient’s chance of developing psychosis or mania. A high dose multiplies the patient’s chances by 500%! If that is not bad enough, there is evidence that chronic use of ADHD medicines over the years may stunt physical growth in children.
The most common drugs used to treat ADHD are Adderall and Vyvanse, which are amphetamines. They are similar to methamphetamine, which is most known as an illegal street drug that ravages the lives of many Americans. I have been perplexed for some time about American parents who medicate their children beginning at a very young age with amphetamines. The intended goal is to control the child’s behavior. What happened to teaching children to exercise self-control? When will children learn self-regulation if parents rely on drugs to improve their behavior?
I am beyond perplexed now. I am infuriated that we have been drugging children for decades, and now we learn that there is zero long-term impact for the intended goal. In fact, children medicated two decades ago are now adults, and The New York Times Magazine says, “the real growth market today for amphetamines is adults. In 2012, Americans in their 30s were issued 5 million prescriptions for ADHD, and, a decade later, that figure has more than tripled to 18 million.” These are adults who are being prescribed amphetamines, and you can bet it destroys the lives of many who chronically medicate themselves. I have a relative who has been taking Adderall for more than 25 years, and he is homeless, his children don’t speak to him, and his life is in shambles.
I have seen amphetamine addiction up close and personal, as one of my sons has suffered from addiction most of his adult life. It is an evil that is unparalleled; it changes a person into someone you don’t recognize, and it destroys everything good in the addict’s life. Their typical life cycle is no sleep for several days in a row and then crash and burn for about 48 hours. They lose weight because amphetamines suppress their appetite, and their teeth are destroyed. It is an ugly, devastating thing to watch in the life of a loved one. Why on earth would anyone prescribe amphetamines to young children?
