In Defense of Medication

Your Opinion Please

by Diana Blackford

First off, let me tell you that anything that I write on this page is only my thoughts and opinions. Not of anybody else's. I respect open criticism (I'm used to it by now!!!), but please don't send me any e-mails that are tasteless and vulgar. Again, these are only my thoughts and opinions, not that of others.

I am a believer of medication usage on ADHD, as well as, medication alternatives (if any of them work). I have tried various alternatives with my children, but what the ads don't tell you, they are not all FDA approved and can have some side effects and very serious side effects, too. That is why none of them have been FDA approved. As all of us parents agree, our children are not guinea pigs open to scientific testing. By taking over-the-counter herbs, vitamins, topical solutions, and tea's (not FDA approved) we are exposing them to these types of experiments. Most of these don't tell you that they are not meant for children, either. Some children can be highly allergic to different types of herbal plants and you don't know it until they have started taking the herbs. For instance, how many of you have been out working in the yard, come inside, start itching, then break-out in horrible rashes and hives? Obviously, you have been exposed to some type of plant or weed that you are allergic to. Now, imagine taking that plant or weed and ingesting it. What do you think might happen, then? This is what I'm talking about. Just imagine, one more time, doing the same thing to your child who is, might I add, much smaller, more susceptible to allergies, and doesn't understand when something is going on differently inside his body to be able to tell you, much less let you know in time to seek medical attention. Most children don't even know that they are experiencing difficulty in breathing until their lungs are almost ready to shut-down. This is very scary. I know this because I have seen (and been there) from past runs, on the ambulance, when I was working with the fire department's emergency medical team. It happens over and over, time and again. Then, once you call for an ambulance, and they arrive at your home, they ask you if your child has taken anything different. You forget to tell them about the herbs because you assume that they are healthy and all-natural. Then the child suffers countless blood, urine, and x-ray tests, pain killers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and intravenious soliutions, until they find what may be the cause. It's not worth it. Especially once you receive the medical bill. What was cheaper? The prescribed and physician controlled medication, or the cheaper, non-controlled and non-tested herbal remedies?

Now, here's something else to consider. I have had millions of people comment to me about "giving my child medication as an easy way out of parenting." Beeeeep-you're very wrong. Parents MUST teach their ADHD child how to gain self-control, self-discipline, and learn how to be more organized. By having your child on the medication, it helps them to LISTEN to what you are teaching them. They are more focused on what you are saying while medicated. Their memory span is longer and greater while medicated. When their medication starts to wear down, you have to keep reminding them on what you taught them about their self-control and self-discipline with motivation. As they get older, reminding them gets less, and they have adapted to knowing when they need to use these types of discipline and can adapt it into their daily lives. Without a parent or parents teaching them these types of roles, the medication is useless. For example, you take diet pills to lose weight. You exercise, change your eating habits, and seek out motivational materials such as videos, tapes, etc. Then, once your down to your desired weight, keeping the weight off is easier because you taught yourself discipline and have adapted to your new change. You know how to limit your food intake, and what foods are healthy and not healthy to consume. Then you can finally stop taking the dieting pill. This works the same way with an ADHD child.

The other thing is, who thinks giving a child daily doses of medicine, watching the clock vigorously for when the next pill is due, worrying about the school nurse running out of their medication, and toting the medication around everywhere you go, is a lot of fun? Not to mention, having to give the medication in a private area so people don't think you're giving your child drugs, is any more exciting. Not me. I dread it. It's a royal pain-in-the-ass. The worse is having to "time" special outings, such as the movie theatre, roller-skating, birthday parties, etc., around the time your child is "peaking" on his/her medication, just so they won't show their "hinies." Who wants to become a hermit in their own home because their child seems out-of-control 15-hours in a 24-hour period? Ever wonder why you and your child seem "cursed with a deadly plague?" Having to give your child medication is like the deadly plague, you know the plague is present, you don't know when or if it's going to hit you, your hoping it's not too painful and scarring, and the end result is "you survived." As for the child, they know when it's going to hit them, they try all obstacles to avoid it, they keep silent when they are hurting, their scars keep building up, and they don't know if they can survive, emotionally, the end result.

You need to watch some "quacky" doctors out there that keep trying different medications on your child. Here's why. If your doctor says "Here's a new medication out on the market, and I want you to try it on 'Jimmy.' Be leery. Doctor's get what is called "kick-backs". These are new medications from drug manufacturers that offer doctor's a certain percentage of payment on each prescription they administer and the patient has filled. These medications are using your child as a guinea pig. Check thoroughly into the medication through your pharmacy, "The Pill Book", or a Physicians' Desk Reference that you can find at your local library, before having your script filled. Doctors' won't tell you everything because they will be the ones getting paid for administering the prescription, not you. Another thing, if your child keeps getting changed from one medication to another, too often, the end result could be deadly. If the child has allergic reactions to the medication, you won't be able to know which medication, nor what additive might be causing the reaction. Some medications have the same "one" ingredient that your child may be allergic to. The medication might be different in name, shape, color, and for a different psychosis, but there could be one of the ingredients that is the additive as what was in the last medication that caused the allergy. Be VERY cautious!

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