The ADHD Scam

As a parent, I was fortunate enough to be able to enroll my son in a private school. In first grade, at the behest of the school, we went through the experience of having him diagnosed with ADHD. The school was concerned that he would often leave his seat in situations where remaining seated is expected, talking excessively, and often failed to follow through on instructions or finish his schoolwork. All of these seemed rather normal for a child his age, especially boys. However, as private schools are oftentimes more strict in these regards, we had him assessed, diagnosed, and began treatment for ADHD. The alternative was having him disenrolled. Sadly, I watched a lively and inquisitive little boy turn into a zombie; however, the school was thrilled that he could sit at his desk and do the work that they asked of him. So, on weekends we would take a break from the meds, and the difference in his disposition became like night and day.

But the more we researched and learned about the overall effects of these medications, the more we realized that what we were doing was tantamount to child abuse. Through my experience as a teacher, I became more aware that it was the school that would have to accommodate him rather than the other way around. We stopped giving him the meds. The change was tremendous. A sulky, sullen, disinterested young man almost instantly transformed. He became more social, more interested in the schoolwork that interested him, and more involved in activities. When I recall the effects of the meds, I asked this: is it any wonder in our world where more than 1 out of 10 kids are medicated that there is an increase in their anxiety, stress, and failure? I don’t feel that it is a fair tradeoff for kids who will comply in a regular classroom. I cringe every time I get a feedback form for a high schooler who is being assessed for ADHD. Why are we doing this at an age where medical consensus says they should have grown out of that phase, or learned coping mechanisms to deal with it rather than drug them?

Kids need a learning environment where they can be allowed to be creative, strong-willed, and hyper focused rather than being tame, obedient, and ordinary. These young people are the ones who will become the inventors, the innovators, and the visionaries. We need to allow them that autonomy and freedom.