Ritalin and Using Chemical Solutions

[Maricel Evasco]

Do you think America is an over medicated society?

 

YES. There seems to be a pill or chemical for every ailment and condition on the planet. I understand the pharmaceutical industry has vested interest putting those pills on the market, but in the long run they are harming the consumers. Now, they've resorted to harming the children using chemical solutions particularly those with ADD and ADHD.

 

Ritalin, the prescribed medication for ADD ADHD, has become commonplace. Ritalin mimics cocaine without the addiction factor. I find it highly ironic that a country that goes out of its way to push Anti Drugs campaign would turn a blind eye to Ritalin (a hard drug) being foisted down children's throat. My son's best friend has to take it and he often fights w.his mother about his neglect to use it.

 

Why is there a growing prevalence of kids with ADD and ADHD today? particularly in the US?

How do you feel about chemical solutions?

[Apposite]

I think much of the reason for the heightened use of drugging students is because of our collective life habits and diet. First of all I think there should be more PE and recess in school so that it is easier to relax and concentrate when in class. I think this just makes sense. Secondly, when children are "playing" today, it is usually with something electronic, they are entertaining themselves more than actually playing which I tend to equate more with physicality and thinking kinds of activities/games.

 

As far as using drugs to calm, sedate or simulate focus in children I think that there is far too pervasive a use of these drugs. I know there have always been such children but the drugging seems a bit much and I think often just stifles natural inclinations in a student's nature, particularly boys. I think boys need more active activities and tend to be problems sometimes just for being what boys naturally are. I tend to give some latitude in this regard as long as respect is maintained and there is an effort at cooperation and compromise when I'm teaching.

[Maricel Evasco]

Apposite, the one electronic  that kept them moving was the Wii, but I think the fad died down. I don't see anyone playing with their wii wiis anymore.

 

I like it when I see kids at their lemonade stands hollering at passer-byes to buy a drink of lemonade. It shows initiative and requires labor. It also reminds me of Peanuts.  =-)

[Apposite]

I just think parents and schools need to initiate more physical exercise and work as a team. I think we need a JFK kind of campaign for personal fitness again (like they do now against drugs and cigarettes). Plus I think that more PE in school would mean less time needed to be in the seats doing the academic stuff because they could get more out of less time and have more time to do what children naturally like (Recess/PE). In addition I think we need to bring back vigorous competition and not worry so much about hurt feelings. Competition would help with the vigor part. I remember once arranging an end of school softball game and directing a student to go play "short" and I saw him/her way out in leftfield. I then said well play second and still the directive was unclear - I mean those games don't get taught anymore because bat and ball games are too dangerous. After all, life is all about competing.

[Apposite]

Speaking of working as a team between parents and schools I think that more could be done publicly in providing height/weight ratios and posting them, perhaps even providing weighing scales in discreet and accessible ways. I think charts and nutrition should be posted boldly in hallways and public venues. Also perhaps provide reward and incentive programs that wouldn't be unconstitutional. That might be difficult but I think it is doable.

 

When it comes to academics we have gotten so far off from emphasizing basics and anybody that does emphasize them is potentially viewed and right wing and reactionary. I think we need to have more emphasis on factual material so we can use it in a way that encourages and enables higher thinking such as analysis, interpretation, and evaluation (being able to form airtight, logical opinions).

[Quinn]

Over medicated?

Absofuckinglutely!

[Apposite]

Quinn you leave me a bit confused as to your true feelings.

[Quinn]

:-)

[Wendel]

Sometimes you need a chemical intervention when you are dealing with psychological disorders.  I do think that there should be therapy to go along with it instead of just willy nilly giving somebody an antidepresent and expecting their depression to go away.  Because once they are off of the pills again, if there is no type of lifestyle modification to go along with it, they may very well fall back into depression.

 

 

[Wendel]

My sister is bipolar, which is a true mental illness, so I do understand your point.  But I also don't see the point in telling someone to just get over how they are feeling.  I agree that primary Doctors seem all too eager to give you a pill rather than send you to therapy.   Are they even truly qualified in knowing which would be the right medication for you anyway (assuming you need medication?).  And I am assuming that it is less expensive for insurance companies to pay for part of a prescription rather than send somebody to weekly therapy.  

I do think that part of being responsible for your own happiness is in seeking help when you need it. On a more personal note I suffered from depression probably from the time I was in my early teens until my late twenties.  Some of my issues were hormonal and the rest of them from a lousy family life.  I had been depressed for so many years that it seemed like a normal way to be.  It wasn't until I found myself exhausted and sleeping all of the time that I realized that something wasn't right.  It was at that time that I went to my local mental health clinic.  They prescribed medication which was to be taken in conjunction with therapy.  I don't think that the medication would have helped alone because the therapy was necessary in making changes to how I was living my life.  

 

[Maricel Evasco]

They prescribed medication which was to be taken in conjunction with therapy Wendel

 

 

I agree with you wholeheartedly. Medication is just a physical band aid. Therapy tries to get to the root of the problem. It would be best to combine both.

[Maricel Evasco]

How were those years altered and how did you discover that he had that allergy?

That is an interesting bit of information to file at the back of my mind. So often students are medicated to make them more manageable in class.

[Maricel Evasco]

I'm glad his next doctor was into holistic medicine. and the method worked. I really am a fan of most holistic approaches even in educational assessment in addition to the traditional methods.

 

I hope Mike has not become disenchanted with education after his earlier experiences. Can I pester you to tell me what kind of holistic method/approach your son's doctor used?

I remember having a vicious  headache/migraine not too long ago and my sister persuaded me to visit a local foot spa which applied reflexology in their practice. I left with no headache. Since then, I've been reading up on reflexology and acupressure. When I have the time, I'd like to take classes on it and Jin shin Jyutsu.