Most major drug companies would like us to believe that there is only one possible route that we can take after the diagnosis of ADD/ADHD. This route is the one that always ends in the prescription of powerful drugs with which to ‘manage’ the condition. There is, however, a growing realisation that these drugs are not the miracle cures that parents are so often promised. Research is pointing to the following very troubling consequences of long term ADD/ADHD drug use: • Stunted growth • Loss of long term motivation • Mood swings (Leading, in very extreme cases, to suicidal thoughts) • Substantial risk of abuse and addiction As if the above were not bad enough it is becoming clear that the effectiveness of these drugs decrease over time. They are therefore often not much more than temporary ‘band aids’ and do not make any difference to the underlying causes of the condition. These facts are causing more and more people to ask the question: “Is there not a better way!?” Here at ‘3 Steps ADD’ we have always answered the question with an enthusiastic ‘Yes’. This is, in fact, exactly what the three steps are about: A better, natural, way to cope with and triumph over ADD/ADHD. Pharmaceutical companies tried very hard over the years to paint those who advocate natural responses to the condition as being part of a lunatic fringe. This is getting harder and harder to do as modern research is pointing to some real successes with natural approaches. The fact that there are a number of treatment options that can produce positive outcomes points to the fact that every person is unique. Different techniques will therefore work for different people. It is also a confirmation of the emerging scientific consensus that ADD/ADHD is not a single unified condition but rather a range of conditions. It therefore makes perfect sense that different ' types' of ADD/ADHD will have to be treated in different ways.
Is there a link between ADD/ADHD medication and lack of motivation?
Hardly a week goes by without the publication of new research into ADD/ADHD. The fact that the scientific community is paying such close attention to the condition is, of course, to be welcomed. I have, and will continue, to profile such research on this site as it becomes available. What worries me, however, is how many research projects are pointing to other factors as the cause of ‘ADD Like’ symptoms. We have, for example, recently looked at studies pointing to factors as diverse as sleep deprivation and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) as causing symptoms that are often mistaken for ADD/ADHD. These studies are just the tip of the iceberg, which means that thousands of ADD/ADHD misdiagnoses are made each. The problem of misdiagnosis would not have been all that serious if the only thing that diagnosis led to was a renewed focus on the role of lifestyle factors (e.g. diet, sleep patterns, parental discipline) as a means of behaviour modification. The fact is, however, that an ADD/ADHD diagnosis almost invariably leads to a child being placed on powerful medication. It is as if we are sleepwalking into a world where we think that it might just be a good idea to medicate the next generation at levels that previous generations would have found almost impossible to believe. The sad fact is that most prescriptions are made by professionals who are a) Not adequately trained to make a proper ADD/ADHD diagnosis and b) Under pressure (especially from teachers) to come up with the ‘right’ diagnosis. Many doctors who immediately prescribe drugs for the treatment of ADD/ADHD justify their actions by saying that they are simply trying to see if it will work. There are two huge problems with this approach. It is firstly highly irresponsible to reach for the ‘nuclear option’ first! In most other areas of medicine physicians will start with the least invasive and dangerous treatment options first. It seems, however, that this piece of common sense good practice does not apply when it comes to children with behavioural issues (that may or may not be due to ADD/ADHD). The second problem is that ADD/ADHD drugs act like ‘steroids for the brain’. They will lift performance regardless of whether a child has ADD/ADHD or not. This is why Adderall is such a hotly traded commodity on college campuses around exam time! The fact that it ‘helps’ is therefore no proof of the existence of ADD/ADHD or an indication (due to the existence of the law of diminishing returns) of long term improvement. The big question is: What price will your child (and society) have to pay for a brief spike in performance?
Adult ADD, Avoid ADD Diagnoses, Special Reports, Step #1 Avoid the Bad
ADD/ADHD Misdiagnosis: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder often mistaken for ADHD
I have often written about the huge problem of ADD/ADHD misdiagnosis. This problem makes me think of the old proverb that says: “If you only have a hammer everything looks like a nail!” Modern medicine have become so preoccupied with sticking the ADD label on kids that it is very often the first diagnosis that [...]
ADD-ADHD News, Adult ADD, Special Reports, Step #1 Avoid the Bad
Understanding the Shifts in Human Nutrition – The Role of Chemicals (Part 1)
With last week’s article I began to touch on the subject of how our perceptions of food changed over the past few decades. I did this by pointing out how food was viewed in the past. When asked to describe food as a category past generations would very likely have used the following words: Scarce, [...]
ADD-ADHD News, Adult ADD, Special Reports
Attention Deficit. What Kind?
We are, as you are no doubt aware if you check in regularly, busy with a series examining the impact of diet on the effects of ADD/ADHD. We have already looked at the desirability of a Low-GI diet; this was followed up with a discussion about nutrition and brain function. The last few articles in [...]
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