What are your thoughts on protecting children in the public school from school psychologists filling out subjective checklist to determine a child suffers from ADD. Do you think a parent has a right to know that ADD is based on a "theory" and there is no valid test? Do you think parents should be told of the dangerous side effects of Ritalin and other drugs marketed as "treatment". Do you think parents have the right to know that children have died from Ritalin? For more information, please see our website www.ritalindeath.com and sign the petition. ABLECHILD.org can provide valuable information for an informed decision. God Bless our Children.

I worked hard on that article, and I think it is important to give out resources that parents and growing children can learn both sides of the "Education Debate"...instead of Reading Riting and Ritalin...marketed 24/7. Although, thanks for reading it.

The question goes back to you, Exactly when did it become about race? I was giving statistics on the number of black children labeled with the inability to learn "ADHD" and trafficked into drug use through the public school system. I actually was quoting from a report from the Secretary of Education on the large number of children from a particular race that are being targeted. This is about all children and no matter what color or background all children should have their rights protected. It is important to have truthful numbers released to the public so that we can evaluate the cause and effect of what is going on here. Education is the key to fredom. It is important to look at who ends up in jail - most are uneducated, and why is that are they being labeled, denied education and often drugged, even court mandated to be drugged. It is important to look at numbers it is so rare to get any number from the mental health industry on this issue only when they are selling new research studies to market new drugs. The debate is what this country is all about, I welcome the fredom to engage. I hope that sheds some light on my posting. It isn't about a particular race, I am only pointing out that it seems from the numbers the Secretary of Education quoted, certain children are targeted more and as he stated they are black.

My question still stands. When did this become about race. Instead of spitting out articles and links, answer questions, debate.

We moms who don't believe our children are ADHD but ABLE and are begging for educational support thought you might be interested in reading an article we just completed.

ADHD “Informed Consent” and National Defense Education Act

It is time for the American people to bring the ADHD “Ritalin” debate to a new level of “National Defense” and “Informed Consent”. According to the Associated Press report released on January 20, 2003 between 1987-1996 the use of psychotropic drugs among children has increased 200%-300% with the largest increase after 1991. The “experts” claim it is the result of greater awareness of psychiatric disorders and marketing drugs directly to the public. Human right advocates claim it is the result of the public schools diagnosing children with labels like “ADHD” through checklists, and failing to ensure proper “Informed Consent”. The responsibility for the checklists and lack of informed consent, we believe, lies with the Association of School Psychology and the information they are distributing to parents.

With war looming and special education reform on the slate for Congress, it is important to point out some basic facts. According to The Indianapolis Star, Tuesday, September 29, 1999, entitled “Thousands of Troops Let Go for Psychiatric Troubles”, “Defense Department: commanders say they are concerned by the losses and are searching for explanations.” Were these same troops informed that they would be eliminated from military service by labeling themselves with a “subjective” mental illness and “treating” themselves with mind-altering drugs? More pointedly, are parents informed of the fact that if their child is over the age of 12 and taking these psycho-stimulants for ADHD they will be ineligible to serve in the armed forces? Is the National Association of School Psychology failing to provide parents with the basic right to refuse psychological services through the public education system that is mandated by law? We believe the answer is yes.

The purpose of the National Defense Education Act of 1958 was to ensure the education of the ABLE children to increase the overall intelligence of the American people, which would secure the defense of the United States. The fundamental purpose of the National Defense Education Act is being thwarted. This is done when we allow the National Association of School Psychology to eliminate the vital resources of the military with “subjective” profiling checklists without proper informed consent.

There are constitutional issues as well that surround the profiling of children based on characteristics of behavior and labeling them with “subjective” mental disorders. In the Hearings before the 91st Congress, 2nd Session on September 29, 1970, ethical questions were raised regarding research studies and conflicts of interest. During the testimony it was noted that Keith Conners, PhD (the creator of the Conner’s Rating Scale - a widely used ADHD checklist) not only received federal grants for his research, but was also in charge of interpreting the outcome of his own research. This called into question the ethics of having research oversight by those who profit from those same research grants. These important documents are being withheld from parents so as an “informed” decision cannot be made.

The ADHD Ritalin debate needs to be brought to a higher level than debating whether the drugs are effective or not. Basic human rights are being violated and the outcome not only affects the individual child, but the entire Nation. With the lack of intelligence that brought our Country to its knees on September 11th, it is important to enforce the National Defense Education Act. This will ensure that the basic aptitude of every child is protected and the American people are well educated. www.ablechild.org

Written by Sheila Matthews & Patricia Weathers,
Parents for Label & Drug Free Education
New York & Connecticut

Dr.Strangeglove---I'd say that Prozac is more of a soma figure than Ritalin. I wouldn't be surprised if Huxley ended up being given the title of prophet!

locutus (and all, i guess)---ODD just sounds like anybody between the age of 12 and 20's... that's ridiculous.

When did this turn about race?

quote:

---

Depakote
Clonidine
Lithium Carbonate
Anti-Convulsants (Tegretol, Epival)
Risperidone"

So apparently, the message is this; If they dont play along, make em zombies.

---

In a word: Soma

Huxley was a prophet.

Paige, like other special education critics, also lamented what he called the "disproportionate enrollment of minority kids" in special education. According to a recent study by the National Academies, more than twice as many black children are labeled mentally retarded as white children. And about 1.5 percent of black children are diagnosed as emotionally disturbed, compared to only 0.9 percent of white children.

Personally, I don't care whether you believe in "subjective" disorder or not. The public schools should not be promoting labels and drugs they should stick to education which they are failing at. More Black children are "diagnosed" with mental disorder than ever before. Follow the money. Our children can't read or write. So your posting is just selling more BS to the public.

Nice job, Loc. ODD= Adolescence, no? I truly believe that these so-called doctors, who are bought by the drug companies, create a new disorder for any little quirk that comes up, anything seen outside of the box, well, that's a disorder, best to medicate it. Furthermore, the drugs they use do exactly as Loc said: turn the person into a zombie. You want real help? How bout a dose of placebos. Yep, it's all in your head, baby.

I find "ODD" even more interesting than the 'add' situtation. It is basically a blanket term usede to classify anyone who has opinions and stands up for their opinions. Heres some info from various sites about this "disease":

"The American Psychiatric Association estimates that sixteen percent of children in the United States may have oppositional defiant disorder. These kids relentlessly push the boundaries set for them by authority figures. By exploring the mindset of O.D.D. children and explaining the way they operate, Dr. Douglas Riley teaches parents how to recognize the signs and modify the behavior of their O.D.D."

"ODD is a psychiatric disorder that is characterized by two different sets of problems. These are aggressiveness and a tendency to purposefully bother and irritate others. It is often the reason that people seek treatment. When ODD is present with ADHD, depression, tourette's, anxiety disorders, or other neuropsychiatric disorders, it makes life with that child far more difficult. For Example, ADHD plus ODD is much worse than ADHD alone, often enough to make people seek treatment. The criteria for ODD are:

A pattern of negativistic, hostile, and defiant behavior lasting at least six months during which four or more of the following are present:

1. Often loses temper
2. often argues with adults
3. often actively defies or refuses to comply with adults' requests or rules"

"MEDICAL TREATMENT

Depakote
Clonidine
Lithium Carbonate
Anti-Convulsants (Tegretol, Epival)
Risperidone"

So apparently, the message is this; If they dont play along, make em zombies.

Please consider signing the petition on www.ablechild.org to stop the drugging of innocent children. For those of who do not believe in ADHD or ADD, we need help. No parent should feel they need to label their child with a subjective mental illness in order to receive a free and appropriate education. Please sign up for our children's sake. Parents are not told their child can not join the military in voilation of the National Defense Education Act of 1958. Please sign the petition on www.ablechild.org

turn off your tv! adhd; gone in no time....
plus kids are just kids. no need to go DRUGGING them up because they're running around and don't care to listen to you.

Ah, the great Ritalin debate.

Personally I think the trend for behavior modification throuhg drugs has gone way overboard.

I definitely think the decision should lie with the parent and the child's doctor. And it wouldprobably be a good idea to get a second opinion if the first doctor is really gung-ho for medication. Better to be a little hyper, than drugged up your whole childhood.