[geeks] Psychotropics aka anti-depressants, etc

[N.Miller]

On Wednesday, July 23, 2003, at 10:47 AM, Geoffrey S. Mendelson wrote:

> N.Miller wrote:
>
>> The other thing that a lot of folks don't know is that the federal
>> government gives subsidies to schools for kids identified as "at
>> risk"...do you think that a kid id'd as ADD/ADHD is "at risk"? :-/
>
>
> Actually Nadine, your post was full of facts, but was wrong. SSRI's
> fill a particular need. They correct a hormonal imbalance. If you
> have it, they help you immensly, if not they are a total waste.

Geoff--

I'm sorry if you took my post that way.  I have a handful of
friends who are on various drugs like these, and yes, they
are useful for people who *have* brain chemical imbalances.
The changes to a person can be shockingly positive, when they
get a drug that works.  But individual successes cannot be
taken as the complete picture when there are plenty of facts
showing that there are problems as well.

Many, if not most of the kids who are getting these drugs
have not been thoroughly diagnosed as having chemical imbalances.
Teachers recommend drugs, parents listen to teachers, and the
next thing you know, kids are on drugs.  There are cases where
school districts have *refused* to allow a child back into school
because they wanted the child on these types of drugs and the
child's parents refused.

The "standards" for ADD/ADHD diagnosis are vague.  This dramatic
increase for Ritalin and related drugs is primarily in the US as
well.  The pharmaceutical companies advertise these drugs like
they are the panacea for the stress of modern life.

<http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/medicating/backlash/ 
un.html>

I'm all for helping those that need help with drugs, therapy or
whatever else is *effective*.  But I do not think giving drugs
to kids so their parents and teachers don't have to deal with
them is appropriate.

=Nadine=