Political Crossfire Forums

[Robodoon]

More Ritalin, Ma

By Judy Andreas
7-22-6

"Why don't you write about something that is ruining my generation?" My son asked. I pondered the plethora of possibilities.

"Which thing?"

"Pharmaceuticals", he replied.

I hardly knew where to begin. As a retired Caseworker, I had had first hand experience with the drugging of our young people. The array of prescribed pharmaceuticals would fill up a medicine chest no less an essay. I decided to begin with one popularly prescribed pill, Ritalin.

My mind drifted back to 1995 when I first began working for Child Protective Services. I had been called to investigate a case of child neglect. The investigation always commenced with a visit to the school to question the child. I called the school and arranged to meet the child in the nurses office.

When I arrived at the Nurse's office I noticed a long line of children.

I asked, "Why are these children lined up?"

"They are here for their Ritalin", She replied nonchalantly. They have ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). The nurse's demeanor was the antithesis of what I was feeling.

When did ADD and ADHD reach epidemic proportions? Where had this "problem" been when I was teaching in the New York City School System? Where had this "problem" been when I was attending school? I could not believe my eyes and could only suspect that some great hoax was being perpetrated on our young people.

Ritalin is methylphenidate, a central nervous system stimulant. Paradoxically, it purportedly quiets down the hyperactive child and makes him manageable. And yet, there are many people who question whether or not Ritalin truly works and whether or not there are long term consequences of putting a child on, what amounts to, Speed. The consensus is that about 80% of the children who receive the drug experience a quieting effect. I wondered if that was true. http://www.omnipotentchild.com/chfive.html

I began to research some of the available studies. Many of them put an entirely different spin on this supposedly "harmless" pharmaceutical.

Granger et al, from the Department of Psychology of the University of California at Los Angeles report a study in which they enlisted ninety-six undergraduate college students to view and make judgments about videotaped play sessions. These were videos of two different ADHD boys playing an interaction game with three normal peers. One of the target boys was on Ritalin and one wasn't. (See Grander, DA, et al., Social Impressions of Methylphenidate Effects on Hyperactive Children's Peer Interactions," Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology 21: 67-81.)

The observations of these undergraduates were evaluated and more negative than positive behaviors were detected. The interesting thing is that the "negative behaviors" were strikingly different.

The negative ratings for the placebo child (the one not getting Ritalin) reported three behaviors:

non-compliance
aggression
disruption.

The negative ratings for the Ritalin child also reported three behaviors:

social inhibition
passivity
submissive behavior.

The question arises: When a child is reported to be better on Ritalin does "better" mean more compliant, less aggressive, and less disruptive?

For a teacher trying to control a room full of students, compliance and passivity are considered "desirable" qualities. However, are these the qualities we want to foster in our children? And what happens when these children grow into adulthood? Does Ritalin create critical thinkers and inventive contributors? Or, does Ritalin start our youngsters on the path to drug dependency?

In another study, three covert antisocial behaviors were measured: stealing, destroying property, and cheating. Ritalin was found to reduce the incidence of the first two, but it increased the incidence of cheating. The authors speculate that this is because Ritalin enhances task involvement. (See Hinshaw, SP, Heller, T, and McHale, JP, "Covert Antisocial Behaviour in ADHD," Journal of Consulting Clinical Psychology April 1992 (60/2): 274-81.)

At the end of the day, Ritalin may be have a calming affect, but it may also involve changes you or I would hardly label as improvements.

Many parents go along with the recommendation of the school and doctors. They do not question whether this drug will have any side effects or long term consequences. According to the head of psychiatry at the Vancouver Children's Hospital, Ritalin is not even as dangerous as aspirin. To me, this merely calls into question the safety of aspirin. (See the report in the Vancouver/Lower Mainland area newspaper the Tri-City News, 26 August 1990.)

Further investigation reveals that the above is a gross understatement. The fact is that Ritalin has many known side effects. Some of them may be rare but others are quite common. Some of them are extremely serious. How many psychiatrists or school personnel tell parents of the possible consequences of the mummifying of their kiddies?

In a publication called Methylphenidate (A Background Paper) published in 1995,and available through the DEA, a few of the side effects were listed. They included palpitation, tachcardia, increased blood pressure, insomnia, psychosis, dizziness, headache irritability, Gilles de la Tourette's disease, tics, nausea, anorexia, dry mouth, weight loss, and growth delay.

Reports of psychotic reactions are rare but have occurred. Leukopenia, caused by poisoning of the bone marrow, is equally rare. Deaths from Ritalin have been reported as a result of teen-agers crushing Ritalin pills and injecting them intravenously. As for whether this drug is addictive, I have heard they some adolescents have now taken to snorting Ritalin.

My son has a friend who was put on Ritalin as a child. And now, at 23, he is in a constant struggle with pill and drug addiction. Another friend of mine has a daughter who was given Ritalin in Junior High. She has been in and out of rehabs in her 20's. Is this merely a coincidence? I seriously doubt it. Giving kids Ritalin to improve their behavior may help to make them more docile, but at the same time, it teaches them to look to drugs for the solution to life's problems. In addition, it may habituate them and make them dependent.

And now for the million dollar question. Are there really such conditions as ADD and ADHD and can they be "fixed" with a "pharmie"?

It seems to me that we have lost sight of what childhood is about. It seems to me that we have lost sight of what teaching is all about. Is it really about having a classroom of 30 submissive students sitting silently? Is it about teachers who are forced to pressure their children to get good grades on standardized tests? Is there any excitement and love of learning left?

I seriously doubt whether there are any miracle drugs for squirming and boredom. And one thing I will say for certain, "Speed" is not the answer. It is not a life enhancer, it is a life reducer. It robs the child of his vitality and a great deal more.

Parents have also been lied to. They've been told that children have a neurobiological disorder. They've been told their children have biochemical imbalances and genetic defects. On what basis? Is it because they fit into a checklist of attention deficit disorder, which is just a list of behaviors that teachers would like to see stopped in a classroom? Because, my friends, at the end of the day, that's all it really is.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/medicating/experts/exist.html

Copyright 2006: Judy Andreas
www.judyandreas.com
JUDE10901@AOL.com


Comments: there is no such thing as ADD and ADHD. Are you being told to put your kids on these drugs, which are close (cleaner form) to what Adolph Hilter gave is Military troopers?

DARE....Don't USE DRUGS, unless the schools, Government and Big Business are pushing them.

FREE VIDEO


VIDEO Unholy Alliance Bill Sardi goes over the connections between, government, Stock Markets and BIG BUSINESS and what is done to we the people to make a profit as well as for "other purposes".
http://www.robodoon.com/new_page_1.htm

[The Grandmaster]

I did not have time to read it all; however, I got the main point. While many people call your posts conspiracy theories, this one certainly makes a lot of sense and I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if it was all true. In fact, I believe all of it. I think there is a consensus that children should first and foremost be “good and obedient little drones” that are indoctrinated to believe one should never question authority, those above them are always right, and to always know their place. I’d have to find it, but I found a very interesting article about a year ago from a school teacher. He said basically, what he was told to teach boiled down to ultimately one thing…that despite whatever they are taught, they are supposed to be taught to be good and obedient little employees for the workplace. Critical Thinking was looked down upon, because it could result in thinking non-conducive to the status quo. It was an alarming article in fact.

And yes, it does seems a bit odd that all these children apparently, in 2006, all need ridilin. We never heard of it when I was in school, and that wasn’t that long ago. I think it is more of a quick fix than anything, and mostly, an arbitrary determination as to whether they really need it or not.

[Robodoon]

The Grandmaster wrote: I did not have time to read it all; however, I got the main point. While many people call your posts conspiracy theories, this one certainly makes a lot of sense and I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if it was all true. In fact, I believe all of it. I think there is a consensus that children should first and foremost be “good and obedient little drones” that are indoctrinated to believe one should never question authority, those above them are always right, and to always know their place. I’d have to find it, but I found a very interesting article about a year ago from a school teacher. He said basically, what he was told to teach boiled down to ultimately one thing…that despite whatever they are taught, they are supposed to be taught to be good and obedient little employees for the workplace. Critical Thinking was looked down upon, because it could result in thinking non-conducive to the status quo. It was an alarming article in fact.

And yes, it does seems a bit odd that all these children apparently, in 2006, all need ridilin. We never heard of it when I was in school, and that wasn’t that long ago. I think it is more of a quick fix than anything, and mostly, an arbitrary determination as to whether they really need it or not.

;)


I notice something with parents today as well, they won't stand up for their kids in many cases. I was at a PTA meeting and a state office showed up, The parents asked questions and the state official scolded them for asking the questions about what was going one with their children, The parents put their tails between their legs and sat down, it seems they forgot their children are theirs and not the states. :cry:

Quote: "Education should aim at destroying free will, so that, after pupils have left school, they shall be incapable, throughout the rest of their lives, of thinking or acting otherwise than as their schoolmasters would have wished. . . . Diet, injections, and injunctions will combine, from a very early age, to produce the sort of character and the sort of beliefs that the authorities consider desirable, and any serious criticism of the powers that be will become psychologically impossible."
Bertrand Russell: 1953 [2]

[Green]

Lets compare the traits seen in kids not on the pill to the founding fathers.

Quote: non-compliance Transilated to treason in 1776; that the signers commited when the signed the Declaration of Independence.

Quote: aggression Boston Tea Party

Quote: disruption. Disrupting tyrany since 1776

I don't think the founding fathers had ADD. Looks loke you need ADD to create freedom.

[perdidochas]

The Grandmaster wrote: I did not have time to read it all; however, I got the main point. While many people call your posts conspiracy theories, this one certainly makes a lot of sense and I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if it was all true. In fact, I believe all of it. I think there is a consensus that children should first and foremost be “good and obedient little drones” that are indoctrinated to believe one should never question authority, those above them are always right, and to always know their place. I’d have to find it, but I found a very interesting article about a year ago from a school teacher. He said basically, what he was told to teach boiled down to ultimately one thing…that despite whatever they are taught, they are supposed to be taught to be good and obedient little employees for the workplace. Critical Thinking was looked down upon, because it could result in thinking non-conducive to the status quo. It was an alarming article in fact.

And it was just based on his biased experiences. I taught in public schools for 8 yrs, and my wife has taught in public and private schools for almost 9. I have never once heard the bulls**t about critical thinking being looked down on. Heck, I myself went to at least 4 workshops on promoting critical thinking in the science classroom (I taught science).

Being good and obedient is encouraged, but for the most part, why shouldn't it be? Self-discipline (i.e. being good and polite) is essential for success. Obedience to good rules is also a good thing. Do you know what the top three reasons for being fired in the workplace are: 1) excessive absenteeisn; 2) excessive tardieism; and 3) failure to follow directions. A society needs some rules and structure.

The Grandmaster wrote: And yes, it does seems a bit odd that all these children apparently, in 2006, all need ridilin. We never heard of it when I was in school, and that wasn’t that long ago. I think it is more of a quick fix than anything, and mostly, an arbitrary determination as to whether they really need it or not.

It's a combination of things. I do think there are kids that truly need Ritalin, because other less intrusive methods haven't worked (I've met several kids who were ok, unless you gave them food with red or green food coloring, then they became ADD). However, I would estimate that probably only 5-10% of current Ritalin prescriptions are for those sorts of kids. Most kids I've seen on Ritalin are an example of benign parental neglect or parental hypochondria (oh, my, Billy can's sit still for 30 minutes something has to be wrong with him).