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¢ "ADHD" remains a popular and seductive concept, and in the absence of intervention the use of the diagnosis and stimulant drugs is likely to continue to escalate. ¢ "ADHD" remains a popular and seductive concept, and in the into "less trouble", thus pleasing parents and teachers. But at absence of intervention the use of the diagnosis and stimulant what cost? Occasionally the child pays the ultimate cost: drugs is likely to continue to escalate. "Stephanie Hall, of Canton, Ohio, believed ADHD was a disease. She took her Ritalin, religiously. Her parents, Mike and The Popularity of "ADHD" Janet Hall, believed it too. Stephanie Hall died in her sleep, 6 The numbers of children diagnosed as having ADHD or ADD days before her 12th birthday, not from ADHD—because there is are staggering and continue to increase. The popularity of the no such thing—but from Ritalin, because Ritalin is an diagnosis in Australia has resulted in more and more children amphetamine and because amphetamines have a long history of receiving stimulant medications. causing sudden cardiac deaths, even in the young."” For years, clinicians have noted that stimulants have a paradox- "Death caused from long-term use of methylphenidate (Ritalin): ical effect on children. There have been myriad theories advanced Death certificate of 14 y/o Matthew Smith, 21/03/01, Oakland as to the physiological reasons for this, but none has won univer- County, Michigan."* sal acceptance. In the past decades the pharmaceutical industry In one sense, it should not be surprising that the use of has told us that ADHD continues into adulthood and it has advo- psychostimulants can be dangerous and even fatal. These drugs cated the use of stimulant and stimulant-like drugs for adults as are among the most controlled and restricted because of their well. This suggests that while the stimulant effect seems "calm- acknowledged danger. In Queensland, as in some other states in ing", it may relate more to a form of intense focusing on one thing Australia, physicians must get approval for every prescription (or no thing) as opposed to being aware of and involved in the they write for stimulants, and if the treatment persists beyond two various aspects of the environment. months they must provide an explanation. "Both According to the 30 June 2002 Sydney Sun-Herald: "It is dexamphetamine and methylphenidate are controlled drugs under estimated that at least 50,000 Australian children are now on these Schedule 8 of the Health (Drugs and Poisons) Regulation 1996, prescription drugs."! The increase has been nothing short of and they are classified as specified condition drugs under section meteoric. 78 of the same regulations, with additional supply and use "Between 1991 and 1998, prescrip- restriction."” tions dispensed for dexamphetamine Stimulant drugs may lead to depres- sulphate increased by 2400 per cent, sion and thereby might be contributory while prescriptions for Ritalin The most popular stimulant to suicide. "The [South Australia increased by 620 per cent over the " " Parliamentary] Committee was dis- same period." drugs used for ADHD'"— turbed to hear or read the examples of ncustralian consumption of dexam- Ritalin (methylphenidate) a number of children who had phetamine rose 592% between 1991 and dexamphetamine expressed suicidal thoughts. and 1995, while consumption of —_ "Suicide is a major complication of methylphenidate rose 490% in the are pharmacologically withdrawal from t is stimulant and same time period. similar to cocaine similar amphetamine-like drugs.""' The New South Wales Commission . Drugs in general, and stimulants in for Children and Young People asked particular, pose a significant long-term for community input and heard many risk with children because of their worried voices: "A great many potential developmental effects. It is submissions to the inquiry expresse' intuitively obvious that powerful drugs concern about the increasing use of psychotropic drugs in children could affect the process of growth and development in a child, with ADD/ADHD, especially the long-term effects."* and this has been widely acknowledged in the mainstream press, The 1 July 2002 Brisbane Courier-Mail noted that, per capita, even by the American Psychiatric Association (publisher of the "More children in Australia take psychotropic medication than do Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, or DSM) itself: in the US" With estimates of the prevalence of ADHD in the "The term developmental toxicology refers to unique or United States ranging as high as 15-18% of school-age children, especially severe side effects caused by interaction between a this trend is frightening and constitutes a public health emergency drug and the process of growth and development. Children and in Australia. adolescents are growing and developing not only physically but also cognitively and emotionally. It is important that medications The Dangers of Stimulant Medications not interfere with learning in school or with the development of The most popular stimulant drugs used for "ADHD"—Ritalin social relationships within the family or with peers."* (methylphenidate) and dexamphetamine—are pharmacologically Inevitably we must face the fact that if stimulants affect growth similar to cocaine. Just like cocaine, these drugs have significant and development, they very likely affect the developing brain: effects. They cause children to become more docile and more "There is now a mountain of evidence that stimulants disrupt compliant. This is true of a// children, as any remnant of the myth growth hormone production on a daily basis and that they also can that only "ADHD" children react this way has long since been dis- reduce the child's overall growth, including height and weight... pelled. "Indeed, stimulant medications have been shown to have It is hard to imagine a more serious warning flag than growth similar types of effects in children with diagnosed ADHD and inhibition, since it affects the overall growth of the body and all individuals regarded as normal controls (Peloquin and Klorman, its organs, including the brain."'* 1986; Rapoport, Buchsbaum and Monte, 1980; Rapoport, "The drug commonly used to help Australian children with Buchsbaum and Zahn, 1978). These results emphasise that the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may cause long-term diagnosis of ADHD cannot be determined by a positive response changes in the brain. University of Buffalo scientists have found to medication."® that Ritalin produced changes in the brains of rats similar to those Drugged children become more docile and compliant and get seen with stimulants such as amphetamines and cocaine. Study The most popular stimulant drugs used for "ADHD"— Ritalin (methylphenidate) and dexamphetamine— are pharmacologically similar to cocaine. The Dangers of Stimulant Medications The most popular stimulant drugs used for "ADHD"—Ritalin (methylphenidate) and dexamphetamine—are pharmacologically similar to cocaine. Just like cocaine, these drugs have significant effects. They cause children to become more docile and more compliant. This is true of all children, as any remnant of the myth that only "ADHD" children react this way has long since been dis- pelled. "Indeed, stimulant medications have been shown to have similar types of effects in children with diagnosed ADHD and individuals regarded as normal controls (Peloquin and Klorman, 1986; Rapoport, Buchsbaum and Monte, 1980; Rapoport, Buchsbaum and Zahn, 1978). These results emphasise that the diagnosis of ADHD cannot be determined by a positive response to medication."° Drugged children become more docile and compliant and get 12 = NEXUS www.nexusmagazine.com FEBRUARY — MARCH 2005