Preview

The Harmful Effects of ADHD Medication in Children

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2588 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Harmful Effects of ADHD Medication in Children
The Harmful Effects of ADHD Medication in Children
English 102: Writing II

Abstract The medications and treatments for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) were researched to expose the risks of pharmaceuticals and their side effects on young children. The medical risks of medications commonly used to treat children with ADHD were examined using published research and findings from pediatricians, physicians, scientists, and other health care professionals, as well as alternative treatments for the disorder. The research showed that the ADHD pharmaceutical treatment plans have serious short and long term side effects on young children, with no evidence of long term efficacy. Whereas, alternative treatment plans pose no harmful physical side effects and are still effective.

The Harmful Effects of ADHD Medication in Children Abigail first started exhibiting signs of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in preschool. Her preschool teachers complained to her parents that during story time she disturbed the other children with her fidgeting. Her parents took her to a developmental pediatrician who, after many tests, diagnosed her with ADHD. The pediatrician prescribed different medications that made her seriously ill and drastically altered her personality. After trying several different medications, her parents decided to abstain from pharmaceuticals as a means of treatment. The side effects of the medications that Abigail used as a treatment for her ADHD are not uncommon for many young children with the disorder. There are many drugs being used to treat ADHD that have short term side effects and long term health risks. Furthermore, the Multimodal Treatment Study (MTA) on ADHD showed that though there was no conclusive evidence of long term effectiveness of the ADHD medications, alternative treatments and behavior therapies are effective treatments for ADHD.


References: Barnett, S. R., & Labellarte, M. J. (2002). Practical assessment and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Adolescent Psychiatry, 26, 181-206. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/206082123?accountid=11936. Docksai, R. (2013). Long-Term Risks of Psychiatric Drugs. Futurist, 47(3), 12-14. Efron, D., Hazell, P., & Anderson, V Huang, Y., & Tsai, M. (2011). Long-term outcomes with medications for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: current status of knowledge. CNS Drugs, 25(7), 539-554. doi:10.2165/11589380-000000000-00000 Ingram, S., Hechtman, L., & Morgenstem, G Kean, B. (2004). What the multimodal treatment study really discovered about intervention for children diagnosed with ADHD: Implications for early childhood Nissen, S. (2006). ADHD drugs and cardiovascular risk. New England Journal of Medicine, 354(14), 1445-1448. Pellow, J., Solomon, E Ryan, J. B., Katsiyannis, A., & Hughes, E. M. (2011). Medication treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Overprescribing Ritalin in the United States
    • 1740 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Overprescribing Ritalin in the United States

    Over the past 40 years there has been a great deal of controversy regarding the distribution of the leading stimulant Ritalin among ADHD patients. Many critics feel that the drug is widely overprescribed. “Additionally, they claim that Ritalin (methylphenidate) is inherently dangerous and that the entire system of the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD is seriously flawed,” (Safer, 2000). On the other hand, there are individuals that have dealt with ADHD patients first hand and swear by the beneficial results they have witnessed. The major points of both supporters and critics will be expressed throughout this paper. After discussing both positions, the writer of this research paper will present a final conclusion and a personal opinion of the topic.…

    • 1740 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Is Stimulant Medication the Best Option for Adhd Children
    • 2318 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Is Stimulant Medication the Best Option for Adhd Children

    Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders among children. ADHD can cause them to be hyper, have problems controlling impulse behaviors and trouble paying attention. The common treatment for ADHD is both medication and behavioral therapies starting as early as age four going up into adulthood. This paper will cover the research studies of four different treatments for AHDH to include stimulant medication, non-stimulant medications, behavior therapy, and the natural approach. With the increase in both children diagnosed with ADHD and the amount of children who are being medicated for ADHD, are stimulant medications the best option when other treatments are available when following the research studies?…

    • 2318 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    EDFS 352 Research Paper Ellen Kerr
    • 1483 Words
    • 5 Pages

    EDFS 352 Research Paper Ellen Kerr

    References: Barkley, R. A. (2014). Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A handbook for diagnosis and treatment (4th ed.). Guilford Publications.…

    • 1483 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Ritalin Research Paper
    • 313 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Ritalin Research Paper

    Ferreiro additionally states, if the effects from the medication are unsatisfactory, the person can stop treatment at anytime without harm to his or her body (Ferreiro 23-25). The stimulant drug, Ritalin, is a favorable treatment option because it works in harmony with few negative effects. Although, like most medicine, there are side effects that occur when taking Ritalin. The article “What We Know About the Long-Term Effects of ADHD Medications: And what we don't know” by Caroline Miller documents the common symptoms of Ritalin. They include: loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, and a slower growth compared to other children. TRANSITION In America, there is an epidemic arising due to the over prescription of attention deficit hyperactive disorder medication. In response to the epidemic crisis, Marcia Clemmitt believes “[ Medicine is] too easy [of an] answer to complex behavioral or learning…

    • 313 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Adderall Over Diagnosis in American Children
    • 2665 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Adderall Over Diagnosis in American Children

    As science and medicine become more advanced, more and more human behaviors are becoming medically defined. Humans are becoming dependent on drugs in order to live a normal life. Possibly the most severe occurrence of this idea is in the diagnosis of ADHD in American children. ADHD did not exist in the 1950’s, but by 2006, about eight to ten million children in America were diagnosed (Stolzer 109). This dramatic increase has caused many to question the ethics behind the diagnosis, and treatment, of ADHD in our children. Why is this issue so prevalent in 21st century America, and are these stimulants used to treat ADHD even safe? There is no question that symptoms matching those of ADHD are becoming more common in America’s children, however, the disorder is still being over-diagnosed.…

    • 2665 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Confederate Government Vs Unitary Government
    • 480 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Confederate Government Vs Unitary Government

    There is no one type of government that is way better than the others. In a unitary government the entire country is controlled as one and the government has all the power. In a confederate government the individual states have a lot of independence and there is a weaker and limited central government. A federal government is between unitary and confederate where the individual states still have power but the central government also has power.…

    • 480 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Annotated Bibliography On Adhd In Children
    • 3649 Words
    • 15 Pages

    Annotated Bibliography On Adhd In Children

    This study focuses on the increasing diagnosis of Attention deficit Hyperactivity Disorder [ADHD] in children today and, the use of Ritalin for its treatment. Through a literature review with a focus on various guidelines used to diagnose ADHD the study will show a relation between ADHD and, its diagnosis in school age children with relation to changing family structure and, society. Casual factors like parents, educators and, technological innovations will be identified in relation to the increasing diagnosis of ADHD. Using peer reviews to validate the casual…

    • 3649 Words
    • 15 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Is Adhd over-Diagnosed Among School Children
    • 1409 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Is Adhd over-Diagnosed Among School Children

    In the article, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, the disorder is defined, as well as the current treatment for the disorder which tends to be the drug Ritalin. While there are many other drugs available for treatment, Ritalin is the most popular and between the years 1990 and 1998 the production of the drug increased by 800% (para. 2). “Children account for 75% of Ritalin consumption in the U.S” (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, para. 12). While Ritalin seems to be highly effective in treating children with ADHD there are also many problems with the drug. It has shown to make children very docile and in some instances can completely alter their personality for the worse. The controversy of the use of Ritalin to treat children with ADHD is high due to the fact that the long-term effects of the drug are not known.…

    • 1409 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Best Essays

    Adhd: Stimulant Medication
    • 2563 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Adhd: Stimulant Medication

    Cited: Aguiar, A., P. A. Eubig, and S. L. Schantz. "Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Focused…

    • 2563 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Best Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Should Children with Adhd Be Medicated? Essay Example
    • 2097 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Should Children with Adhd Be Medicated? Essay Example

    Martin (2006) stated "75 out of 100 kids who walk into a psychiatrist's office for the first time walk out with at least one prescription" (4). In the past 4 years the number of prescriptions for ADHD medications has increased significantly. Womersley (2006) says that since 2001 spending on drugs to treat ADHD has soared from 441,000 pounds a year to 1.8m. O'Connor (2001) says "28% of elementary school students who were medicated for ADHD received two drugs simultaneously, for many students treatment began as early as preschool"(. 5) [You're providing some good information here.]…

    • 2097 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Adhd in Young Children
    • 1057 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Adhd in Young Children

    A case study shows that 9% of all American children have ADHD or (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and only a small percentage of those children take medication for it. As a mother of 3 (2 of them under the age of 6) having ADHD, I know what its like to put medicine in one child, and not the other. My oldest is easier to handle, and not as violent as his younger brother. My child on medicine is only able to control on the medicine. While medicine may be meant for one child, it could be the absolute opposite for another. There are different kinds of medicines on the market for children with ADHD. Is it okay to put a child on any kind of medicine for behavioral problems, and if so what kind is right for which child?…

    • 1057 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Adhd Medication Impact
    • 132 Words
    • 1 Page

    Adhd Medication Impact

    Attention deficit disorder is one of the most popular childhood disorders whose symptoms include hyperactivity, impetuousness, and inattention. Professionals concur that it is a hard-to-diagnose, complex disorder, which implies that no single test can reveal ADHD’s presence. The most popular treatment approach involves using medication, behavioral, and psychological therapies (Ardoin & Martens, 2012). Regardless, parents who are considering ADHD medication for the child are advised to understand how the medications work and accompanying risks. Some medications are effective in treating ADHD, but some children exhibit harmful and uncomfortable side effects. Accordingly, the current research is a…

    • 132 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Best Essays

    Adhd My Perspective
    • 3177 Words
    • 13 Pages

    Adhd My Perspective

    Rabiner, D. (2009). Behavioral treatment for ADHD: an overview Retrieved on April 12, 2010 from http://www.athealth.com/Consumer/farticles/Rabiner.html…

    • 3177 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Best Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    A Medicated America
    • 2706 Words
    • 11 Pages

    A Medicated America

    Should children with ADHD be medicated? Many parents, physicians, and teachers may say yes, but I believe there are too many risks for children with ADHD to be medicated. Parents in America are often turning to medication as a first option for their children instead of seeking alternative methods of medication and therapy. The Food and Drug Administration reported that some 10.8 million prescriptions were dispensed for children with ADHD in 2002 (Roberts). Taking the appropriate and safe measures in helping children is a parent’s job. Pumping children with medication that will make them quiet and zoned out is irresponsible on the parent’s part. The FDA reported that between 1999 and 2003, 19 children died after taking prescription amphetamines, the medications used to treat ADHD. These are the same drugs for which the number of prescriptions written rose 500 percent from 1991 to 2000 (Roberts). Children with ADHD are being medicated unnecessarily now more than ever. A key problem is that there is no biological test or blood test that can identify the disorder. In many situations, children who are hyper and disruptive in school or have difficulties concentrating are diagnosed with ADHD. The reality is there are plenty of possible alternatives as to why children are behaving this way.…

    • 2706 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    ADHD Commentary
    • 999 Words
    • 4 Pages

    ADHD Commentary

    According to studies there are more than an estimated 6 million kids aging in the range of 4 to 17 that’s been diagnosed with ADHD which is an increase of 15 or more percent since studies done in 2007 regarding ADHD and it is over a 40 percent increase from in the past ten years. Most of the children diagnosed with ADHD have received prescriptions to use stimulants such as Ritalin, Adderall and Vyvanse, which are known to tremendously improve individuals’ lives that suffer with ADHD however these drugs can result to an individual to have anxiety, psychosis, and can lead to addiction. Many of people are floored at the astronomical numbers such as a professor of Yale that studies medicine where he states “Mild symptoms are being diagnosed so readily, which goes well beyond the disorder and the zone of ambiguity to pure enhancement of children who are otherwise healthy” (Dr. W. Graf, 2013). To make matters worse there will be a larger number of teenagers that are going to be prescribed Adderall, Vyvanse, or Ritalin in the foreseeable future because the APA (American Psychiatric Association) is considering changing the meaning and definitions of ADHD to allow room for more individuals to be diagnosed with the disorder which means more will be treated with stimulants. ADHD is normally described by many doctors as a result of chemical levels abnormity that is associated in the brain that impair an individual’s attention skills and impulses control (NIMH, 2013).…

    • 999 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics