Overmedicating Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder

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Overmedicating Children with Attention Deficit
Hyperactive Disorder
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Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder

• Characteristics of ADHD are inattention,
  hyperactivity, and impulsivity
• Between 3 and 5 percent of school-aged children -
  or about 2 million children in the United States
  - have ADHD, according to the National Institute
  of Mental Health
• Boys are significantly more likely to be
  diagnosed with ADHD, but the condition affects
  girls as well.
• The exact cause of ADHD remains unknown.

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Continued

• The use of medication to treat children with
  ADHD, between the ages of 5 and 14, has increased
  by approximately 170 and by 500 of all age
  children since 1991
• 80 percent of the 11 million prescriptions
  written by doctors each year are for treatment of
  childhood Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
  Disorder

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Thesis

• The way we are dealing with our active youth
  reflects our thinking and our societys constant
  search for a quick-fix. We are overmedicating our
  youth at very important developmental years which
  can cause serious long term or lethal effects.

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Aristotle

• True happiness lies in the active life of a
  rational being or in a perfect realization and
  outworking of the true soul and self, continued
  throughout a lifetime
• The ability to regulate our desires is not
  instinctive, but learned and is the outcome of
  both teaching and practice. We regulate our
  desires either too much or too little, then we
  create problems

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Revevance

• Giving immediate medication rather than seeking
  other forms of treatment are not satisfying
  Aristotles theory of checks and balances
• We learn to lead virtuous lives by example
• Mind altering stimulants given due to
  misdiagnosis, inhibits means of becoming a
  virtuous being

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Referrences

• Aristotle General Information. The Internet
  Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 1 March 2008.
  http//www.iep.utm.edu/a/aristotl.htm
• Attention Defecit Hyperactivity Disorder."
  National Institute of Mental Health. 25 Feb. 2008
  lthttp//www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/adhd/
  complete-publication.shtmlgt.
• Weaver Dunne, Diane. "Statistics Confirm Rise in
  Childhood ADHD and Medication Use." Education
  World. 2000. 20 Feb. 2008 lthttp//www.education-wo
  rld.com/a_issues/issues148a.shtmlgt.