egypr/australia, page-3

re:"sense" and "logic" in your fairyland, ypsion!
Chemically Induced Compliance:
The Drugging of Kids and Garbage Science in America

The risks of prescribing stimulants for children

"(The drug) produced a marked increase in compliance and sustained attention to the activities assigned during the structured task session."

APPROXIMATELY TWO MILLION of America's children are being dosed daily with amphetamines and amphetamine-like drugs like Ritalin and Adderall at the insistence of teachers and school administrators. Why?

What follows are quotes from various books and studies as well as short essays on the pseudo-science behind this new form of "medicine."

This is science?

"When I first began evaluating...for ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), I wanted to find out how other doctors dealt with this new group of patients, so I consulted with a fellow ADD specialist nearby. It was no big deal to him: "Just count the symptoms," he told me, "and if they meet the criteria, you can treat them" (with medication, it was implied. The subtleties and contradictions of behavior and emotions, the interactions of relationship and environment - none of this seemed important to him. It made me wonder why a doctor was needed, if this was all an evaluation required."

Lawrence H. Diller, M.D. from "Running on Ritalin"

Ritalin (and Adderall) logic: An imaginary conversation
1. What do psychoactive drugs do?
A: They change brain chemistry.

2. Why do you want to change the brain chemistry of small children?
A: Their brain chemistry is flawed.

3. What biologically based test do you use to determine that this is so?
A: We do not use such tests.

4. Why not?
A: There are no valid tests available.

5. How then do you diagnose and prescribe?
A: We use behavioral tests.

6. Are you saying that merely by observing a child's behavior you can tell exactly what problems he has with his or her brain chemistry and then prescribe the correct substance in the precise dose needed to correct it?
A: That's the theory.

7. Why do you suggest to some parents that they give their children a vacation from these drugs on the weekends and on holidays, including summer vacation?
A: These children have their biggest problems in the school environment.

8. Are you suggesting that the brain chemistry of these children is different on the weekend than it is Monday through Friday?
A: The problems are often more acute in the school environment.

9. Why do you think it is that countries with better health care systems and longer life spans than ours (Japan, Sweden, and Switzerland, for example) prescribe almost no Ritalin or Adderall for their children and that the US and Canada consume over 85% of the world's supply of these drugs?
A: They are not as advanced as we are in the diagnosis and treatment of ADD and ADHD as we are.

10. Since you have no biologically based test for the drugs you are prescribing and there is no scientifically valid evidence that proves these drugs are effective or even safe, how can you claim that your science on this subject is superior?
A: I'm an expert. How dare you question me? You are obviously anti-child and anti-progress. This interview is over.