Drugged Out Toddlers

I totally agree with you. I think doctors should have so many test for the children to take before givng out any medicine. One of my daughter friends sister would come over to my house on sleep over days and the mom would give me 4 bottles of medicine and she instructed me that the child needs to drink everyday for at least twice or three a day. I look up what type of medicine the child was taking, it was all to keep her down and calm. I think that that is too much for the child, the child would be just out there and not being able to have fun, because she is too slow because of the meds. I do hope that doctors would do more test, than just to talk to parents and know what it is already, and just give them meds.

This concerns me as well. How can you place toddlers on meds when they are just starting to interact socially? I don't know too many toddlers that aren't active. What are we doing in our lives when we don't have time for our children except to give them a pill!!

Oh my! This is a major concern for the public. I do feel doctors are being too hasty in their diagnosis, as well as parents and care-givers not employing a little more patience and understanding. As with your son, so many cases could be due to learning activities that do not fit that child's learning style. It is important for teachers to utilize the different types of learning styles in their lesson plans to help all the children understand the concept.

FYI-pharma companies regularly send reps to regional & national Teacher conferences to deliver "Identify ADD/ADHD children among your students" lectures. These "lectures/workshops/sales pitches" are given by pharma paid doctors TRAINED to deliver educationally focused sales pitches targeting known teacher frustrations and concerns.

Much like when a time share company gets a list of nurses or firefighters or dentists from which to cull sales leads.

#HUCKSTERS pure and simple.

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This is sick. I think that the parents are one of the leading reasons why their children are messed up in the head and stuck on some dumb medication that they should not be on in the first place. I think that parents need to stop just accepting anything from the doctors. I have a very active child, and there is no way I will let a doctor, teacher, or anyone else tell me she needs medicine. If they do, I will quickly say, "no you need patients." I think if we be more patients and spend more quality time with these children things will be better. We need to stop letting the television and games raise our children. That is why you see a lot of teens and adults on drugs now, they are addicted at a very young age.

To play devil's advocate, I think that SOME, not a lot, can be said for our use of medicine in some situations. While children are crazy, bouncy-ball humans by nature, they can sometimes have chemical inbalances that can hinder their focus and therefore, learning and development. While I do believe that parents and doctors in general are much too quick to hand out a pill to shut up a talkative child, I still believe that medicines have a place in allowing them a fair chance at operating smoothly, as long as they are used in moderation, and when clearly called for.

To play devil's advocate, I think that SOME, not a lot, can be said for our use of medicine in some situations. While children are crazy, bouncy-ball humans by nature, they can sometimes have chemical inbalances that can hinder their focus and therefore, learning and development. While I do believe that parents and doctors in general are much too quick to hand out a pill to shut up a talkative child, I still believe that medicines have a place in allowing them a fair chance at operating smoothly, as long as they are used in moderation, and when clearly called for.

I feel that it is unethical for a child to be diagnosed with ADHD/ADD at the age of 5. Children are not emotionally stable at this age. They need time to grow and mature. If they continue to present the same characteristics later in life, then medication may be appropriate. Many children may just need more time and attention.

I think America as a whole uses too many medications. I feel that many times problems could be alleviated by simply using lifestyle modification, but drugs are a quicker and sometimes an easier fix. I think parents should educate themselves before they agree to medicate their child and see what other options are out there. For example, I am learning more and more about different types of diets, specifically one that is gluten-free, which can have possitive benefits not only on health, but behavior as well. This is just a step that can be taken and not the end all be all, as medication is sometimes a necessity. However, it shouldn't be the first, and definitely not the only, means for behavior problems.

Wow, I didn't even realize that children could be diagnosed with ADHD/ADD this young. I mean how can they even diagnose that when a child isn't even in school yet. until a child is in school and is having trouble focusing and learning, then how can anyone know that a child is ADHD/ADD. I know there are other characterisitics of ADHD/ADD other than learning and focusing problems but children need to be able to run and play and be hyper. That's how they can get their adequate amount of exercise. I don't agree with parents that put their child on this medicine because they are stressed and overworked and can't deal with their child wanting attention and to play.

I think many parents are looking for a quick fix to solve their child behavior.