The Drug Enforcement Administration has described Ritalin, as "potent, addictive and abusable" and as a "quick-fix medical practice that is producing large profits" (Attention 1). Although the DEA agrees these drugs help a small number of children the number is much smaller than the number of prescriptions. "Over-promoted," "over-marketed," and "over sold," Ritalin has raked in about $450 million dollars just in profits annually. Studies have shown that children between the ages of ten and fourteen have been the most affected. There has been an increase of 1000% drug abuse injury reports involving methylphenidate within this age group. This epidemic has been compared to the abuse of cocaine within this age group. .
Is ADHD/ADD a form of malpractice? Ritalin can help some children improve behavior at school but is has cause death and serious mental damage to those who have become addicted. The research that I have done has led me to believe ADHD/ADD is truly a disorder. It does affect certain amount a children. In the journal Children's Accounts of Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder provides information on how ADHD has become a profitable mental disorder and has caused skepticism in its actual existence. It also presents ADHD as a behavioral disorder of childhood and not as a mental disorder. Findings in this study show that ADHD does exist and that many of the children suffer from serious problem as a result. .
The data support the perspective that children are aware that they have problems related to ADHD and that it is not just a figment of their imagination or a condition placed on them unreasonably (Kendall 126).
In another journal I read I came across the case study that reported how children and teachers with ADHD benefited immensely by: .
Improving the effectiveness of existing behavioral modification programs. Such modifications should be attempted before moving to more intensive and therefore costly treatments (e.
