Most of us associate illegal drug use with shady deals being struck in the seedier parts of our major cities. This is, however, just a small part of the true picture. We are currently facing an unprecedented epidemic of drug misuse that has on the surface a much more benign profile. But that is just as dangerous. I am, of course, talking about drugs that are commonly prescribed for the treatment of ADHD. The true extent of this problem has once again been brought home to us by a study conducted by the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to the study a staggering one in five (or 20%) of all teenagers abuse prescription drugs. Just let that statistic sink in for a moment. One in five! Next time you see a group of five young people walking down the street think about the fact that statistically one of them will be popping pills. The CDC study does not specify what particular drugs are abused the most but it does not take a genius to figure this out. It is a well-known fact that the legal drugs favored by today’s teenagers are those that contain Methylphenidates, the active ingredient in many treatments for ADD/ADHD. It is not for nothing that these drugs are often referred to as kiddy-cocaine and that active trading networks for them exist in many high schools and on college campuses.
This development is obviously highly troubling and as people of goodwill we can certainly not sit back and simply accept the drugging of an entire generation! So how do we start attacking this disaster? I believe that a basic first step is to question the very rationale behind the existence of these drugs namely that they exist because they are supposedly very good at dealing with the symptoms of ADD/ADHD.
The fact is, however, that prescription ADD/ADHD medication does not address the core issues surrounding the condition. ADD/ADHD medications do not calm children down, instead they increase their focus and interest in a topic. Besides the long list of physical side effects associated with these medications, there are a slew of social and psychological implications that come with the prescription. Dr. Stefan Kruszewski an eminent psychiatrist states: “[Children on medication] do not learn to develop coping strategies that work as they move through different developmental stages…they learn to rely on drugs to solve problems, rather than their creative potential to solve problems on their own or with the help of family, friends, schooling, music and the arts, church, social outings, recreation and sports.â€
By prescribing ADD/ADHD drugs doctors are tampering with one of the most finely tuned and sensitive systems imaginable: The human brain! Who knows what the long-term consequences will be of pumping the brain full of dangerous chemicals. Am I exaggerating about the danger levels? Sadly not: The chemical makeup of methylphenidates is very similar to that of cocaine. We should therefore not be surprised at either its addictiveness or the grim side effects.
The list of possible side effects of most ADD/ADHD drugs reads like the script of a horror movie. Patients are warned about things like irritability, sleeplessness, depression heightened risk of cardiac arrest and severe mood swings. This is just the things that they feel free to tell you. The hidden effects are, in fact, much worse. ADD/ADHD drugs have been successfully linked to suicides, homicides and severe depression. This leaves us with the question: Who in their right minds would allow their children to take such medication? The answer is clear, mostly unsuspecting parents who are told by people they trust that it is in the best interest of their children.
I see it as part of my life’s mission to break through this well-meaning but dangerous ignorance. I do this by exposing the fact that the real motive behind the actions of the drug companies is a mad dash after profits, and not a desire to make the world a better place. I am also dedicated to show that there is another way. The ‘3 Steps’ will show you a natural, drug-free, way to conquer ADD/ADHD.
We are in the middle of an epidemic. Some people would dismiss the seriousness of this by claiming that the drugs involved are essentially harmless. They are not. ADD/ADHD drugs are dangerous. Nobody should be using them, especially not our children who are still developing and run the greatest risk for side effects like depression, anxiety, heart problems, or death. Join with me in resisting their spread. Not by questioning why these drugs are so widely and easily available but by going further in asking whether they should be available at all. You can answer this question by resolving not to have any part of this widespread drug racket. So begin your resistance by doing what you should always do when offered a dangerous drug: Just say no!
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