the absence of science and medicine behind such ubiquitous p

It is interesting to note that, according to a case called Valerie J., et al. v. Derry Cooperative School District, 771 F. Supp. 483 (D.N.H. 1991), Dr. Baughman had the following views about about ADHD and the use of ritalin:

“Dr. Fred Baughman a pediatrician and also a neurologist from San Diego, California became interested in this case because of media attention to it. He wrote to Michael J. and agreed to testify on the J.’s behalf. He never examined Casey J., but the basis of his opinion was the reading of material associated with the case. It is his opinion that Casey J. has attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder which affects other classmates.
He testified to the following, that Ritalin is a central nervous system drug which has been in use since the 1940’s. In the short run it calms individuals. When the behavior of the child is intolerable and everything possible has been done at home and at school, the family situation is on the ropes, then as a last resort use Ritalin. When Casey J. developed a lack of self worth, insomnia, touchiness and stomach aches Dr. Baughman felt that these side effects called for stopping Ritalin at a considerably earlier time.”

I leave you to draw your own conclusions.

Andrea

So what conclusion do we come to from this conversation? I have to say, I watched a news magazine interview of one of the scientology church leaders. Well, he had the same expression when he answered some of the questions that my son gets when he is trying to tell a big whopper and hoping to get away with it. Not saying the guy was doing that, it just makes me skeptical of where this info comes from. Ya know? I figure in the media and even in the library, you can find information that either agrees with your own view or disagrees with it. We must all read the info, digest it and consider where it all comes from. Then take what you agree with and leave out what you don’t. Sort of like mother in law advice. Smile, listen, then take what is useful and leave out what isn’t. And yes I did read the study that makes the connection between cocaine and ritalin, apparently you did not read the whole thing about dopamine receptors and transporters, and the fact that the study found adhd folks to have more transporters than the average person, therefore, the adhd folks don’t get a chance to get ‘high’, because not enough dopamine reaches the receptors because the transporters are taking it back too quickly. Sort of the layman’s interpretation of it. I found it interesting. Anyway, my conclusion? I would have a failing child who possibly would not have made it physically to the 7th grade if not for his medicine. I would like to think that some day he won’t need it but as long as he does, I will get it for him, from the Doc, who just happens to be military and doesn’t recieve a dime for his dx’es or prescriptions from drug companies only the pay that his rank and position allow. Perhaps I have rambled, it has been a long day today, just felt like I ought to say something.

This is a PRESS RELEASE - meaning that a PR person writes it and hopes it gets printed somewhere in the press…also meaning that the person writing it is paid by an organization that has an agenda to promote.

Also, I discount anything those with a scientologist bent have to say about ADHD, LD’s etc. - as an organization they don’t believe in them - doesn’t eveyone know ADHD is only a result of bad parenting? (that’s sarcasm I’m using here).

Give me a break. Most people reading boards like this have made it a point to make educated decisions for their kids’ best welfare.

Posting this press release was simply unhelpful.

Is on LD online under “What’s New”. I think the article was seriously misquoted .

Rover in case you meant me, I also have add and a terribly porous memory so I kind of rambled in trying to remember what it was I read, I read a lot and can never remember where I have read things.

I am a ritalin believer and sometimes I get a few hairs stand up when I read stuff that I am guessing is supposed to make me run in the kitchen and throw all those meds in the garbage for fear of doing terrible things to my kids, never mind that they are doing so well in school with the help of the meds.

I think people should make up their own mind about how they feel about meds or no meds, not try to change other folks’ minds about their decisions or try to scare them. I don’t presume to tell or try to persuade anyone else that one way or the other is the RIGHT way. It’s all subjective.

Anyway, if you all actually knew me well enough to have a conversation in real life, I am most definitely one of those wheel thinkers, I can go from subject A to subject D just as easily as subject B.I guess I had a point somewhere but it’s gone. Be easy on me ok?

What a pile of rubbish. We absolutely DO have evidence of the reality of ADHD and LD. We have thousands of brain scans that pinpoint irregularities in the brains of such students. While we are on the topic, let’s attack the validity of autism spectrum and a few more things. Hey, let’s just decide everyone is normal.

I was referring to the original post in which the JAMA article was quoted— if you go to LDOnline and read the JAMA article, you’ll see that that press release took one part (i.e. that “Ritalin is more potent than cocaine”) out of context. I certainly didn’t mean to offend- I believe that the decision to use meds. should be made by informed parents in consultation with professionals who know the child individually. Me, I’m pro meds. and just wish one of them had worked for my kid.