We are all certainly free to choose our own therapies. I hated stimulants for my son. But I cannot ignor the mountain of evidence that it is indeed theraputic and helps many children. If you were considering medication and what you read on this board scared you, let the truth be known. The studies sited by this guy and his drama club were falsified, twisted and outdated (I’m being kind, don’t like to speak ill of the dead); Here is a very recent study you should take seriously. It’s written in a very parent friendly language and is very enlightening.
Children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are often treated with stimulant medications. While these medications tend to be effective in the majority of children with ADHD, with relatively few side effects, the widespread use of these drugs has raised concern that treated children might be at greater risk to suffer substance abuse in later childhood or adult life.
Two current studies focus attention on these concerns. In one, researchers from Massachusetts and Wisconsin followed 147 children with ADHD, for 13 years, until they were between 19 and 25 years of age. For comparison, they also followed a sample of normal children.
At the time of their follow-up, children who had been on stimulants were not at greater risk of ever trying drugs by adolescence, nor were they at greater risk of drug use by young adulthood. (Barkley PM et al. Pediatrics, January, 2003, pp. 97-109)
A second study took a different approach to the question. The authors found all the studies they could that looked at whether stimulants for ADHD led to later drug use/abuse, and they came up with 6 studies they considered to be of good quality.
Rather than finding evidence of an increased risk of drug abuse or alcohol-related problems, the conclusion the authors reached when they combined all the data was that children with ADHD who were treated with stimulants actually had a lower risk of such problems. (Wilens TE et al: Pediatrics, January, 2003, pp. 179-185)
COMMENT. After following ADHD children for 13 years, the first study found no increase in substance abuse that could be linked to the children having been treated with stimulant medications. The second report wasn’t a study in itself, but rather a review of six previous studies that looked at this question. Not only did it not find a higher risk of substance abuse, it actually found a lower risk of drug and alcohol abuse among children who received stimulants. Just as it’s unlikely that stimulant medications would cause an increase in substance abuse, it’s also unlikely that the reduced risk of abuse is due to the medications. Rather, that effect could have resulted from a number of factors that have nothing to do with stimulants (for example, families that allow their children to receive stimulants may be less at risk for drug abuse).
What’s really important from both studies, we think, is that so far there is no good evidence that placing a child with ADHD on a stimulant will increase his risk for substance abuse in later adolescent and adult life. There are-many issues to consider in making the decision to treat an ADHD child with stimulant medication, but concern about later drug abuse would not appear to be one of them.
Morning
Good Morning Rebelmom, I see you are up bright an early this morning. Do you think “he” has been banned? :lol:
Linda
Waiting for victims
Up early, Son wanted to walk to school by himself. I crossed the busy street w/ him then let him do the two more blocks on his own. He has to manage one street on his own and theres a crossing guard at the last big street. I watched him most of the way… he stepped in dog poop, spent 5 minutes scraping on a curb. I can’t ever imagine this kid having free range on his bike, much less a Drivers license! Lord help us!
I’ll feel bad if this board is ruined. The other subjects are pumping along nicely, though. We did a pretty good job of making fools out of these guys. They might have woken up out of their delusion…then again, maybe not. More likely they are intellectually unarmed to deal with knowledgable parents. They are looking for less experienced parents they can victimize. I’m betting this warped club is waiting for a poster who won’t challenge them. I’m hoping there is still enough people lurking who’ll pop up a snappy retort when they see it happen.
It’s raining here again. My preschooler is done w/school and has covered the living room floor with boardgames. I’m considering Chuckee Cheese for lunch, just to avoid the candyland marathon!. But I always loose a few dozen IQ points after being there! I probably won’t be online much this afternoon, more than a pop in until tonight
Have fun
Rebelmom, well I will check in every once in a while to make sure these fanatics to victimise anybody and will alert you if I see one.
I don’t envy your candyland marathon, hee hee hee, although Chucky Cheese doesn’t sound that great either but on a rainy day, what are you gonna do? It is raining here too but is supposed to clear up later, I won’t hold my breath for that.
My boys don’t get off till next week, but from Friday onwards till tuesday they will be on half-days. Why? I don’t know. I just wish they will forget the half days and let them off altogether.
Anyway, I have errands to run. See ya later in the afternoon maybe.
Linda :roll:
Re: Let the truth be known
Ball Wrote;
[color=blue]If your child is on Ritalin or someone you know is, I invite you to attend my free program “The Ritalin Controversy - What you can do to keep your child off Ritalin.” This program will teach you about Ritalin’s side effects. How Ritalin is marketed to doctors and parents to ensure it’s maximum consumption by your child.[/color]
[size=18]LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT![/size]
Tee Hee Hee! What has this been? A big prelude to what you are selling? Ha, this is classic! What you got there big boy? Some magic vitamin? Some secret special words that will make our kids pay attention? Oh and you are a chiro! How very very telling. Are you one of these chirotherapy guys? Lets talk about that, shall we?
I myself have found chiropracters to be nothing short of scam artists on most things with the exception of back problems. And even then… Tha majority of people I know have found the same.
[color=red]Before anyone reading this falls for a chirotherapy scheme read this;[/color]
How are they accredited or qualified to treat a neurological disorder? Don’t listen to a bunch of mumbo jumbo and assume he knows what he’s doing because he uses big words. This is a common smoke screen practiced by Chiropractors. Then speak with your doctor and do some investigating. Don’t just let someone start playing with your childs back. This isn’t some diet or exercise or suppliment. This is someone changing your childs back, the very foundation on which their body depends. Our kids have enough problems. Just be careful with this. These guys don’t know anymore about the human mind than your mailman. I’m all for holistic treatments, some really do work. But this is very invasive. There are many holsitic treatments that aren’y nearly as dangerous and risky as this.
Incidentally, I found it very very hard to find any factual, clinical information on Chiropractic effects on ADHD. A search of the internet didn’t turn up much more than advertisements, sales pitches and claims plainly used to sell this therapy. I hate to sound so closed minded, I’m always up for a new approach. If in your venture, you find any studies, I’d be interested in a link, as would many other members here. The only reputable site I could find on this therapy was a bunch or repected chiropracters debunking the whole thing. They are ashamed of their collegues and feel this is giving the industry a bad name.
I can only add that medicines wear off if they don’t work and you are free to stop them. Suppliments, diets, coffee shakes. You are in control of these treatments. Short of a bad few days at school, there is no permanent or long term damage done to the child. Chiropractors don’t have a very good track record in the permanent damage area[color=red]. If you have ever spoken to a chiro, they are sales men and have a pitch. RED FLAG. My pahrmacy does not, my neuro does not, my nutritionist does not, our exercise coach does not. [/color]. Most ads for this therapy spend more time downing other therapies than touting their own. I find it disappointing that a therapy cannot carry itself, on it’s own merrit. [color=red]RED FLAG. That it needs to put down other therapies that plainly work for most, to sell it’s self is very suspicous to me. Just do a search of ADHD and chiropratic and you’ll see it is all these kinds of sales pitches. [/color]As a self educated openminded mother, those sites insult my intellegence. Give me the facts, prove to me it’s as safe as meds and diets. Don’t put down everything else to make yourself look better. I hate people who do this and I’m not putting any creedence into any therapy approach that needs to do this.
I know as many people who regret ever stepping into a chiro office as were helped. I suffer from RA and I can tell you in the medical profession, especially pain management[color=red][color=red], the practice of chiro therapy is not held in very high regard and is considered very controversial. RED FLAG[/color][/color]. That fact alone makes me leary. My husband has lower back problems. His visits to the chiropractor help tremendously about 50% of the time. I hear this from many many people as well. This tells me one thing. [color=red]It is not an exact science, even in the field the therapy was inteneded for (back pain). [/color]Adjusting a childs back is dangerous. That it has worked on a few is fantastic and I don’t doubt it has. I haven’t called anyone a liar nor have I doubted anyones positive experience. But with all due respect, my experience with my husbands problems and my RA says that this therapy is a crap shoot and I don’t play craps with the structure of my childs spine. It’s just not worth the possible reprecussions. And these guys are knocking on self defense classes?
I take it very seriously when someone asks my opinion or recommends something or asks me what I recommend. If you read my posts, you will find there aren’t many things I’m not open to trying. With most holistic treatments I say “go for it!”. But not with this one. I’m very very careful about what I recommend. You only need to watch the news and talk to people to see the dangers of messing with someones back.
I agree with rebelmom
It is very dangerous to go mess around with a child’s back. These people can’t cure back problems much less neurological problems. I have person experience with my back, and believe me they don’t work. I ended up having Open-back surgery last October and is still recovering from that. DO NOT LISTEN to these quacks. My back got worse because of people like them. Let me tell you, open back surgery is not fun. :x
Quiet… Did I miss anything? I thought that last post might wake up some sleeping scientologists, but I fell asleep myself.