ADHD and psychostimulants - be a proactive parent!

Today I came across a man who has given me hope and reinforced everything that I knew was wrong with a system that I had dedicated my life to - helping children and adolescents through my role as an advanced practice psychiatric nurse.  Dr. Samuel Blumenfeld provides a backdrop as to why the schools target children in the classroom for ADHD diagnoses and why they are treated with strong psycho-stimulants such as Ritalin.  http://www.newswithviews.com/, November 25th 2003.  After outlining the information presented by Dr. Blumenfeld I will then share with you my own account of working in the mental health system.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV,) (1994) is the bible for psychiatry and other advanced practice mental health professionals to use and match symptoms that are reported by others i.e. parents, teachers etc. and any exhibited at the time of assessment by a child.  In this case to diagnose ADHD.  An overview of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder is given at http://www.pychiatryonline.com/ to help understand the age at which the diagnosis is be made and symptoms/behaviors that are targeted.  It is not surprising that the diagnosis cannot be made before age six because that is the time when children enter first grade as a rule and reinforces the role of the teacher in assessing a child and their relationship with the mental health system.

An important bill HR1170 passed as SB1390 was called the "Child Medication Safety Act of 2003."  Senator John Ensign (R) Nevada championed this new piece of legislation but it has since gone cold and remained under wraps.  Front runners in an effort to stop enactment of this law are as follows and some have disgraced themselves and others have either moved into more powerful positions or died.  That's life however, they seem to pack a powerful punch at the most vulnerable while they have the chance.   Ted Kennedy, Christopher Dodd (CT) Tom Harkin (IA) Barbara Mikulski (MD) Jim Jeffords (V) John Edwards (NC) Hillary Clinton (NY.)  The song comes to mind that should give them a clue even if they missed the message when their parents hopefully took them to Sunday school: Treat others as you would have them treat you (Jesus.)  Having failed that lesson perhaps they should listen to the genius of Bob Dylan - Knock on Heavens Door which I have posted on this site.  Maybe they will get the message but most likely not.  My motto is "I like people better than money!" which is counter culture to politicians like these and many others.

How the bill got taken down was through two moves brought about through H.E.L.P., the Health, Education, Labor and Pharmacy Lobby which the above gang belonged.  Then it went to a subcommittee Chaired by fellow Senator Mike DeWine.  Hick!!!  Feeling a bit woozy already - some say that certain wines have an antioxidant effect but this one feels toxic!  One parent was allowed into the meeting by the Substance Abuse Committee only because the Mental Health Lobby had vetted that person favorably. 

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/ research statistics compare the DSMIV estimate of 3 - 5% of school age children with ADHD to other estimates of up to 20%.  WE NEED THE CHILD MEDICATION SAFETY ACT NOW!!!

According to Dr. Blumenfeld the number one priority of Congress is to restore parents rights to govern our children's education and medication.  He has my total agreement and more.  Another suggestion that I would like to add is that children and parents learn to meditate as the benefits counteract the very symptoms that a child gets labeled with when a diagnosis of ADHD is sought by mental health professionals and the teachers at school.  Please go to the Science of Spirituality website http://www.sos.org/ and learn how you can improve your own state of mind and physical well being and help your child to be in control of his/hers.

I worked for a short time at a mental health clinic.  The psychiatrist trained me with particular measurement tools that he liked to use when assessing and diagnosis children.  He had found that many of the children that he had seen since two of the psychiatrists had left suddenly did not have ADHD and that he had switched them to a milder mood stabilizing medication.  He later commented to the administrator who was a clinical supervisor over all mental health professionals that included me, ARNP - Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner - Psychiatric and the MD - Medical Doctor - Psychiatrist.  Many of the children did not need the psycho-stimulants and I switched them to a less potent mood stabilizer if in my clinical judgement that was appropriate.  When the MD came back from vacation (I will add a note at the end of this blog about how fishy it seemed) the Administrator who by the way was a Social Worker called into question my prescribing with children at the clinic.  It got to the point where the MD came in for an eight o'clock meeting one morning to support me during a meeting which was called for by the Administrator.  If you know me personally you will know that I am a strong person and I went nose to nose and toe to toe with the Administrator and got fired.  My Meditation Teacher used a French saying to illustrate why I am the way I am.  She said that a good conscience is like having a feather pillow to put your head down on at night when you go to sleep.  I can always look myself in the mirror and I won't be knock, knock knocking on heavens door either!

The finalbit of juicy information I will impart is that when I went for an interview for this job the social worker/administrator wasn't present because he was on vacation in New Jersey.  Having lived on the East Coast for ten years I thought that it was a strange vacation destination for a young family.  Then when the MD went on vacation - guess where he went?  Yes!  Same place - must be fishy there or something!  One of the regular drug representatives who sold medications to the mental health center happened to come from - yes! you've got it - New Jersey.  Maybe it's all a coincidence.

I recommend that as parents you start to read and listen to what is going on right under your noses.  Wake up and be proactive for your child's sake.  There is a lot of information on the web.  Two experts that I read are Dr. Mercola http://www.mercola.com/ and Dr. Tenpenny http://www.tenpenny.com/.  Your kids future will either be okay or not depending on how awake and astute you are.  Don't slumber in your ignorance and let your child fall victim to the system.  They will be burdened with enough with the cosmic sized national debt that they and future generations will have to repay.  I also recommend that you join groups of parents who are home schooling their children.  Explore your options and don't be afraid to be different and stand out from the rest of the parents.  Your child deserves better!