Ritalin/Adderall/Concerta/etc.

[basom]

Unfortunately, the same argument could be made for antibiotics.

or flu shots

[snow_slider]

Flu shots are just a means for the government to inject you with a slightly radioactive isotope that they can use to track you.

I was told this by a guy I know who went off the deep end, lives in a steel storage building and has a very large collection of automatic weapons, so I know it must be true.

[dipstik]

They can make it so that you are able to study if you want to make yourself do so.

I think that really sums it up. ADD is one of those things that if you don't have it, you can't understand what it's like. Its why so many people are quick to denounce it and say its a fake disease. My doctor was telling me of some new test that can pick up on brain waves that only people with ADD have, and that it's accurate in diagnosing people something like 95% of the time. Hopefully tests like these become the norm.

[Viva]

MRI studies have already demonstrated, convincingly, that the ADD brain has decreased blood flow and glucose supply to a subset of dopamanergic neurons in the cingulate gyrus (I think it was dopamine pathways that were affected, but it could have been another transmitter). So, it may be the hypoactivity of a discrete set fibers rather than hyperactivity that underlies the condition. Also, ADD/ADHD is closely related to both Tourettes Syndrome and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder since not only are all three behaviorly similar, but appear rooted in the medial forebrain.

Ultimately, none of these are behaviors are diseases or disorders as they are all common and widespread. The more interesting question is what evolutionary advantage each may have confered. Well, Tourettes is probably just an extreme case of the other two.

[Spicoli]

Also, ADD/ADHD is closely related to both Tourettes Syndrome and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder since not only are all three behaviorly similar, but appear rooted in the medial forebrain.

Gawdfuckindammit, shit! Where's my Ritalin? FUCK!

I have to go wash my hands now. Fuckin shit! My head hurts

Now where was I..................

[Viva]

Gawdfuckindammit, shit! Where's my Ritalin? FUCK!

I have to go wash my hands now. Fuckin shit! My head hurts

Now where was I..................

LOL! Actually, while it's certainly possible to have all three conditions, it's unlikely that one would harbor extreme case of each. So, if it's gawdfuckingdamnit and all, your head would feel fine and you'd know that your hands are clean and remember it.

[Viva]

Bumping this because Scientific American has just launched a new "spin off" magazine, Scientific American Mind that focuses on behavior and the nervous system. I bought the premier issue today and it looks pretty cool. In it is an article on ADD/ADHD ( http://www.sciammind.com/article.cfm...6983414B7F0000 ), which may be of interest to some here. It's not a very good article, but it offers a decent background nonetheless.

There are a few other stories in it that are pretty cool, like one on stress and memory by an old colleague, Robert Saploski (AKA The Genius).

Scientific American Mind is probably available wherever Scientific American is sold.

[KQ]

There are a lot of extremely bright people out there who failed unnessarily at school who didn't have the resources in place to help them.

Perhaps, just perhaps the fault lies with our back-asswards education system of "one size fits all."

Putting the kids on drugs because we can't adapt education to their needs is sad indeed but certainly in keeping with our lazy take-a-pill for everything society.

Having resources in place.....hmmmmmmm....isn't "no child left behind" supposed to bolster our children? Why are the resources in place? Is it perhaps because it cost money, resources and requires thought?

I for one am sickened by this pill-popping world. No one seems willing to look into, and make the necessary changes to, environmental influences, nutritional deficiencies, lack of exercise and discipline (not talking the "rod" just responsibility that leads to a sense of accomplishment which in turn creates a positive self image) as a way to help these children.

Children are the foundation of our society - they will grow up to be tomorrow’s leaders and thus it behooves us to see they are healthy and well-adjusted and that, IMHO, cannot be accomplished by popping a pill.

[Viva]

When I was in elementary school, drugs weren't a general option- at least not to my knowledge. Special programs were available that offered alternative stimuli to students who may have needed it. These programs were in their seminal stages and likely were dropped when Proposition 13 (CA property tax inititive) passed in 79 or so. Too bad. A child can accomplish quite a bit when she/he develops the will to succeed. But that requires a lot of guidance for the ADD kid or a long, long time for the necessary self-discovery to kick in.

"Enablement drugs" are indeed over prescribed, but they can serve a role once other options have been explored.

Ack! no time...