Sunday, March 02, 2008

Kevin brought up antidepressants and campus shooters

here, and it brings a thought to mind: I wonder how many of these people were on ritalin at some point as they grew up? And considering the way some of this stuff can- sometimes permanently- mess with brain chemistry, could that be a contributing factor to later problems/medications/outcomes?

There's been a lot of stuff over time about the number of kids, almost all boys, put on this stuff,and problems/possible long-term problems from it. Which makes me wonder, if you've got a kid who was drugged with this stuff, often for years, growing up could that be a factor in later diagnosis of depression, etc.? And/or problems with the antidepressants prescribed?

Back when the kids were small, I worried about this crap because son was standard young male: problems sitting still, etc., and several times some teacher spoke to his mom(she had primary custody) about "I think it would be good for him to take ritalin". As it worked out, I always found out about this later and it was never a real threat; whatever problems I had with my ex, worrying about her folding up for some teacher with a drug fetish wasn't one of them. At all. I'd imagine the teacher(in some cases 'excuse for a') wound up fairly sorry she brought it up. But how many kids wound up being dosed because
A: some 'teacher' found handling drugged kids easier than active, questioning ones,
B: parents conditioned to 'go with what the teacher says' just said 'ok', or were browbeaten into agreeing. There's an awful lot of cases that have come out where some idiot 'teacher' called DHS or whoever and they both threatened the parents if they didn't agree to drug the kid(I will save the rant on that bullcrap for later),
and how many of those kids may be/are set up for real problems later by this stuff?

Considering how many kids have been/are on these drugs, it's a real worry.

3 comments:

RobC said...

Here in Seffrika it is regarded as a drug by our motor sport organization, any kid on it is not allowed to take part in motor sport activities.
Seems like what was regarded as ill discipline in our day is now diagnosed as ADD and drugs get prescribed when in fact a good paddle on the backside is needed.

Firehand said...

Or, in some cases, actually teaching so the kids aren't so bored.

Anonymous said...

My pastor who is also a psychologist (the one that is not an MD) believes that ADD is an anxiety response and not a physiological condition that needs drugs.