ADHD drugs can have a lasting and negative effect on the developing brain
The unvarnished truth about ADHD drugs
You know how I feel about ADHD. I think it’s the most
over-diagnosed “disease” in the world – one that for the most
part has been invented via the re-classification of many types
of perfectly normal behavior as abnormal. I also think it’s the
most egregious example out there of a malady being promoted by
drug companies in order to expand the market for their poisons.
And usually, the mainstream media has been a more-than-willing
accomplice in this heartless and dangerous scam.
That’s why it shocked me to read in a mainstream source
(CNN.com) an article about yet another downside to the stimulant
drugs most commonly prescribed for children “diagnosed” with
ADHD. According to the article, several studies suggest that
these controversial drugs can have a lasting and negative effect on the developing brain.
Hmmm. That’s encouraging, isn’t it? Especially for those among
the steadily-growing throng of youngsters “diagnosed” with ADHD
(up to 5% of kids nowadays) that are PERFECTLY NORMAL – but
who’ve been saddled with a drug habit because their parents
aren’t up to the task of parenting.
The Harvard-based research featured two groups of animal
subjects, medicated at a point in their life cycles that closely
approximates human adolescence. One of these groups was given
today’s most popularly prescribed ADHD drug the other a harmless
placebo. Then, later in life, both groups were tested with a
battery of behavioral tasks administered under stress.
Not surprisingly (to me), the “drug group” test subjects
exhibited a noticeably higher degree of what’s known in the
mental health field as “learned helplessness,” a condition
marked by symptoms of depression and a tendency to give up
quickly when faced with a challenge. Other, similar research
noted that the formerly medicated subjects responded less to
rewards and reacted more to stress than the drug-free control
group.
What’s this mean? It means that these studies point to the
likelihood that today’s most commonly prescribed psychotropic
drugs for a largely made-up disease may in fact cause real and
permanent changes in brain chemistry that can affect a person
for the rest of his or her life – even long after they’ve
“outgrown” ADHD. The pharmaceuticals giants would no doubt be
quick to claim that findings from animal research may not
correlate to human beings, but the question I’d ask is this:
Do we really want to take that chance – especially with our
children?
But what’s really scary is that kids aren’t the only ones at
risk. Keep reading
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And the “truth” as the drug-loving media would have you
believe
In a recent edition of yet another mainstream source (USA TODAY
online), a far different picture gets painted of ADHD -this time
among adults.
In the December 8th article, which can only be described as a
“rave review” for the drug trade, we learn that just like in
children, ADHD affects up to 5% of American grown-ups. But
here’s the kicker: 75% or more of these unfortunate (see also
lazy, undisciplined) souls don’t even know they have the
“disease.”
This, according to “researchers” who are never actually named in
the piece. Could this be because they’re DRUG INDUSTRY sources,
perhaps? No, not in a responsible piece of mainstream journalism
- perish the thought. This incredible story even goes so far as
to credit the marketing machine of the only drug company with an
FDA-approved adult ADHD drug on the market (Eli Lilly and Co.)
for raising “awareness” about the condition. The article
mentions nothing, however, about the PROFITS these campaigns
have raised
And it makes only brief mention of the fact that almost any
adult who reads the horribly misleading list of symptoms on the
drug’s Web site might conclude they were afflicted with ADHD
themselves!
What’s even more disturbing is this: Many adults nowadays are
“discovering” their affliction because of their child’s
diagnosis (or misdiagnosis, most likely). While hearing all
about the symptoms of childhood ADHD, they say to themselves
“That sounds like me when I was a kid “
And viola, another drug-addicted “victim” of ADHD is born! Not
bad, huh? One patient walks into the psychiatrist’s office
(needlessly), but two come out.
As long as the mainstream media acts as nothing more than a free
extension of the drug giants’ marketing departments, that’s the
way it’s going to be.
Hyper about exposing the hype,
William Campbell Douglass II, MD
