Both ADHD’s diagnosis and treatment with mild altering psychiatric drugs have been frequently contested topics. Much of the vague criteria for diagnosis is highly subjective, as many of the symptoms associated with the “disorder” are obvious consequences of forcing young children inundated with fast past entertainment to sit still in a boring class room. Equally, many other causes linked to the condition (food dyes and sodium benzoate for instance being major dietary culprits) are excluded from conventional discussions on the disorder.
Like many other psychiatric conditions ADHD has been medicalized with treatments centering around drugs of dubious safety or efficacy. Diagnoses of ADHD have skyrocketed in recent years, with 3-5% of the global population now carrying the label. A harsh class of psychiatric drugs has in turned follow to address this epidemic.
Ritalin for instance, an amphetamine shown to be more potent than its pharmacological cousin cocaine, is prescribed to roughly 75% of those diagnosed with ADHD here; with the US accounting for 86% of global consumption. Beyond enriching the pockets of pharmaceutical executives, Ritalin has been linked to suicide, increased blood pressure, cancer and brain damage. Unfortunately it is but one of many drugs prescribed for the condition.
Focoalin, another common FDA approved ADHD medication has a known history of exacerbating psychosis and documented cases of creating suicidal thoughts. On January 30th an advisory panel of pediatricians recommended the FDA to mandate Focalin contain a warning label against the suicidal thoughts.
via Even pediatricians want suicide warning placed on ADHD drugs.
