Medicating the kids
Let them eat pills
As a school teacher this is something I have encountered more and more frequently. It seems a strange sort of paradox that is part parents working, part time constraints, part not wanting to say no to individual freedoms, and part deferring to pill pushing experts.
I believe it a seriously negative trend especially for boys since they seem to be prescribed and diagnosed with ADD and ADHD in profoundly disproportionate numbers. I don't know the case of many of these cases since I have never recommended meds for a child. I have seen what I believe to be one serious case of ADD/ADHD in over 10 years of teaching. I have seen probably 1-2 cases of what I would consider questionable mental states. However every year now I have at least 1-3 children who are on medicines of the type described in this this article. I would say that well over 90% of them have been boys.
What do you guys think? Is this a dangerous trend and why do you think parents are increasingly turning to pills to solve the problems of their children?
Nick
As a school teacher this is something I have encountered more and more frequently. It seems a strange sort of paradox that is part parents working, part time constraints, part not wanting to say no to individual freedoms, and part deferring to pill pushing experts.
I believe it a seriously negative trend especially for boys since they seem to be prescribed and diagnosed with ADD and ADHD in profoundly disproportionate numbers. I don't know the case of many of these cases since I have never recommended meds for a child. I have seen what I believe to be one serious case of ADD/ADHD in over 10 years of teaching. I have seen probably 1-2 cases of what I would consider questionable mental states. However every year now I have at least 1-3 children who are on medicines of the type described in this this article. I would say that well over 90% of them have been boys.
What do you guys think? Is this a dangerous trend and why do you think parents are increasingly turning to pills to solve the problems of their children?
Nick
Comments
That's not how to solve a problem, that's just to mask a problem so that it doesn't look like a problem anymore.
That's ONE thing, also, I think too many doctors are diagnosing kids with ADD/ADHD when they don't really have any attention problems.
I'm not sure about this, but it seems that parents are starting to do it to, like a parent may take their kid in and say "johnny has ADD, give me addirol and ritilin"
The whole thing just reeks, I don't actually know all the facts though, so I can't really make any strong statements, but I don't like the set-up, and I would like to see a lot less free distribution of pills to 'solve' these types of problems.
however, I would suppose it could be argued that TV, video games, movies and other fast paced stimulus is what is causing so many boys to exhibit ADD/ADHD like qualities. Most gamers are male, the female gamers out there, are in a very small minority when it comes to games like counter-strike and unreal and all that. Surely there is a parallel, but again, I don't really have any facts, so I can't back up anything, this is just my own observations and isomorphisms.
I don't want to sound like "it's the video games! blame them" I don't want to 'blame' anyone, I just highly doubt it would be such a pandemic in america if pre-teens and teens were reading books and playing sports, instead of watching TV and playing death-matches.
of course, my testimonials aren't very valid, but I will put this stuff out there, just for something to chew on I guess. Not trying to start a fire or anything(there are enough of those in cali right now already)
at anyrate, whenever I see a doctor prescribing ritilin or whatever, I can't help but think that he is thinking "excellent, now I can finally get that new boat I was looking at"
I think that some of what is now termed abnormal is just normal childhood behaviour.
I would agree, however, that this is not the full explanation. There are some really terribly behaved children out there. But I think that part of the explanation for this is parents who no longer taking the time to impose rules - pills are easier.
Another part may be poor diet, althought this is entirely speculation on my part. The average American (and Canadian) kid eats really badly. A recent study that I saw was shocking. I am thinking that this has to affect their behaviour in a negative fashion.
Originally posted by Chimney
Another part may be poor diet, althought this is entirely speculation on my part. The average American (and Canadian) kid eats really badly. A recent study that I saw was shocking. I am thinking that this has to affect their behaviour in a negative fashion.
I would think diet is more important than you may think, Again, this is just my experience, and speculation, but certainly when I, and others I know, are eating properly, 3 meals a day, with balanced foods, and whatnot, not only do I FEEL better, but I am more inclined to do things, whereas my brother, who has a terrible diet(he's 12) consisting almost entirely of sugar(soda, candy, chocolate..etc.) and carbs(from frozen pizza and quesadillas) is constantly lackadaisical, and seems to care for nothing other than his video games.
I think a good diet, and healthy outdoor activity would do wonders for so many 'depressed' kids. *warning sappy hippy sounding statement ahead* whenever I am feeling down or even bored, going outside and appreciating nature more than just boosts my spirits.
yet another example of modern american laziness...
between the pill companies and the schools there's a lot of pressure on parents to cave and get their kids on pills. besides, if they don't they'll probably get sued by the state for neglect.
it's pathetic.
take a pill and be happy.
learn to deal. and teach your kids to deal...
Don't give pills to your kids, just bark ...
If the educational system were to switch from propostional to visual bases, I think you'd see a shift in terms of which gender would be having more trouble fitting in academically. And fitting in academically is ultimately the cause of so many ritalin prescriptions.
Poor area
Mostly female staff
Female administrators (principal, and VP)
While this isn't a complete systemic assesment by any means, I did notice some particular differences between the way male and female teachers handle problems. The perponderance of ritalin seems to be tied to a collapse of the maternal nurturer role. Schools have been built on this friendly idea for a solid 20 years now. It is a basically feminine outlook that looks on authority as evil. We want to be your child's friend. We want to be your child's friend so much that they get frazzled when hollow threats and finally pleas for decorum go unheeded. There must be something wrong with Johnny, just look how much we lover him! He NEEDS a pill.
NO, teachers need a gender check. I've just about never met a male teacher who ever had a serious behavioral problem that he had felt required drugs. Furthermore, most of them managed to curtail behavior through a mix of good old intimidation and fear. Even other female teachers (for kids as young as primary) often refer problem students to their male colleagues.
I find this very interesting because the staff-room politics can be highly unfriendly to male teachers, yet when it comes to discipline the prevailing urge is then either medication or masculinity.
Part of it comes out in the way boys' natural behavior is more likely to be read as a "condition" and the other comes out in the way medication is increasingly preferred as an antidote to a masculine approach to practice.
Originally posted by Matsu
Having surveyed a pretty broad spectrum of schools in the past, and in a mostly anecdotal way, it appeared to me that the schools with the most problems had these things in common.
Poor area
Mostly female staff
Female administrators (principal, and VP)
While this isn't a complete systemic assesment by any means, I did notice some particular differences between the way male and female teachers handle problems. The perponderance of ritalin seems to be tied to a collapse of the maternal nurturer role. Schools have been built on this friendly idea for a solid 20 years now. It is a basically feminine outlook that looks on authority as evil. We want to be your child's friend. We want to be your child's friend so much that they get frazzled when hollow threats and finally pleas for decorum go unheeded. There must be something wrong with Johnny, just look how much we lover him! He NEEDS a pill.
NO, teachers need a gender check. I've just about never met a male teacher who ever had a serious behavioral problem that he had felt required drugs. Furthermore, most of them managed to curtail behavior through a mix of good old intimidation and fear. Even other female teachers (for kids as young as primary) often refer problem students to their male colleagues.
I find this very interesting because the staff-room politics can be highly unfriendly to male teachers, yet when it comes to discipline the prevailing urge is then either medication or masculinity.
Part of it comes out in the way boys' natural behavior is more likely to be read as a "condition" and the other comes out in the way medication is increasingly preferred as an antidote to a masculine approach to practice.
There is definately plenty of truth to what you say. Likewise I believe you have explained why I take my lunch to the room instead of to the staff room.
Nick
Yah, give your mildly hyper-active kid a Ritalin to subdue him so you don't actually have to do any real parenting, meanwhile junior sits on the couch with a bag of Double-Stuff Oreos and a Coke. And of course he's allowed to watch shows where the kids rule the roost and not the adults, smarting off every chance they get and generally being a pain in the ass. GEEEE, I wonder why he's so hyper?
So many of these "moden working parents" have their heads up their asses it's unreal. Pills, television and Gameboy is their solution to everything... and then of course counselling with Dr. Phil when none of that works out right.
Originally posted by Moogs
You're pretty much right on the money Trumptman. Ritalin and its cousins are way over-prescribed in this country. Like everything else, stupid-ass parents try to solve their problems with pills.
Yah, give your mildly hyper-active kid a Ritalin to subdue him so you don't actually have to do any real parenting, meanwhile junior sits on the couch with a bag of Double-Stuff Oreos and a Coke. And of course he's allowed to watch shows where the kids rule the roost and not the adults, smarting off every chance they get and generally being a pain in the ass. GEEEE, I wonder why he's so hyper?
So many of these "moden working parents" have their heads up their asses it's unreal. Pills, television and Gameboy is their solution to everything... and then of course counselling with Dr. Phil when none of that works out right.
You are right, but i don't think it's limited only to working parents. Many parents just give up their parents role. It's so easy to put kids between a TV or a game-boy, than pass time with him, control his work, see him playing with reel things or imaginary ones ...
Both of me and my wife are working, i must admit, and most particulary for my wife, who is both in charge of the house and has her work, that it's pretty tiring sometimes to be parents. But we will never give ritilin, let them pass an entire day in front of TV, or do not control their work. If people are not ready to be parents, and just be friends with their kids, they'd better consider to not have childs.
What I don?t have, I admit, is any direct link between this poor diet and behaviour?. My gut feeling, however, is that there must be such a link.
In any case, the study is shocking. Feeding toddlers ? toddlers!! ? on french fries and soft drinks???????
'Most American toddlers have a bad diet'
Texas - American infants are eating fattening foods such as french fries and drinking soft drinks instead of milk, which may help explain the country's growing obesity problem, researchers said on Saturday.
A survey of the eating habits of 3 000 youngers aged four to 24 months found their diets were surprisingly similar to that of older children - heavy on soft drinks, sweet candy, and other junk foods, and light on vegetables and fruits.
"French fries are the most popular vegetable eaten by children 19 to 24 months old," researcher Dr Kathleen Reidy said at an American Dietetic Association conference. "Twenty to 25 percent of these kids did not eat a single healthy vegetable on the day of the survey, and 25 to 30 percent did not eat a single fruit."
'They're feeding their young children the same things they're eating'
She said her research showed soft drinks were being placed into the bottles of infants as young as seven months old, and most toddlers between 19 and 24 months old consumed sweets "at least once a day".
Reidy said 10 to 15 percent of pre-schoolers between the ages of two and five are considered overweight.
The study was conducted in 2002 by Mathematica Policy Research of Princeton, New Jersey and baby food maker Gerber in conjunction with the Tufts University School of Medicine. The results are set to be published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
The findings demonstrate the need for parents to be more aware of the types of foods their children are eating, Reidy said.
"Parents are eating on the run, they're pressed for time and looking for convenience," Reidy said. "Everyone's just too busy and has just too much to do, so they're feeding their young children the same things they're eating.
'The best thing they can do is change their own diets'
"The best thing they can do is change their own diets. Be role models for their children to eat in a more healthy way," she said.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click...2B243&set_id=1
They should analyze these kids diets. MMMM Captain Crunch always helped me focus.
Now I guess they should have banned me rather than just shut off posting priviledges, because kickaha and Amorph definitely aren't going to like being called to task when they thought they had it all ignored *cough* *cough* I mean under control. Just a couple o' tools.
Don't worry, as soon as my work resetting my posts is done I'll disappear forever.
Originally posted by AirSluf
It looks like none of you know the family of drugs which has Ritalin as a member is not a depressant or depressant, but actually a stimulant. Nobody who needs ritalin gets "doped up", [snip] The stimulant allows a brain which usually under-produces dopamine, to maintain normal dopamine levels. If you are short on dopamine you cannot properly concentrate.
So what you are saying is they don't get "doped up" but their dopamine levels goes up...
Treat every case individually.
yes, which is why the free(not free as in $$, but free as in quick-to prescribe) distribution of pills and grouping kids into different categories(ADD, ADHD, OCD, BPD...etc) and assigning medications to them so mechanically is a bad thing. That is NOT treating each case individually.