Health News
In light of last week's news that the number of poor children on Medicaid in Kentucky are being prescribed anti-psychotic drugs at alarming rates for such diagnoses as attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder and depression, the New York Times reports that some doctors are making "no excuses" for prescribing psychostimulants in other locales for children of the poor. Dr. Michael Anderson, a pediatrician in a poor county north of Atlanta, Ga., said he thinks ADHD is "made up" and "an excuse" to prescribe pills to treat what he "considers the children?s true ill -- poor academic performance in inadequate schools." Still, "I don?t have a whole lot of choice,' said Anderson. ?We?ve decided as a society that it?s too expensive to modify the kid?s environment. So we have to modify the kid.'"
Dr. Anderson is one of the more outspoken proponents of an idea that is gaining some ground: Prescribe drugs to struggling students in schools not to treat ADHD, necessarily, but to boost their focus and impulse control. Alan Schwarz reports that Anderson figures that he is arming them with the only tool he has because these children can't afford family therapy or tutoring or behavior-based counseling or any of those other tools that other children might have at their disposal to help them learn.
Of course, Anderson is not without his critics. Many doctors, writes Schwarz, warn of the dangers of exposing children to the unwarranted physical and psychological risks of powerful drugs on everything from mood to blood pressure to the suppression of growth. (Read more)
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- Kentucky Leads Nation In Percentage Of Children Who Have Been Diagnosed With Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder
Kentucky leads the nation in the percentage of children who have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactive disorder, according to the latest available data, which "showed that ADHD levels have risen steeply in the past decade across the nation,"...
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Health News
Georgia doctor prescribes pills to help in school -- whether or not the ADHD shoe fits -- to level the playing field for the poor
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| Amanda Rocafort and her son, Quintn, who takes Adderall for his ADHD. (NYT photo by Bryan Meltz) |
Dr. Anderson is one of the more outspoken proponents of an idea that is gaining some ground: Prescribe drugs to struggling students in schools not to treat ADHD, necessarily, but to boost their focus and impulse control. Alan Schwarz reports that Anderson figures that he is arming them with the only tool he has because these children can't afford family therapy or tutoring or behavior-based counseling or any of those other tools that other children might have at their disposal to help them learn.
Of course, Anderson is not without his critics. Many doctors, writes Schwarz, warn of the dangers of exposing children to the unwarranted physical and psychological risks of powerful drugs on everything from mood to blood pressure to the suppression of growth. (Read more)
- Study Shows Students, Especially Those With Adhd, Have Improved Academic Performance After They Exercise
Children do better in school when they aren't forced to sit still all day, especially those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Gretchen Reynolds reports in The New York Times. Recent research, published last year in The Journal of Pediatrics,...
- Pediatric Therapist Says Adhd Rising Because Kids Don't Move Their Bodies Enough; Says They Need To Play Outside
The percentage of children diagnosed with attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is on the rise. While many reasons are mentioned, one that is not heard often is the length of time children are forced to sit while they are in school, writes...
- Study Finds Adhd Treatment Might Discourage Smoking; Kentucky Ranks High In Both
Stimulant medications used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder might also reduce smoking risk, particularly if the medication is taken regularly, according to an analysis performed by Duke University. The study, online in the journal Pediatrics,...
- Kentucky Leads Nation In Percentage Of Children Who Have Been Diagnosed With Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder
Kentucky leads the nation in the percentage of children who have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactive disorder, according to the latest available data, which "showed that ADHD levels have risen steeply in the past decade across the nation,"...
- At Least One In Eight Teens, And Perhaps One In Five, Have A Mental-health Issue; Adhd Tops, Substance Abuse Also High
The most comprehensive report yet on mental disorders in children shows attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed problem in those aged 3-17, and the most common health issues for teenagers include addiction to...