I read you previous post and the link. I am opposed in most all circumstances to using drugs to amend behavior. We got rid of corporal punishment in schools but simply replaced it with chemical restraints. I have been fighting against this since 1972. My most recent experience was with strattera, a popular ritalin, replacement that almost killed one of my teenage clients. Keep informing and writing about this topic that provokes all types of defensive comments and discussions. I don't care about the pros of these chemicals as in my experience the cons far out way them.

I read your previous post and it had me very concerned. Oh you have covered just about everything that's ever gone on with my kids. I did not grow up being medicated until I developed epilepsy at 14, mebaral and it was awful, so I never wanted to medicate my own kids. I have four children, two of whom have behavioral and medical difficulties, one with trichotillamania, migraines, depression and anxiety. She was put on Risperdal at around 10, when she started pulling her hair. This curbed the hair pulling but she gained a tremendous amount of weight and her interactions with people were still not good. She did at that time have talk therapy and a psychiatrist. There were of course emotional issues in our household that contributed to her problems. My ex was terribly verbally abusive. This girl is now 21 and is on clonidine for migraines, zoloft for anxiety and now seroquel for depression. I think it's a lot of medicine, but she is so much happier on it and functions so much better. She goes to group therapy and has a psychiatrist. She's also an adult so I feel however she handles this on her own is her business and she does seem more comfortable than she ever has before.

My 17-year-old daughter was diagnosed with ADHD at an early age, a smart girl who would not do her work unless someone would sit down and watch her every move and then she could do very good work. We had a very good doctor who advised no TV in her room, a gymnastics class to burn off energy, no drugs. This really did not help her school work at all. She has never done well in school though she has had tutoring and been in remedial classes. She now goes to a special school and is on Adderall. What is your opinion of Adderall? Is it necessary sometimes? Your post makes a lot of sense and has me very concerned. Sometimes I feel my daughters' problems are more anxiety-related than attention-deficit. Is there a book you can direct me to? I have two other children with no attention difficulties at all.