Marybeth: ADHD meds to treat…poor academic performance?
Well, it was bound to come to this: Doctor’s now admitting that they’re prescribing Adderall not for the treatment of ADHD, but to assist low income kids who suffer from…poor academic performance. Adderall is not a mulit-vitamin, folks. It’s an amphetamine. ADHD or not, Adderall speeds thinking and helps the brain focus, which is why it works for people with attention disorders. Now, because they can’t “level the playing field” any other way, some physicians are “assisting” kids to become higher academic achievers, on the theory that if you can’t fix the system, perhaps you can fix the kids.
I am not one who pooh-poohs ADHD. It’s real and it’s difficult to manage, and stimulant drugs like Adderall (and others) can help those who struggle to stay focused and be productive.
But stimulant drugs for kids without a diagnosis, but who need help to be academically successful? I can’t imagine anything that could be as harmful to a child as this sort of medical malpractice.
Adderall abuse is real, too. And very, very dangerous.
