ADHD Payment Scandal: Guidelines Manipulated; Dangers Dismissed

The controversial guidelines for the prescription of ADHD drugs are undergoing a rush review following claims that the leading doctor, who was responsible for extensive research into the anti-psychotic drugs, accepted large payments from the drug company.

US-based child psychiatrist, Dr. Joseph Biederman is currently under investigation in America by authorities who have uncovered $1.6 million in payments made by ADHD drug manufacturers.

Following this revelation, the Australian Government has been forced to stop the release of the draft guidelines and may have to rewrite them following the scandal. Authorities have also been forced to admit that the guidelines, which recommend medication like Ritalin as the best form of treatment for ADHD may be corrupt.

University of South Australia education faculty lecturer Dr. Brenton Prosser said “I advise parents to use medication as a last resort. Pills don’t acquire skills. Medicines don’t address social skills.”

In 2008, it was revealed that seven of the 10 people in charge of setting the guidelines had financial links to firms who make ADHD drugs.

Emed’s Comment:

It comes as no surprise that the deception has finally been revealed.

ADHD drugs, like Ritalin, Concerta and Adderall are all dangerous drugs. All-too-commonly prescribed to children who show ‘symptoms’ of ADD or ADHD, these drugs are in the same drug class as cocaine – indeed they have very similar chemical compositions and elicit the same effects.

Australia has one of the highest rates of ADHD diagnosis in the world. In 2008, around 300,000 Ritalin prescriptions were issued, compared to 11,114 in 1992. That’s close to a 25-fold increase. We find it very hard to believe that 300,000 Australian children need to be taking a drug as strong – and dangerous – as ADHD medication.

Somewhere between 5 and 10 percent of American school children are diagnosed with ADHD. If the multinational drug companies could have their way, every single one of these children would be on their drugs, equally billions in profit. This is reflected in this recent extortion findings.

If Ritalin was truly as safe and effective as it is intended to be, then the large jump in prescription could possibly be justified, but make no mistake – it isn’t. And if the drug manufacturers need to pay a lead researcher to promote their drug, something is seriously wrong.

In the time-poor, gadget-filled, junk-food era that we live in, there is little wonder why children are becoming more hyperactive, having trouble concentrating and being downright naughty.

Remember that there is no physical test for ADHD – it is all based on questionnaires, doctor’s opinions and ‘symptoms’. If a child has trouble concentrating, expressed hyperactive behaviour or is argumentative, they could be diagnosed as ADD or ADHD.

How can we possibly expect our children to have normal behaviour and optimum concentration if they are fed a diet based on bread, cereal, sugar, processed food, chemicals, juices, soft drinks and junk?

We truly are what we eat. What happened to fresh vegetables, fruit, lean meats and plain old water? Surely there must be others that wonder why the number of ADD/ADHD diagnosis have risen as our intake of processed food and junk has increased too.

If a child eats only a tiny portion of their daily vegetable requirements, and instead fills up on processed food, bread, junk food and frozen meals, they CANNOT get the vitamins and minerals they need to stay healthy. This includes mentally healthy too.

It all starts with diet. You simply cannot have a healthy functioning brain in a child that is not given the proper foods to develop optimal brain function.

Throw out the junk. It may be easier to give your kids processed foods and sugar, especially if you work, but you are just setting yourself up for failure. Take responsibility for their health instead of drugging them up. Starting good eating habits early is the best way to make sure your kids turn into healthy, functioning adults. Don’t put it off – start a new healthy eating regime today and stick with it.

For a good starting guide, read Health Promoting Nutrition. This will help you through the often confusing world of healthy eating. Read ‘Why Change our Diets?’ for more information on how healthy eating can affect your health. Stuck for meal ideas? Our Weekly Meal Planner provides a long list of nutritious and tasty meals using basic ingredients.

What else can I do?

Eliminate grains. Quit kidding yourself that bread and cereals are good for your kids. No good comes from eating refined, bleached white flour. Not only does it have no nutritional value whatsoever, it is also setting your kids up for a massive sugar crash. Bring on the hyperactivity. Refer to Eating to Reduce Inflammation and Health Promoting Nutrition Explained for more information.

Begin using fish oil immediately. This is just as important for all members of the family. Fish oil has been proven to be more effective than Ritalin, minus the side-effects or cocaine-like sedation. A good fish oil, will work wonders on your child.

Start giving them a multivitamin. It is impossible for your children to get all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients they need to function properly, feel energetic and concentrate from their diet alone. A multivitamin will help to ‘fill in the gaps’ in their diet and provide them with the proper nutrition to perform at their best.

Stabilise their blood sugar. Most children will have bounds of energy straight after breakfast (hello hyperactivity), but will quickly crash as their blood sugar plummets (anger, lashing out). A product like Eagle Pharmaceuticals Gluco Support will help to stabilise their blood sugars, keeping them on level ground throughout the day.

Do your kids exercise enough? Exercise almost immediately elevates dopamine and norepinephrine and keeps them up for a period of time. It helps to still the impulsivity and hyperactivity of some kids, calming them down and burning off extra energy. Our kids are more sedentary than ever before with computers, video games and TV featuring highly in their day. Get them moving after school – take them for a walk, play in the park or run around in the backyard.

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