Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most frequently diagnosed

In this day and age, drugs are being prescribed without hesitation. In fact, many of these drugs are being prescribed for children with various disorders. One of these disorders is called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). An estimated five to ten percent of children are diagnosed with this syndrome (Taylor 11). One of the methods to treat this disorder is to use stimulants, specifically Ritalin. This method is controversial because it has many side effects and its long-term effects are unknown. It can also lead to addiction. Approximately two to three percent of elementary school children are taking some kind of stimulant to treat ADHD (Taylor 64). Since so many children are taking this medication, new problems have arisen.

The most extensively studied childhood neurobehavioral disorder is attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a chronic condition that occurs in about 8% of children and youth (Harstad & Levy, 2014). Stimulant medications (i.e. methylphenidate and amphetamine) are very effective in decreasing the core symptoms of ADHD (Harstad & Levy, 2014). Due to the increasing rates of stimulant prescriptions, there is now controversy on whether overdiagnosis of ADHD in youth and consequent overprescribing of stimulant medications truly exist.

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and Attention Deficit Disorder(ADD) are two very public disorders, mainly among kids ranging in age from elementary school through college and on into adulthood. There are many different treatments developed now to help aid the effects that come with ADD/ADHD, the most common of which is medications. The two biggest brand name medications used to treat ADD and ADHD are Vyvanse and Adderall. Both of these medications are stimulant medications, which by definition from The Encyclopedia means, “Stimulant [medication is] any drug that excites any bodily function, but more specifically those that stimulate the brain and central nervous system. Stimulants induce alertness, elevated mood, wakefulness,

Attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood disorders and can continue through adulthood. This disorder is characterized by difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior and hyperactivity. In children, the long term effects of psychotropic medications are unknown and lead to a number of precipitating factors. Choosing the right medication, dose and treatment plan should be based on each child’s individual needs and situation. Some of the medications used to manage symptoms of ADHD are Ritalin and Adderall. These two drugs have been around for a while; however, Vyvanse, Strattera, and Concerta are new drugs that have been proven to help with ADHD symptoms.

Each day, more and more children, young adults, and even adults are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, more commonly known as ADHD. According to the Center of Disease Control (CDC), 6.4 million Americans aged 4-17 have been diagnosed with ADHD since 2011, and this number is steadily growing. As one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in children, ADHD is often diagnosed in childhood and is a non curable, yet manageable, disease. The most common treatment of ADHD is through stimulant medication, such as Ritalin.

Over medicating students with ADHD can affect their mental health. The medications that are commonly used to treat the condition are considered as a stimulant. Stimulants are defined by drugabuse.gov as increasing alertness, attention, and energy as well as elevate blood pressure heart rate, and respiration. Although the child is appearing to be attentive during class, are they mentally healthy and stable? The side effects of the medications range from

ADHD is an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. A common medication that is given to help ADHD is Adderall. Adderall is a stimulating drug that contains amphetamine and dextroamphetamine (Shinn, Robyn). I believe that young children are often misdiagnosed with ADHD and they should not be given Adderall, or any other stimulant medication to help with ADHD; there are many other things to help treat a child with ADHD.

Random controlled studies have been conducted regarding one of the main concerns which is substance abuse, increase of blood pressure and heart problems. There is a new debate for people who take the drugs extended periods of symptoms of chest paid, heart attacks, and strokes (Harvard Health Publications, 2017). The stimulants used to treat ADHD is considered to have potential for recreational abuse for teens, and grows into substance abuse as an adult (Harvard Health Publications, 2017). In August of 2003 through December of 2005 there were 64 hospital records that involved ADHD medications caused by intentional ingestion, or of an overdose (Harvard Health Publications, 2017). The diagnoses and medication has a higher rate in the United States than in the UK due to prescription guidelines being more relaxed and being prescribed to children under the age of six ( Steer, 2014). With the wide criteria used to diagnose children, the number of prescriptions for ADHD medications are increasing to large numbers to treat ADHD (Steer, 2014). Due to the increasing misdiagnoses and surrounding issues of medications provided to children, before considering medications it is also important to research other alternative treatments that can be beneficial as

To add to that, the research that has been conducted on the disorder has led to a variety of effective treatments. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (2014) the most widely used medication is a stimulant. There is a wide variety of stimulants available for ADHD subjects. Although, with these stimulants come side effects including sleep problems, decreased appetite, anxiety and other diverse uncommon side effects (NIMH, 2014). Stimulants tend to calm children with ADHD. However, these medications can be detrimental to the patient in many ways. Certain medications have been subject to abuse, including Adderall and Ritalin. These medications are in some cases abused by patients who are over diagnosed. Since these patients do not have the disorder they can feel the side effects and use the drug to achieve a certain kind of high. When using these drugs for non-medical purposes they can seem to replicate the effects of cocaine

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be described as a disorder that affects the central nervous system (CNS). At the current time, the cause of ADHD is still unknown (Mohammadi & Akhondzadeh, 2007). It is considered one of the greatest prevalent chronic health disorders that affect children (ages less than or equal to 17) and rates continue to rise (Mohammadi & Akhondzadeh, 2007). Presently, ADHD has been medically managed by two categories of medications which can be classified as stimulants or nonstimulants. According to the Texas Children’s Medication Algorithm Project (CMAP) (2007) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2015), stimulants continue to be first line choice in treating ADHD and show a

Excessive levels of hyperactivity and inattention can be extremely impairing for both the afflicted child and their caretakers. Children with ADHD can experience problems with cogni-tion, poor academic achievement, troubled peer relationships, and heightened household conflict (Barkley, 1997; Loe 2007; Bagwell, 2001; Harpen, 2005). These children often present with in-creased aggression that can result in a comorbid diagnosis of conduct disorder or other disruptive behavioral disorders (Jensen, 1997). The heterogeneous symptoms of this disorder can make se-lecting a treatment course particularly challenging. While prescribing stimulant medication has become the golden standard for dealing with an attentional system gone awry, there is growing concern over the use of pharmacological interventions for children since the side effects of such use during this period of development may not yet be fully understood. Additionally these drugs do not directly curtail aggressive and defiant behavior that many of these children display but they may improve a child’s ability to benefit from other psychosocial interventions.

The increase of ADHD diagnosis has raised many concerns among doctors in the United States. In 2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported new data that showed the number of children diagnosed with ADHD grew by 22 percent in a four-year period Brown University, (2013). The information from the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) raised questions and concerns about the growth of ADHD diagnosis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also stated that the percentage of children with a diagnosis of ADHD continue to increase in the United States. This information was provided by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) to inform the public and raise awareness for ADHD. Researching the growth of

In recent years, the number of cases diagnosed with ADHD skyrocketed from 4 million per year to 10.4 million in children (King, 2013).

Those children that are diagnosed with ADHD are usually prescribed psycho-stimulant medications, such as ‘methylphenidate’, otherwise known as ‘Ritalin’, as the primary method of treatment. (Chandler, 2010).

RESEARCH QUESTION #3 &PROPOSALUnderstanding how the process of evaluating a child who may have ADHD is multi-stepped and involves a great deal of people does give a good reason as to why clinicians may be so quick to recommend the use of stimulant mediations for the ailment of children with ADHD. Not all clinicians have the support of mental health professionals therefore they must create their own set of guidelines for clear diagnostic evaluation. This could pose a challenge for many primary care clinicians. However, the fact is that stimulants are overprescribed regarding dealing with kids with ADHD. Psychologist LeFever studied the over prescription in southern Virginia and found that “8-10% of children in the second through