Doug,
You might want to read this story in the BBC about how stimulants lose their effectiveness after 3 years.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7090011.stm
As far a ADD being dangerous if not treated with meds, can you provide a study that shows that in which the authors aren't connected with drug companies?
By the way, I do feel that ADHD is legitimate but I think stimulants are way over prescribed.
Anyway, a doctor on the health skepticism has provided studies that don't support your position. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to access them so I apologize for that but I still think the information is important so that maybe someone reading this might be able to find the studies.
http://www.healthyskepticism.org/news/2008/Oct08.php
for ADHD (Pediatrics 122(2):451-3)
But your policy statement misleadingly claims that ‘stimulant medications have been shown for decades to be effective for the treatment of [ADHD]’. Systemic reviews have repeatedly shown that the evidence for the effectiveness of stimulants in ADHD is mostly based on short-term studies of poor methodological quality,[1] and the recent review by the UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommends against the use of stimulants for mild to moderate ADHD.[2] Of more concern are claims in your policy about ‘the substantial risks of not treating ADHD’. Dangerous outcomes associated with ADHD are listed, without acknowledgement that there is no evidence that treating ADHD (with stimulants or otherwise) changes these dangerous outcomes. In fact, there is evidence to the contrary, showing that treatment has no positive effect on academic outcomes or delinquency.[3-5] Even weak evidence of potential harm must be taken seriously when a drug without demonstrated long-term benefit is being prescribed so broadly.
As far as trusting physician organizations, many of them are heavily influenced by drug companies. Marcia Angel has spoken out against that.
I agree that many natural substances are not well searched and not guaranteed to be side effect free. But at least, when I stopped taking Inositol, the ear blockage went away. I still have a hearing loss from one of the antidepressants I took. And yes, I definitely was able to directly establish a cause and effect.
I agree with you about Jenny McCarthy. Claiming that autism can be cured is BS.
PT1
