Debating ADHD Treatment: Why Isn't Medication Universally Endorsed?
by Cynthia Hammer, MSW, Author of the book, Living with Inattentive ADHD
Is the ADHD World getting turned upside down? In the past month, I heard two prominent psychologists stress the importance of medicine to treat ADHD, and I viewed a psychiatrist’s website that promotes treating ADHD without medication. What is wrong with this picture—psychologists promoting medicine while a psychiatrist denigrates it?
Psychologists who are unable to prescribe medicine are proclaiming, loudly and clearly, ADHD is a brain chemistry problem that requires medication. In fact, they say it is the most effective treatment for ADHD. Russell Barkley, Ph.D., for example, is upset with doctors who easily prescribe medication for depression or anxiety, but withhold prescribing medicines for ADHD. It particularly galls him because medicine for ADHD is proven three times more effective than the medicines for depression or anxiety.
But, I ask myself, why would a psychiatrist or anyone promote treatments for ADHD that don’t include medicine? I can only surmise it is to attract more patients or customers. So buyer beware of anyone selling you a “treatment” or “cure” for ADHD. I advise you to run in the other direction.
Because of scare tactics about medicines for ADHD, many adults and parents of children balk at the mention of medication. This harms all of us by making people believe ADHD is a proven medical condition, that it doesn’t benefit from medical treatments. It addition, families and adults who pursue unproven “treatments” waste valuable time that could be spent improving their lives.
Bravo to the helping professionals who based their information on science and research. Thumbs down on any and all who denigrate medications as a treatment for ADHD. Get reputable information about ADHD and the medications used in its treatment at www.adhdevidence.org
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Learn how to give girls with ADHD a fair start in life at www.FINDtheADHDgirls.org