Comments on: Amphetamines For Children http://jackbootedliberal.com/2010/03/amphetamines-for-children/ Wed, 11 Jan 2012 04:09:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Joshua Bardwell http://jackbootedliberal.com/2010/03/amphetamines-for-children/comment-page-1/#comment-1082 Joshua Bardwell Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:04:19 +0000 http://jackbootedliberal.com/?p=1395#comment-1082 I appreciate you making this comment. I want to acknowledge that ADHD is a "real" condition. I suspect that it is terribly overdiagnosed, however, to the detriment of those who actually have it. So many of the symptoms of ADHD are similar to the ways that kids without ADHD respond to certain situations, and I'm skeptical if doctors' ability to reliably differentiate. I suspect that we are giving amphetamines to lots of kids who have behavioral issues other than ADHD. I appreciate you making this comment. I want to acknowledge that ADHD is a “real” condition. I suspect that it is terribly overdiagnosed, however, to the detriment of those who actually have it. So many of the symptoms of ADHD are similar to the ways that kids without ADHD respond to certain situations, and I’m skeptical if doctors’ ability to reliably differentiate. I suspect that we are giving amphetamines to lots of kids who have behavioral issues other than ADHD.

]]> By: Tara http://jackbootedliberal.com/2010/03/amphetamines-for-children/comment-page-1/#comment-1081 Tara Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:55:16 +0000 http://jackbootedliberal.com/?p=1395#comment-1081 I have ADHD and while I took myself off of medication in Highschool because it impacted my creativity I want to point out that amphetamines do work a bit differently in people with actual ADHD. It is a real neurotransmitter difference that is often over diagnosed. But it does happen and sometimes amphetamines are the best answer. When I took them I never once got any kind of enjoyment or addiction. But I DID pay better attention and my schooling improved. This is not an endorsement just a clarification I have ADHD and while I took myself off of medication in Highschool because it impacted my creativity I want to point out that amphetamines do work a bit differently in people with actual ADHD. It is a real neurotransmitter difference that is often over diagnosed. But it does happen and sometimes amphetamines are the best answer. When I took them I never once got any kind of enjoyment or addiction. But I DID pay better attention and my schooling improved.

This is not an endorsement just a clarification

]]> By: Joshua Bardwell http://jackbootedliberal.com/2010/03/amphetamines-for-children/comment-page-1/#comment-1077 Joshua Bardwell Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:56:46 +0000 http://jackbootedliberal.com/?p=1395#comment-1077 @Issa: There was a section of the ad which I chose not to include, where the copy read something like, "Kevin's coaches, teachers, and even his friends don't see the kid that I see." I realize that it could be read as, "I love my son and see the wonderful person that he really is, but other people seem only to see the symptoms of his ADHD, and I want to share his wonderful self with them." But the cynical way to read it is, "Aren't you embarrassed that everyone thinks you have a shitty kid? Medicate him, and you'll be the star of the next PTA meeting!" @Issa: There was a section of the ad which I chose not to include, where the copy read something like, “Kevin’s coaches, teachers, and even his friends don’t see the kid that I see.” I realize that it could be read as, “I love my son and see the wonderful person that he really is, but other people seem only to see the symptoms of his ADHD, and I want to share his wonderful self with them.” But the cynical way to read it is, “Aren’t you embarrassed that everyone thinks you have a shitty kid? Medicate him, and you’ll be the star of the next PTA meeting!”

]]> By: Issa http://jackbootedliberal.com/2010/03/amphetamines-for-children/comment-page-1/#comment-1076 Issa Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:51:55 +0000 http://jackbootedliberal.com/?p=1395#comment-1076 "meth is the worst thing since sliced anthrax" Hahaha. Brilliant. I think the combination of "consistent" and the smiling Kevin through his homework is kind of creepy. It gives the impression that if Kevin pitches a fit about homework, drugs are the answer! I realize that ADHD can be a serious issue for some kids, and that every parent with a kid on Vyvanse didn't do it because they were tired of yelling about homework. Still. That's how the ad breaks down to me, and it's kind of creepy. “meth is the worst thing since sliced anthrax”

Hahaha. Brilliant.

I think the combination of “consistent” and the smiling Kevin through his homework is kind of creepy. It gives the impression that if Kevin pitches a fit about homework, drugs are the answer! I realize that ADHD can be a serious issue for some kids, and that every parent with a kid on Vyvanse didn’t do it because they were tired of yelling about homework. Still. That’s how the ad breaks down to me, and it’s kind of creepy.

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