tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789515854942440667.post6702298027153238109..comments2024-01-29T09:52:55.934-05:00Comments on The ADHD Blog: College Health Centers and ADHDThe ADHD Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03283319351468904913noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789515854942440667.post-82111925878625475422013-05-30T02:32:05.070-05:002013-05-30T02:32:05.070-05:00I was stunned, two weeks ago, when I learned that ...I was stunned, two weeks ago, when I learned that the 22 year old son of a longstanding member of our CHADD Chapter committed suicide. His future looked brighter than most... He came from a good home and loving family. His parents firmly believe their son’s suicide was not due to depression but the impulsivity of having AD/HD. His dad said he doubted his son would have made the same decision if he’d taken another half hour to think things over. <br /><br />Especially because we know what works, we must not let the diagnosis and treatment of AD/HD be trivialized. With some, we only get one chance.<br /><br />Health centers should not “get out of the AD/HD business” because they “don’t have time to do it right.” Ruth Hughes nailed it when she said we would not quit diagnosing depression, cancer, or appendicitis because it takes too much time! Treating AD/HD prevents far more costly outcomes, so it isn’t the expense.<br /><br /> Though we talk about trying to reduce mental health stigma for other psychiatric disorders, when it comes to AD/HD, we create it! People with AD/HD should not have to beg or be deemed "deserving," or be automatically assumed to be drug addicts. <br /><br />Oren Mason, M.D., writes: “It’s ironic that parents worry that their kids are partying with these drugs to get high, when the main illicit use of Adderall is to study. In the library!” <br /><br />He states that though he in no way condones the use of Adderall as a “study drug,” and even dislikes seeing coffee used this way, if these medications were highly addictive, children would be begging their parents for their next dose! He says that when taken as prescribed, medications used to treat AD/HD reduce rates of substance abuse and addiction, not cause them. <br /><br />Not treating AD/HD is not “playing it safe.” <br /><br />Perhaps medication that allows people to control their behavior, conflicts with our core beliefs about morality and needing to earn what we get. Perhaps treatment for AD/HD seems too good to be true! <br /><br />On the other hand, if being responsible means allowing people to have the tools they need to reach their inherent potential, then let's let them have them and get out of their way! In my experience, people with AD/HD are well worth the investment!CHADD of Grand Rapidshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18329664175773858702noreply@blogger.com