You make some good points here, but it's important to avoid the false dichotomy that medication is either good for everyone or always scary and dangerous. Stim

You make some good points here, but it's important to avoid the false dichotomy that medication is either good for everyone or always scary and dangerous. Stimulants for ADHD have a long history of use (Ritalin's been approved for medical use since 1955!), and there's lots of scientific literature indicating it can have a variety of long-term benefits for people with ADHD. That said, no two people are the same, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to treatment. I've met someone who takes monstrous 70+mg doses of vyvanse (essentially extended release dex-amphetamine) to function normally, has been stable that way for years, and is happily pursuing an impressive, productive life. Conversely, I've met people who can't take 5mg of instant release dex-amphetamine and get to bed 14 hours later. Obviously, there is the risk of heretofor-unknown side effects with some of the newer drugs. We also cannot forget about known side effects of well-studied drugs: Atomoxetine, for example, can cause suicidal ideation as a side effect. That being said, if Ritalin and Adderall were going to lead to massive settlements because of side effects, I think we would have already seen that happen in the last 65 years.