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If you are not treating a child with severe or even moderate ADHD with Amphetamines, the risks are severe and not so rare at all. Almost by guarantee the child

If you are not treating a child with severe or even moderate ADHD with Amphetamines, the risks are severe and not so rare at all. Almost by guarantee the child will not achieve remotely as well as it could. Both in school and within social groups. Both of these failures will almost by guarantee lead to further problems down the road. It has been shown that untreated ADHD multiplies the risk for other very real disorders, like bipolar disorder for example.

code_duck 13y ago
I disagree, and I'm confident sane history will eventually look back in horror at the idiots giving their kids amphetamines willy-nilly. Perhaps some children need this. The vast majority receiving these drugs would benefit a lot more from realistic parenting and school situations than from a toxic, addictive stimulant pill.
- bayesianhorse 13y ago
  Those enlightened future beings will have to discover some theoretical side effects which justify the obvious disadvantages of denying treatment and just haven't been seen yet despite of decades of experience with these drugs. These side effects need to be severe, given the massive amount of consequences of untreated ADHD.
  - code_duck 13y ago
    I don't even really believe that ADHD exists. I'm quite confident that I'm amphetamine addiction exists, however.
    - bayesianhorse 13y ago
      There is a very good MOOC on ADHD from coursera, the videos should still be up. I don't think anyone who has a low to medium understanding of the topic can claim that ADHD does not exist. The evidence for the existence is compelling and overwhelming. A short non-exhaustive summary: visible symptoms, effects on specific cognitive tests, reversal of symptoms under treatment, significant changes in neuroanatomy and brain activity in MRI, differences in EEG spectra and severe consequences like lower Income, higher propensity for violence and addictive behavior plus a markedly worse social life.
      - code_duck 13y ago
        The thing is that I'm more likely to believe its a combination of environmental toxins, food poisons such as artificial coloring and preservatives and incomplete parenting than something that could be treated effectively with more chemicals.
tekalon 13y ago
My mother was only just recently diagnosed with ADD (After having 2 out of her 5 children with the same ADD/ADHD diagnosis). This was AFTER dealing with depression and various diagnoses including bipolar. She is in therapy to not only manage her ADD, but also deal with all the issues as a result of a lifetime of unmanaged ADD. I have ADD, but was diagnosed young, I learned how to manage and only went on meds when I was mid 20's since my non medical management didn't work well outside a structured school setting (and barely did in highschool/college). My depression and anxiety are made worse if not caused by ADD and has affect social and work life (good and bad). While I agree that ADD/ADHD can be overdiagnosed and even possibly overmedicated, I agree that not having a diagnosis can cause a worse life than otherwise.

code_duck 13y ago

I disagree, and I'm confident sane history will eventually look back in horror at the idiots giving their kids amphetamines willy-nilly. Perhaps some children need this. The vast majority receiving these drugs would benefit a lot more from realistic parenting and school situations than from a toxic, addictive stimulant pill.

bayesianhorse 13y ago
Those enlightened future beings will have to discover some theoretical side effects which justify the obvious disadvantages of denying treatment and just haven't been seen yet despite of decades of experience with these drugs. These side effects need to be severe, given the massive amount of consequences of untreated ADHD.
- code_duck 13y ago
  I don't even really believe that ADHD exists. I'm quite confident that I'm amphetamine addiction exists, however.
  - bayesianhorse 13y ago
    There is a very good MOOC on ADHD from coursera, the videos should still be up. I don't think anyone who has a low to medium understanding of the topic can claim that ADHD does not exist. The evidence for the existence is compelling and overwhelming. A short non-exhaustive summary: visible symptoms, effects on specific cognitive tests, reversal of symptoms under treatment, significant changes in neuroanatomy and brain activity in MRI, differences in EEG spectra and severe consequences like lower Income, higher propensity for violence and addictive behavior plus a markedly worse social life.
    - code_duck 13y ago
      The thing is that I'm more likely to believe its a combination of environmental toxins, food poisons such as artificial coloring and preservatives and incomplete parenting than something that could be treated effectively with more chemicals.

tekalon 13y ago

My mother was only just recently diagnosed with ADD (After having 2 out of her 5 children with the same ADD/ADHD diagnosis). This was AFTER dealing with depression and various diagnoses including bipolar. She is in therapy to not only manage her ADD, but also deal with all the issues as a result of a lifetime of unmanaged ADD. I have ADD, but was diagnosed young, I learned how to manage and only went on meds when I was mid 20's since my non medical management didn't work well outside a structured school setting (and barely did in highschool/college). My depression and anxiety are made worse if not caused by ADD and has affect social and work life (good and bad). While I agree that ADD/ADHD can be overdiagnosed and even possibly overmedicated, I agree that not having a diagnosis can cause a worse life than otherwise.