DrugBuyers.Com: Ritalin

AngelsKisses,

I think your concerns are very valid, and the fact that you've put this much consideration into the decision whether to medicate your child or not (rather than unquestioningly followed some doctor's standard line of advice) probably sets you apart from the majority of parents. Regardless what path your child goes down, I think your continued vigilence will serve him far better than meds alone.

I don't want to seem like a "pusher" of ritalin or other stims as a universal cure for everyone who has ADHD, because that's really not what I'm about. That said, you may take some consolation in the fact that a study published in the last three or four years found that children who have ADHD are much more likely to develop addictions to non-prescriptions drugs (coke, street meth, alcohol, etc.) if they are not treated for their ADHD; on the other hand, those kids who received appropriate treatment (most often including stimulant meds) were statistically less likely to illicitly take drugs.

I think the reason the researchers offered to explain this phenomenon is that someone suffering from ADHD will often resort to "street meds" like meth or coke, or try to dull the effects through alcohol, because they find those drugs alleviate their ADHD symptoms. Unfortunately, our government treats amphetamines given to you by a pusher wearing baggy pants in a totally different way than amphetamines given to you by a man wearing a white lab coat, despite the substance being the same thing--so those kids who do try "self-medicating" are at risk of being dragged into "the system."

All that aside, I think you're clearly a mom who keeps close watch on her kids, so you know best what is right for your own child--follow your gut. If your son has ADHD, but it isn't causing any major problems (personally I don't count getting a "C" in math instead of an "A" as a "major problem," but every family has different expectations), then probably there is no need to bring stimulant meds into the picture. If your son is frustrated by himself and his ADHD starts negatively impacting various other aspects of his life (sports, relationships with friends, etc.) so that he grows depressed or angry with the world, maybe meds would be worth a shot (assuming you find they have a positive effect on your child).