Celebrate, Don't Medicate
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In the video to the right, Louis Theroux explores the medication of America's children who have been diagnosed with mental disorders. It reminds us that in some, if not most cases, kids are being diagnosed and labelled for just being kids.
YANQ is one of many groups, practitioners, politicians, parents and individuals concerned about the alleged increase in cases of 'attention deficit hyperactivity disorder' ('ADHD') amongst young people in Australia. A wealth of medical and psycho-social evidence points to the deficits of the 'diagnostic criteria' presently used to diagnose 'ADHD' and the damaging side-effects of the stimulants prescribed to manage the 'disorder'. We also find it particularly concerning the levels of 'ADHD' diagnosis and medication of young people in care. Given the prevalence of attention and conduct disorders among children and young people in care, it is not surprising that they are frequently diagnosed as having 'ADHD'. Children exposed to domestic violence, child abuse or other trauma can indeed develop behaviours symptomatic of ADHD and an emerging body of research points to ADHD medication being prescribed to those in statutory care at rates well above those in the general community. |
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