YANQ is the peak body for the Queensland Youth Sector
Youth Affairs Network Queensland
  • home
  • about
    • what we do
    • become a member
    • donate
    • our values
    • h*story
  • conference
    • 2014 conference
    • 2011 conference
  • news + resources
    • news from yanq
    • what is youth work?
    • become a youth worker
    • projects >
      • health projects >
        • stop drugging our kids!
        • sexual health
        • youth primary health development
      • youth disability advocacy queensland
      • multicultural youth advocacy network
      • reengagement in education
      • juvenile justice >
        • 17 year olds in adult prisons
        • youth in remand
      • workforce development
    • yanq publications >
      • research papers
      • policy submissions
      • media releases
      • network noise magazine
      • newtransitions journal
  • youth networks
    • yanq regional networks
    • youth interagency details
    • youth consultative network
  • COVID-19 Information for youth services
  • Online Forums
  • contact
Home / News + Resources / Projects / Health Projects / Celebrate, Don't Medicate

Celebrate, Don't Medicate

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.

Medicating Kids from Ari Leaman on Vimeo.

Bellow you can access a range of resources including a link to our Youtube channel with interviews held with leading educators and medical practitioners about the over diagnosis and over medication of children and young people.
Go to CDM Youtube Channel >>
Other Projects
Youth Primary Heath Development
Sexual Health
Multicultural Youth Network Qld
Re-engagement in Education
Disability Advocacy
17 year olds in Adult Prisons
Youth in Remand
Workforce Development
Resources

Background Briefing
YANQ has produced a short backgrounder document on the numbers of young people being medicated for ADHD in state care - up to 3 times that in the general population.
Background Briefing 2012
File Size: 77 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Queensland Children at Risk : Overdiagnosis of ADHD
Bob Jacobs and YANQ take a look at how psychiatric drugs and diagnoses are hurting Queensland's children in this publication.
Overdiagnosis of ADHD
File Size: 1500 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Submission to NHMRC 2012
Submission on 2012 ADHD draft clinical practice points.
NHMRC Submission
File Size: 147 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.