I volunteer with teens and a lot of kids who come to my attention have underlying AD/h/D symptomology, and I spend a lot of my time trying to convince them to get help and to use the help they get wisely. So I feel very strongly about this topic.
I propose that ADHD and/or depression are present in >75% of teens with issues. A quick search of Pubmed reveals no studies among Orthodox Jews. Any epidemiologists looking for a career starter out there?
My objection is that since the meds don’t work well, and since they miss the real point which is the psychological issues, it is a bad idea to resort to them only.
Agreed. Even if you have ADHD, and the medications are helping, your ADHD has probably worsened or caused any other issue you may be dealing with in your life.
“Pills don’t teach skills”, and they won’t fix your other problems, but they can help you start working on them. Imho medication should be used only in this capacity, and long-term medication use should be a last resort.
BTW, not all people with AD/H/D respond to medication, which helps fuel the controversy. There are studies that discuss this, as well as which medication is best for which type of ADHD. I personally know people for whom medication was not effective. By being self-aware and acknowledging their weaknesses, they were able to cope and be successful in their personal and professional life without it.
Most people on ADHD medications can go off them eventually if they use the time they are on pills to develop coping mechanisms. Russell Barkley’s Taking Charge of ADHD is a great resource for parents and educators, and medication takes up a small fraction of the book.
OTOH, if you do need it, it is foolish not to take it. Some people need to drink coffee in the morning, and some need to take Ritalin. It has approximately the same effect on the body.
Exercise and sleep and healthy food are very important, and an absolute must for learning to cope with ADHD. But they do not replace other kinds of interventions.