Why do you always recommend meds?

It seems in this forum, if a child shows any type of behavior at all other than being angelic and obedient, automatically he/she has some sort of disorder requiring medication.  Since when?  I agree some children have legitimate problems with anger, depression, and the like...but not all.

Has anyone thought what all these drugs do to a young, developing mind?  You can't just medicate a problem away...it needs to be dealt with.  If we can't take the time to listen to, talk with, and understand our children and force feed them pills at the first sign of distress, then why have children at all?

Even "normal" kids exhibit some abnormal behaviors from time to time.  Only when this becomes a consitent thing is treatment needed, and "treatment" can mean therapy w/o meds, or treatment for an underlying medical condition.  I was an exceptionally angry child...no one doped me up, and I am now a happy, successful, well adjusted 34 year old adult with a wonderful family.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Dear Erin,

Thank you for offering your point of view.

There are certainly many instances in which children display behavioral difficulties and medication is not necessary. Many behaviors are what I regard as normal spectrum child or teen behavioral issues; they do not symptomatic of mental or emotional disorders. Even among the legitimate disorders, not all require medication.

At the same time, some difficulties which are chronic in nature and severe in intensity may not respond to common-sense behavior management strategies. There are also mental and emotional disorders which have a biological component and for which medication is not only an option, it is a responsible and necessary component of treatment.

[Jenn]

I agree with you. When i was told my child had ADHD, i totally refused to put him on meds. I took him to counseling and he
was still no better. I still put the meds off. I thought,"i could handle him at home so why can't this stupid school handle him.  Then closer to the end of the school yr. when he was kicked out of kindergarden for the third time i decided to reevalurate him. I took him to many many doctors,and specialists. Who all said the same thing. And after many sleepless nights up at the computer doing my search on all the different kinds of meds there are for this i decided on the med. i wanted for my son. I went back to the doctor and told him i wanted this kind of med. and that i would only give it to my son on school days, in the morning and at noon and at no other time would he get this med. our doctor was great and he explained everything to me. And now my son is doing good in school, he has no meds on weekends,holidays or all summer long.   AND HE IS NOT DOPED UP.