I dont believe my step son has ADHD-help!

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oh and one more thing: if he read Lord of the Rings at age 8 and has no reading difficulties, then he definitely does NOT have ADD/ADHD. one of my best friends was diagnosed with ADD/ADHD at the age of 11. his parents rejected it and refused to give their son medication. Today, he is at Duke University with nearly straight A's. He was misbehaving at the age of 11 because of stress and family problems. ADD/ADHD is overdiagnosed. of course it gives more money to prescription drug companies. Sally, i dont think i can be any more frank than i am now. DO NOT GET YOUR STEP-SON ON THOSE DRUGS! THEY ARE EXTREMELY ADDICTIVE!!!

QotSA456 -- You are welcome to your opinion; however, I feel I must correct a few misconceptions you have. you wrote "...if he read Lord of the Rings at age 8 and has no reading difficulties, then he definitely does NOT have ADD/ADHD." Well that is TOTALLY INCORRECT. In my previous post I noted that some ADDers accell at reading, and others don't. Likewise some are very good at math, while others have great difficulty with simple math skills.About the Addiction fear. You are part right, these medications can be addictive in SOME PEOPLE. An ADDer processes the medication differently than most people, so addiction and the withdrawls are not the same. Also the strongest part of addiction is the MENTAL addiction. ADDers resent that they need a medication to help them think straight, they don't want to be on it ... they would rather just be normal, so the chance of mental addiction to it is extremely reduced.And you said "I have seen people go from childhood to adulthood on ADHD meds, and, boy oh boy, it ain't pretty." I would like to know what you mean by "not pretty." I known quite a few people who have gone into adulthood on medication and others that were able to be off medication ... neither way un-pretty. About your friend who is now at Duke: good for him I am glad that he is doing well. Maybe he never had ADD, maybe he grew out of it (many do during puberty, but not all), maybe he has good coping techniques (most of us do), Maybe he has not his the point where he can not go on unaided, and maybe he drinks enough coffee or Mtn. Dew to self medicate. I know that these are all options, I have seen people or personally experienced them all.I hope this has answered some questions and helped to resolve misconceptions

your post is extremely biased and incorrect. i stated facts, not opinions. ADHD is a way for the prescription drug companies to maintain their success!

QotSA456--
My post was no more biased or incorrect than your post. You did not state facts, they were your opinions. I will admit that some of what I had stated were observations, but much of it is fact. It is interesting and sad that you feel so strongly that ADD is made up by drug companies to make money.

I often wish there were a simple blood test to tell if a person is ADD, but there isn't. And if you think that it does not exist because there is no blood test remember there is no blood test for Depression, dyslexia, "shell-shock", and many many other disorders.

You just want that poor woman's stepson and every other child in the world to grow up as miserable as you. You're a sick bastard.

QotSA456--
Please note that I never told her to put him on drugs. I gave her information, suggested that she research the topic further, and Love her step-son. I never made a judgement on whether he was or wasn't ADD. I did say that it was possible based on what she stated and the word of a doctor.
I understand that you have different feelings on this topic than I do. That is fine with me; I enjoy a good debate. However; you have become rude and accusatory (name calling is not part of debating). Just so you know let me clear up a few things.
You said: "You're a sick bastard."
However; I feel quite healthy and my parnets were married more than 5 years when I was born.
You said: "You just want that poor woman's stepson and every other child in the world to grow up as miserable as you. "
However; I did not have a miserable childhood nor am I miserable now. I do not want anyone to have a hard life; that is why I try to help people see that ADD does exist and an ADDer can have a more fullfilling and enjoyable life with some help.
I do not want everyone on drugs. I want ALL people to have a chance to realize their potential. For many ADDers that is with medication, for ALL PEOPLE it is with suppport of loved-ones.
I wish you and yours health and good life.

Hey ADDult, why not register and join in on some of the other topics?

Tell him to sell the ridilin to classmates it what my friends used to do

you mentioned about him reading lotr... its very common for people with ADD almost hyperfocus on things that are very enjoyable to them such as reading, video games, etc.... and kids with ADD usually are very strong in reading/writing

anonymous-its perfectly safe to go on and off ritalin it works while you take it, and while you're not its almost out of your system already...the only "side effects" is that some of his behaviors might return while not on meds