it is definitely treatable. my older bro has adhd so my family's done lots of research on it. ritalin is actually a very bad choice because 1. though it does sedate the child, it also changes their personality in some ways. 2. it has a similar composition to cocaine, which means that some people who are consuming ritalin over a long-term period become addicted, and some people (during their ritalin consumption or after) turn to cocaine becuase it relieves them of their cravings for ritalin. I know some people are going to disagree with me on the points concerning ritalin&cocaine, but that is because it is a little known fact and most docters do not properly inform their patients of this when advising treatment. My family has found that the best treatment for people with ADHD is alternative medicine. Taking magnesium&calcium supplements is very effective. It is best if you can find a supplement which has BOTH magnesium and calcium because the body will absorb them both this way, but if you take 1 mag. pill and 1 calc. pill the body will absorb most of one and only a little of the other. Other supplements that work very well are Fatty Acids, and pills whoch go by the name brand of Efalex. All of these are available in natural health stores, and you do not need a prescription from a docter to take them. Finally, some ADHD cases are caused by a misalignment in the spine which interferes in the nervous system and thus, the brain. Chiropractic care calmed my brother down a lot. Oh, btw, the company that created ritalin is being sued by an organization with ADHD sufferers but I read the article awhile ago and can't remember why, though I'm pretty sure it had something to do with the ritalin company manipulating the public. You might want to research that, because if the company that creates ritalin is lying to you about some things, chances are they could be lying about others too. And another little note, I know that lots of people are skeptical about alternative medicine but it really does work, and not just in ADD/ADHD situations (think about it - supplements provide a person with the things their body needs and should have had. the LACK of these things is what causes some disorders) and if you really want to help yourself or whoever it is you know with ADHD, you should try these remedies.
[This message has been edited by Babydoll (edited March 17, 2002).]