AD(H)D Medications

So pretty much your philosophy is "why fix a problem when you can cover it up with medication"?

I mean, I'm not saying that someone who is getting a leg amputated shouldn't get morphine, I'm saying that parents shouldn't use medicine to discipline their kids.

If a kid honestly has a problem, like you're saying, then I see no reason NOT to take medicine for it, as there's nothing better to do about it. I know some people who simply cannot concentrate on anything, and they take medication for it. That is not the same as a kid who can't behave so their parents give them medication.

Am I being clear enough, or would you like for me to elaborate more?

My philosophy isn't covering up a problem with medication, it's fixing the problem via medication. The problem isn't the underlying cause for the symptoms, it is the symptoms themselves. The medicine fixes the symptoms.

I'm not saying give Adderall or Ritalin for bad behavior. They fix AD[H]D. That is different from simple bad behavior. However, hypothetically speaking, if there was a medicine for curing bad behavior I'd be all for it. It does not cover up the porblem, it fixes the problem.

Right now the only fix for bed behavior (that I know of) is behavioral therapy. That, then, is what I would suggest for fixing bad behavior. For fixing AD[H]D, I'd be for AD[H]D medication.

And what of my anti-depressants analogy?

Say someone has a shitty life, and they're depressed by this. They take anti-depressants to be happy. Is this fixing the problem?

That is conditional. If the only problem is that they are depressed and if the anti-depressants make them happy, then problem solved. However, if the anti-depressants make them content with a life that is spiraling downwards then the anti-depressants cease being innocuous. I still think that behavioral therapy along with the anti-depressants can counteract the negative effects of the anti-depressants making the anti-depressants a viable option once again.

How is that conditional, MJ? If someone's life is fucked up and they take meds to cope with that, that's not right. Like I said, that's just covering up the problem.

How is that conditional, MJ? If someone's life is fucked up and they take meds to cope with that, that's not right. Like I said, that's just covering up the problem.

It's conditional on their situation. For instance, assume that my life is picture-perfect. I have a great girlfriend, enough money to pay for school, all A's, my parents are happy, everything is great. Yet I'm still depressed. Anti-depressants should do wonders for me. No behavioral therapy is needed, as my life is already fine. However, if anti-depressants make me content with deplorable living conditions then they certainly have a negative effect. In this case, behavioral therapy along with anti-depressants would be optimum.

It's conditional on their situation. For instance, assume that my life is picture-perfect. I have a great girlfriend, enough money to pay for school, all A's, my parents are happy, everything is great. Yet I'm still depressed. Anti-depressants should do wonders for me. No behavioral therapy is needed, as my life is already fine. However, if anti-depressants make me content with deplorable living conditions then they certainly have a negative effect. In this case, behavioral therapy along with anti-depressants would be optimum.

I think I made the analogy clear enough that you would know that I was talking about someone who has a shitty life and is depressed. I even specified at the end that I'm not saying depression (such as the type you described above) doesn't exist, I'm just saying a majority of the people who take anti-depressants don't have that type of depression.

I'm saying the same with ADHD medications. If there is such a thing as ADHD, it's not as common as ADHD medication use.

And no, I don't think medication is "harmless" in either situation. If someone takes anti-depressants to "fix" their shitty situation, they're just covering the underlying problem. To this you suggest, someone should take both anti-depressants and behavioral therapy. Why would they be motivated to take behavioral therapy if they feel their life is fine, even if it isn't?

Giving an unruly sugar rushing kid ritalin to make them behave is not fixing the problem. If they DO have ADHD, that's fine. If they DON'T have ADHD, it's NOT harmless, because it's not going to fix their problem. It will make it look fixed on the surface, but you've still got an unruly sugar rushing kid, they're just drugged. If that problem is not dealt with PROPERLY, it could affect their future.