the Deception of ADHD

            “The Selling of Attention Deficit Disorder” by Alan Schwartz exposes the use of media and advertisements to sell products, and promote disorders to get more money.

Kids with A.D.D. or A.D.H.D. were once known as disruptive kids in the classroom, and were often punished for their disorder, but fifty years later teachers are extremely excepting of the once called ‘problem’ children, and instead help attend to their needs. And teacher’s attitudes aren’t the only thing that has improved; medicine to help the neurological problem has become more advanced as well. Pills such as Concerta and Adderall are commonly given to children to temper the traits of A.D.H.D.

Although the awareness of A.D.H.D has gone up, scientists aren’t as ecstatic as they should be, tests from the Center for Disease Control, or CDC, show that patients diagnosed with A.D.H.D. “had been made in 15 percent of high school-age children, and that the number of children on medication for the disorder had soared to 3.5 million from 600,000 in 1990. He questioned the rising rates of diagnosis and called them “a national disaster of dangerous proportions.” Dr. Conner’s, of Duke University added, “The numbers make it look like an epidemic. Well it’s not. It’s preposterous. This is a concoction to justify the giving of medication and unjustifiable levels.”

The rise of A.D.H.D. and prescription drugs have risen as doctors and pharmaceutical companies promote pills to parents, kids, and their educators. Companies use normal childlike behavior, such as carelessness, impatience, etc. to diagnose unwitting children.

This is a perfect example of America exploiting innocent people just for profit. This is similar to smoking e-cigarettes, in the sense that companies say it’s what’s needed or good for you but that’s just a cover up. E-cigarettes may be better than cigarettes but they’re still bad for you. It’s the same way with A.D.H.D advertisers. They tell you that you have it because of symptoms most restless children have at a young age, convince you to get their product, and continue buying it for a long time –to the rest of your life.

Catching Fire

                In honor of the movie release of Catching Fire I decided to reread one of my favorite series. Specifically the middle book, Catching Fire. After Katniss Everdeen came back from the Hunger Games with fellow victor Peeta, life has changed back in district twelve. For starters she’s living in the Victors Village, instead of the Seam, Gale’s relationship with Katniss has become cold, and there have been reported uprisings in the other Districts. But at least she herself won’t be competing in the games anymore. Wrong. In honor of the 75^th Quarter Quell Katniss, and 23 other tributes from the existing pool of Victors from each district, will be returning to the games to fight to the death. The games aren’t over, they’ve just begun.

          The annual Hunger Games requires 24 tributes, 2 from each of the twelve districts, to fight to the death in a bloody battle. There can only be one victor. And despite all odds not one, but two victors made it home from measly, little District Twelve. And all of this because Katniss held out night lock berries, so that instead of one victor the Capitol would have none.  Her punishment, going back into the games she was promised she wouldn’t have to relive. This is unjust to the other victors, who played the brutal games as they were meant to be played. And because of Katniss they are all back in.

          However the Victors don’t blame Katniss, instead they blame their real punisher, the Capitol. To be more specific, President Snow. “Up and down the row, the victor’s hands begin to join. Some right away, like the morphing’s, or Wiress and Betee. Others unsure but caught up in the demands of those around them, like Brutus and Enobaria. By the time the anthem plays its final strains, all twenty-four of us stand in one unbroken line in what must be the first public show of unity among the districts since the Dark Days.” The unity between the Victors represents the victors unwillingness to go back into the games without a fight.

          Unfortunately they are still forced back to play the games. In one heart wrenching scene, after Katniss has just heard everyone she loves screaming for her in the arena, Johanna Mason speaks out, “They can’t hurt me. I’m not like the rest of you. There’s no one else I love.” This shows that the capitol has ruined all their lives, and they can’t do anything about it. As much as Katniss has made it worse for their lives, they see her act of giving out the berries as hope and rebellion. They put aside their feelings for her, and focus on the main enemy Snow and the capitol.

          Catching Fire is about a nation on the edge of rebellion, finally ready to break through the chains of injustice that have been going on for the past 75 years. The only way to stop the injustice is to rebel and to finally stop the games, the death, and get the nation to a state of peace where everyone is not in a state of poverty. Catching Fire is a perfect example of looking past differences and uniting to stop one injustice.