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.