How come no one seems to be concerned about all the "study drug" taking by our high school students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's pathetic and it's also can cause psychological problems and brain damage in the long run. But many people in this area don't think about the long run and pin too much on hitting short-term success markers. (HS GPA, etc.) The problem is that you create kids that get out in the real world and don't feel they can compete without aids.

The other thing is that so many kids are on ADHD medicine that the power of these drugs has been demystified. Everyone has friends on them and they seem to be okay, so....Plus, the drugs work, they sharpen focus, keep kids alert. Know of one standout athlete/student at our local HS who is known as the Addy guy. Is aiming for Ivy or little Ivy and just may get in. But so what? Life is long and too sadly shortcuts, which is all these pills are is for many kids, have a way of catching up. My oldest kid knew kids who used this stuff and he always viewed it as cheating. I do the best to convince his sibs of the same. You've only got one mind, why play with it with powerful drugs when it's still developing?

I feel sad that so many parents are caught up in their kids success that they look the other way or even encourage stimulant use. So proud their kids aren't drinking or smoking pot. What a joke!

And then they turn around and crap on Asians for studying too hard. No wonder Asians have to study hard; white kids are cheating and taking 'study drugs" to gain an advantage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this is not really discussed because almost all the kids buying/selling/taking these drugs are whites.

Isn't the drug issue limited to the inner city schools?

Designer drugs like these are more readily available to high SES schools. Lower SES kids don't often go to pyschs to get ADHD Rx.

This is the thing. People think the high SES schools are better, but they have some serious problems in these schools, too. Rampant drug and alcohol abuse and rich parents bailing their kids out. Think the "affluenza" kid. The drug use amongst the high achieving HSers is so scary to me. We purposely stayed away from the "rich" schools. Too much pressure and temptation in every way.

High ses schools are producing the leaders and bosses of your kid, it's obviously a good thing.

We'll see. Not every high SES kid or even high achiever is a success.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's pathetic and it's also can cause psychological problems and brain damage in the long run. But many people in this area don't think about the long run and pin too much on hitting short-term success markers. (HS GPA, etc.) The problem is that you create kids that get out in the real world and don't feel they can compete without aids.

The other thing is that so many kids are on ADHD medicine that the power of these drugs has been demystified. Everyone has friends on them and they seem to be okay, so....Plus, the drugs work, they sharpen focus, keep kids alert. Know of one standout athlete/student at our local HS who is known as the Addy guy. Is aiming for Ivy or little Ivy and just may get in. But so what? Life is long and too sadly shortcuts, which is all these pills are is for many kids, have a way of catching up. My oldest kid knew kids who used this stuff and he always viewed it as cheating. I do the best to convince his sibs of the same. You've only got one mind, why play with it with powerful drugs when it's still developing?

I feel sad that so many parents are caught up in their kids success that they look the other way or even encourage stimulant use. So proud their kids aren't drinking or smoking pot. What a joke!

And then they turn around and crap on Asians for studying too hard. No wonder Asians have to study hard; white kids are cheating and taking 'study drugs" to gain an advantage.

Don't kid yourself. This is a drug for high achievers, which includes all ethnicities in this area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's pathetic and it's also can cause psychological problems and brain damage in the long run. But many people in this area don't think about the long run and pin too much on hitting short-term success markers. (HS GPA, etc.) The problem is that you create kids that get out in the real world and don't feel they can compete without aids.

The other thing is that so many kids are on ADHD medicine that the power of these drugs has been demystified. Everyone has friends on them and they seem to be okay, so....Plus, the drugs work, they sharpen focus, keep kids alert. Know of one standout athlete/student at our local HS who is known as the Addy guy. Is aiming for Ivy or little Ivy and just may get in. But so what? Life is long and too sadly shortcuts, which is all these pills are is for many kids, have a way of catching up. My oldest kid knew kids who used this stuff and he always viewed it as cheating. I do the best to convince his sibs of the same. You've only got one mind, why play with it with powerful drugs when it's still developing?

I feel sad that so many parents are caught up in their kids success that they look the other way or even encourage stimulant use. So proud their kids aren't drinking or smoking pot. What a joke!

And then they turn around and crap on Asians for studying too hard. No wonder Asians have to study hard; white kids are cheating and taking 'study drugs" to gain an advantage.

Maybe they have to take drugs to keep up with the Asian kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's pathetic and it's also can cause psychological problems and brain damage in the long run. But many people in this area don't think about the long run and pin too much on hitting short-term success markers. (HS GPA, etc.) The problem is that you create kids that get out in the real world and don't feel they can compete without aids.

The other thing is that so many kids are on ADHD medicine that the power of these drugs has been demystified. Everyone has friends on them and they seem to be okay, so....Plus, the drugs work, they sharpen focus, keep kids alert. Know of one standout athlete/student at our local HS who is known as the Addy guy. Is aiming for Ivy or little Ivy and just may get in. But so what? Life is long and too sadly shortcuts, which is all these pills are is for many kids, have a way of catching up. My oldest kid knew kids who used this stuff and he always viewed it as cheating. I do the best to convince his sibs of the same. You've only got one mind, why play with it with powerful drugs when it's still developing?

I feel sad that so many parents are caught up in their kids success that they look the other way or even encourage stimulant use. So proud their kids aren't drinking or smoking pot. What a joke!

And then they turn around and crap on Asians for studying too hard. No wonder Asians have to study hard; white kids are cheating and taking 'study drugs" to gain an advantage.

Don't kid yourself. This is a drug for high achievers, which includes all ethnicities in this area.

If that's what you want to believe... but I have never heard of any Asian kids/parents going to a psychiatrist to get ADHS drugs although I heard of plenty of white kids taking this kind of drug. Asians will laugh at the idea of having their kids evaluated for ADHD because the kid complains "I cannot seem to concentrate on my study... I am losing my focus... BS."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this is not really discussed because almost all the kids buying/selling/taking these drugs are whites.

Isn't the drug issue limited to the inner city schools?

Designer drugs like these are more readily available to high SES schools. Lower SES kids don't often go to pyschs to get ADHD Rx.

This is the thing. People think the high SES schools are better, but they have some serious problems in these schools, too. Rampant drug and alcohol abuse and rich parents bailing their kids out. Think the "affluenza" kid. The drug use amongst the high achieving HSers is so scary to me. We purposely stayed away from the "rich" schools. Too much pressure and temptation in every way.

High ses schools are producing the leaders and bosses of your kid, it's obviously a good thing.

Is it obvious?

I guess you are the type of parent that looks the other way so long as your kid becomes a "leader or boss" of my kid. I'd rather my kid be average than hooked on drugs, and cheat his way through school.

I think I live an above average life, with a big house, $1mil in the bank, a wonderful DH and kids, and I have never taken drugs or gotten drunk. I also work for myself. So, IDK, it doesn't seem that obvious to me.

[Anonymous]

I have a kid with ADHD diagnosed after a full neuropsych eval. It's not just about wanting to concentrate to get better grades, there's much more to it than that. Unfortunately, some medical people are willing to prescribe without much evaluation, apparently. Is the Church of Scientology behind some of these "ADHD is fake" posts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's pathetic and it's also can cause psychological problems and brain damage in the long run. But many people in this area don't think about the long run and pin too much on hitting short-term success markers. (HS GPA, etc.) The problem is that you create kids that get out in the real world and don't feel they can compete without aids.

The other thing is that so many kids are on ADHD medicine that the power of these drugs has been demystified. Everyone has friends on them and they seem to be okay, so....Plus, the drugs work, they sharpen focus, keep kids alert. Know of one standout athlete/student at our local HS who is known as the Addy guy. Is aiming for Ivy or little Ivy and just may get in. But so what? Life is long and too sadly shortcuts, which is all these pills are is for many kids, have a way of catching up. My oldest kid knew kids who used this stuff and he always viewed it as cheating. I do the best to convince his sibs of the same. You've only got one mind, why play with it with powerful drugs when it's still developing?

I feel sad that so many parents are caught up in their kids success that they look the other way or even encourage stimulant use. So proud their kids aren't drinking or smoking pot. What a joke!

And then they turn around and crap on Asians for studying too hard. No wonder Asians have to study hard; white kids are cheating and taking 'study drugs" to gain an advantage.

Don't kid yourself. This is a drug for high achievers, which includes all ethnicities in this area.

If that's what you want to believe... but I have never heard of any Asian kids/parents going to a psychiatrist to get ADHS drugs although I heard of plenty of white kids taking this kind of drug. Asians will laugh at the idea of having their kids evaluated for ADHD because the kid complains "I cannot seem to concentrate on my study... I am losing my focus... BS."

Then you don't get out much. Two of my kid's Asian friends are on prescribed ADHD meds. One struggles to focus and doesn't do that well in school. Careful of generalizations, the reality, particularly of Asians living in America for awhile and adapting the culture, can be very different than you might expect.

And some of the top non-prescription users of ADHD meds go to everyone's favorite local math and science magnet high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's pathetic and it's also can cause psychological problems and brain damage in the long run. But many people in this area don't think about the long run and pin too much on hitting short-term success markers. (HS GPA, etc.) The problem is that you create kids that get out in the real world and don't feel they can compete without aids.

The other thing is that so many kids are on ADHD medicine that the power of these drugs has been demystified. Everyone has friends on them and they seem to be okay, so....Plus, the drugs work, they sharpen focus, keep kids alert. Know of one standout athlete/student at our local HS who is known as the Addy guy. Is aiming for Ivy or little Ivy and just may get in. But so what? Life is long and too sadly shortcuts, which is all these pills are is for many kids, have a way of catching up. My oldest kid knew kids who used this stuff and he always viewed it as cheating. I do the best to convince his sibs of the same. You've only got one mind, why play with it with powerful drugs when it's still developing?

I feel sad that so many parents are caught up in their kids success that they look the other way or even encourage stimulant use. So proud their kids aren't drinking or smoking pot. What a joke!

And then they turn around and crap on Asians for studying too hard. No wonder Asians have to study hard; white kids are cheating and taking 'study drugs" to gain an advantage.

Don't kid yourself. This is a drug for high achievers, which includes all ethnicities in this area.

If that's what you want to believe... but I have never heard of any Asian kids/parents going to a psychiatrist to get ADHS drugs although I heard of plenty of white kids taking this kind of drug. Asians will laugh at the idea of having their kids evaluated for ADHD because the kid complains "I cannot seem to concentrate on my study... I am losing my focus... BS."

Then you don't get out much. Two of my kid's Asian friends are on prescribed ADHD meds. One struggles to focus and doesn't do that well in school. Careful of generalizations, the reality, particularly of Asians living in America for awhile and adapting the culture, can be very different than you might expect.

And some of the top non-prescription users of ADHD meds go to everyone's favorite local math and science magnet high school.

Didn't take too long before whites begin hanging this one on the Asians too. My kid has been at TJ for 3 years and he has never heard of any Asian students using ADHD drugs. However, the NY Times article does quote Mclean High School students/graduates abusing such a drug. Now all of sudden Asians are "adapting the culture' as opposed to 'those foreigners sticking to themselves and speaking foreign languages etc." Whatever is convenient. I don't think many people will buy the argument that this is an Asian thing. Asians are notorious for not going to psychologists/psychiatrists. You haven't been around Asians too much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's pathetic and it's also can cause psychological problems and brain damage in the long run. But many people in this area don't think about the long run and pin too much on hitting short-term success markers. (HS GPA, etc.) The problem is that you create kids that get out in the real world and don't feel they can compete without aids.

The other thing is that so many kids are on ADHD medicine that the power of these drugs has been demystified. Everyone has friends on them and they seem to be okay, so....Plus, the drugs work, they sharpen focus, keep kids alert. Know of one standout athlete/student at our local HS who is known as the Addy guy. Is aiming for Ivy or little Ivy and just may get in. But so what? Life is long and too sadly shortcuts, which is all these pills are is for many kids, have a way of catching up. My oldest kid knew kids who used this stuff and he always viewed it as cheating. I do the best to convince his sibs of the same. You've only got one mind, why play with it with powerful drugs when it's still developing?

I feel sad that so many parents are caught up in their kids success that they look the other way or even encourage stimulant use. So proud their kids aren't drinking or smoking pot. What a joke!

And then they turn around and crap on Asians for studying too hard. No wonder Asians have to study hard; white kids are cheating and taking 'study drugs" to gain an advantage.

Don't kid yourself. This is a drug for high achievers, which includes all ethnicities in this area.

If that's what you want to believe... but I have never heard of any Asian kids/parents going to a psychiatrist to get ADHS drugs although I heard of plenty of white kids taking this kind of drug. Asians will laugh at the idea of having their kids evaluated for ADHD because the kid complains "I cannot seem to concentrate on my study... I am losing my focus... BS."

Then you don't get out much. Two of my kid's Asian friends are on prescribed ADHD meds. One struggles to focus and doesn't do that well in school. Careful of generalizations, the reality, particularly of Asians living in America for awhile and adapting the culture, can be very different than you might expect.

And some of the top non-prescription users of ADHD meds go to everyone's favorite local math and science magnet high school.

Didn't take too long before whites begin hanging this one on the Asians too. My kid has been at TJ for 3 years and he has never heard of any Asian students using ADHD drugs. However, the NY Times article does quote Mclean High School students/graduates abusing such a drug. Now all of sudden Asians are "adapting the culture' as opposed to 'those foreigners sticking to themselves and speaking foreign languages etc." Whatever is convenient. I don't think many people will buy the argument that this is an Asian thing. Asians are notorious for not going to psychologists/psychiatrists. You haven't been around Asians too much.

+1

[Anonymous]

Here is a thought... Dear teacher, you are boring. I would rather be outside playing!
Because....I am a kid! Please find a way to engage me!
The amount of drug use absolutely sickens me. Shame on you parents who do this to your kids, when it is mild case of distraction and a b average. Shame on you teachers who suggest diagnosis for a child who frequently misplaces homework or stares out the window. You know who you are.
Fact: these drugs can and do lead to depression.
Fact: can't learn coping mechanisms when drugged. Need to learn from mistakes.
Fact: short term benefit will not outweigh long term health.
Take your kids off these drugs, unless you have kid who is literally putting homework in freezer or bouncing off the walls so he/she can not be taught otherwise. Seriously. And even in these cases take kid off in summer and send him to camp. Makes me sick.

[Anonymous]

what the heck does this have to do with AAP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:what the heck does this have to do with AAP

Apparently, many of the AAP students/parent are involved in this drug taking phenomena in middle schools and in high schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what the heck does this have to do with AAP

Apparently, many of the AAP students/parent are involved in this drug taking phenomena in middle schools and in high schools.

The OP said "in our high schools."
I think you're just blowing smoke with the assertion "many" middle schoolers are involved in this. I call BS.

[Anonymous]

I graduated from college in 1990 and people were taking stimulants then too. This is not new.

But I don't think significant number of middle schoolers and high school students were taking study drugs meant for ADHD kids even going as far as buying those drugs on a regular basis.

Maybe not, since I don't know if those prescription meds were around then or not. But they were certainly taking "diet pills" (aka amphetamines), caffeine pills, speed, etc.

This is not new. Perhaps it is more wide spread at younger ages. But any time you have kids in a very competitive environment, there will be those who resort to any available substance to get an edge or are desperate to increase their grades. My college was not even that competitive, so I can't even imagine what it was like at Ivy type schools.