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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

+1 doesn't make me sick, but makes me really, really sad for our kids. I fear when future generations look back at how we medicated our kids in this era, the'll wonder what the heck we were thinking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What difference does it make? A huge proportion of the kids who supposedly "need" these meds for an so-called actual "disorder" get their prescription based on an unsubstantiated opinion from a psychiatrist who observes them for an hour, has the parents fill out a few questionnaires, and boom--voila! The kid officially has ADHD. No test of any kind available or required.
Most of the time the drugs don't work or don't work for long, and have really bad side effects. Who cares if the kids are being doped one way or the other?

Well how come they go to good colleges and get better jobs?

They move up to snorting coke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

They were taking speed when I was in undergrad back in the 80's. I guess the ADHD drug is a notch above.

[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.

Asian here, and this is very true, sometimes to the detriment of the kids. It is very taboo to go see a mental health professional. The incidence of suicide among Asian youths is quite high due to academic pressures (usually brought on by parents), and there is a push among some Asian community leaders to de-shame seeing mental health professionals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Kids were absolutely using ritalin to get an edge on studying, SATs, etc., when I graduated from high school in 1996. I considered it myself, but was too nervous about it going badly and didn't know anyone I felt comfortable asking for it anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
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.

Asian here, and this is very true, sometimes to the detriment of the kids. It is very taboo to go see a mental health professional. The incidence of suicide among Asian youths is quite high due to academic pressures (usually brought on by parents), and there is a push among some Asian community leaders to de-shame seeing mental health professionals.

Yep, and if an Asian kid actually does counseling/treatment, his/her parents will not discuss this fact as freely as American parents would - again due to the shame factor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
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.

Asian here, and this is very true, sometimes to the detriment of the kids. It is very taboo to go see a mental health professional. The incidence of suicide among Asian youths is quite high due to academic pressures (usually brought on by parents), and there is a push among some Asian community leaders to de-shame seeing mental health professionals.

Yep, and if an Asian kid actually does counseling/treatment, his/her parents will not discuss this fact as freely as American parents would - again due to the shame factor.

The point is that Asian kids do not go to psychiatrists as often as white kids and certainly not to obtain ADHD drugs to use or sell compared to white kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The point is that Asian kids do not go to psychiatrists as often as white kids and certainly not to obtain ADHD drugs to use or sell compared to white kids.

If one does not have a Rx but "needs" the drug, it's easy to obtain ($5, right?) and Mommy will never know.

[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.

You do know that Asian kids are taught to cheat. google it... there was a huge article on it... riots in the street when 1 testing center would not let kids cheat on the test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
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.

Asian here, and this is very true, sometimes to the detriment of the kids. It is very taboo to go see a mental health professional. The incidence of suicide among Asian youths is quite high due to academic pressures (usually brought on by parents), and there is a push among some Asian community leaders to de-shame seeing mental health professionals.

Yep, and if an Asian kid actually does counseling/treatment, his/her parents will not discuss this fact as freely as American parents would - again due to the shame factor.

The point is that Asian kids do not go to psychiatrists as often as white kids and certainly not to obtain ADHD drugs to use or sell compared to white kids.

Says who? That is so untrue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Kids were absolutely using ritalin to get an edge on studying, SATs, etc., when I graduated from high school in 1996. I considered it myself, but was too nervous about it going badly and didn't know anyone I felt comfortable asking for it anyway.

All the kids in our honors classes we taking speed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The point is that Asian kids do not go to psychiatrists as often as white kids and certainly not to obtain ADHD drugs to use or sell compared to white kids.

If one does not have a Rx but "needs" the drug, it's easy to obtain ($5, right?) and Mommy will never know.

This part is could be true. I'm Asian, and while I've never taken drugs like these, my Asian friend did in HS during finals. She got it from a friend (don't know if this friend was Asian). She reacted so badly to it, she swore she'd never do it again. This was back in the early 90's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
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.

Asian here, and this is very true, sometimes to the detriment of the kids. It is very taboo to go see a mental health professional. The incidence of suicide among Asian youths is quite high due to academic pressures (usually brought on by parents), and there is a push among some Asian community leaders to de-shame seeing mental health professionals.

Yep, and if an Asian kid actually does counseling/treatment, his/her parents will not discuss this fact as freely as American parents would - again due to the shame factor.

The point is that Asian kids do not go to psychiatrists as often as white kids and certainly not to obtain ADHD drugs to use or sell compared to white kids.

Says who? That is so untrue.

Asian people.

[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.

You do know that Asian kids are taught to cheat. google it... there was a huge article on it... riots in the street when 1 testing center would not let kids cheat on the test.

They cheat using other methods than drugs. Either way, it's cheating.

So what are we saying, that the majority of these high achievers, especially in these precious W schools, are cheating either with drugs or other methods?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
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.

Asian here, and this is very true, sometimes to the detriment of the kids. It is very taboo to go see a mental health professional. The incidence of suicide among Asian youths is quite high due to academic pressures (usually brought on by parents), and there is a push among some Asian community leaders to de-shame seeing mental health professionals.

Yep, and if an Asian kid actually does counseling/treatment, his/her parents will not discuss this fact as freely as American parents would - again due to the shame factor.

The point is that Asian kids do not go to psychiatrists as often as white kids and certainly not to obtain ADHD drugs to use or sell compared to white kids.

Says who? That is so untrue.

Asian people.

And you must be white.