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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP, ignore the people saying you are doing a disservice to your child or letting him "suffer" by not medicating him. They are simply trying to justify the drugging of their children by shaming you for not medicating.

The fact is, children with adhd are more likely to drop out, use drugs, and be arrested. However, drugging them has absolutely NO EFFECT on these outcomes. Instead, it makes a child easier to handle and makes parents feel like they are helping.

The most effective things you can do for your son are all non-medicinal. Teach him to adapt to and cope with his symptoms in a way that helps him fit the expectations of those around him. Drugging him into compliance teaches him nothing, which is why it has no long term positive effect. The poster that spoke of their son's frequent exercise and involvement in multiple sports activities is on the right track.

Oh, and you can be sure that several posters will criticize what I wrote here. They will say THEIR child needed meds, that it was the ONLY thing that helped, and that their child's life was wonderfully assisted by them. Good for them. The data simply does not support their illusion. [/quote]

OP here, I knew about much of what you wrote. I really wanted to get an understanding of what becomes of the holdout child or family, and from what I have read here, we are doomed to be ostracized. I will be using all other non drug methods to work with my son. I owe it to him since he will be under so much scrutiny as the unmedicated child with ADD. I did watch him playing with his friends today and plan to speak with him about being too rough, he is big. It will be a constant task, but I don't mind it. [/quote]

OP, I posted earlier in the thread- I am an adult with ADHD who was diagnosed at 8. My dad and my brother have it. I have been medicated for short periods of time as a child and as a adult. It was my personal choice to discontinue meds when I felt I no longer needed them. I NEVER demanded, or implied you needed to medicate, I believe only some of the posters here really took that staunch position.

I think your attitude sucks.... you are still stuck in playing the victim- there are plenty of people who choose not to medicate (hell read where I CHOSE to no longer medicate myself.) It is a choice for you and your family when it comes to what is best for your child. BUT YOU SUCK at advocating for him and partnering with others to set him up for success. Whether the teacher started it or not, YOU made a huge problem between you and someone you NEEDED to partner with to see that your son gets what he needs and you went over her head and got a lawyer involved? STOP turning you and your kid into the victim, he is smart and bright and needs to be encouraged in ways that promote his self-esteem.

I feel you ignored a lot of good advice on this thread (not about medicating.) I also think this idea that your child is further victimized/ isolated because you refuse to medicate is a fallacy you are inventing as part of your being the victim instead of being an advocate- guess which one your child needs more?

And to the person who posted that there is no long term data that isn't flawed, yes that is true- I can only speak from anecdotal evidence (myself and my family.) Medication was never meant to be a long term solution, but it helped to feel in control so that I could do it for myself- that is what you child needs (whether through meds or not) HE NEEDS to be able to feel like he can make accommodations for himself (which he will, when you show him by getting him the accommodations he needs and lay the right groundwork.)

The bottom line is your kids is very smart, probably smarter than you will be in certain ways just because of how is brain works- I can speak from experience as to what that is like with 33 years of lifetime experience- he needs an outlet, and he needs help feeling connected to his peers- if you single him out as the problem child because of some dumb slight at the beginning of next year you will be doing him a huge disservice. Find positive ways to enforce the right behavior and to advocate for him without burning bridges. You have a long fight ahead of you to get school to comply, but a lot of the responsibility is on your shoulders. I liken it to being an advocate for a family member in the hospital, they are being cared for by nurses and doctors but if you don't pay attention and keep track of everything things can get missed- a nurse with 12 other patients during a long shift won't change IV's that are days old, they are doing the best they can and without you advocating, your loved one won't get the best care...
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