ADHD Drugs Fail
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that new studies looking at ADHD medications indicate that there is little evidence that the drugs actually improve academic outcomes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some 2.7 million kids were taking medication for ADHD in the U.S. as of 2007, the most recent data available.
Stimulants used to treat ADHD like Ritalin and Adderall are proving to be ineffective according to a growing body of research that shows in the long run, achievement scores, grade-point averages or the likelihood of repeating a grade generally aren’t any different in kids with ADHD who take medication compared with those who don’t.
The research is mounting that these mind altering drugs are likely doing more harm than good.
A June study looked at medication usage and educational outcomes of nearly 4,000 students in Quebec over an average of 11 years and found that boys who took ADHD drugs actually performed worse in school than those with a similar number of symptoms who didn’t.
Girls taking the medicine reported more emotional problems, according to a working paper published on the website of the National Bureau of Economic Research, a nonprofit economics research firm.
Another study by Dr. Martha Farah and colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania found no cognitive benefit from Adderall taken by students.
Dr. Farah, who is also head of the Center of Neuroscience & Society, and her colleagues found no significant cognitive benefit from Adderall in students assessed on a number of psychological tests, including neurocognitive performance and I.Q. tests. The paper was published in Neuropharmacology in January.
In a separate study, a statistical review of existing data on the topic, still unpublished, suggests there are “very small effects—not zero but not a whole heck of a lot difference,” Dr. Farah says.
So what can you do if your kid is struggling in school?
Drug Free Solutions for ADHD
Research shows that many children who had been diagnosed with ADHD have a history of head or neck trauma including injuries during the birth process, falls, sports injuries, auto accidents, and more.
When a child has suffered a misalignment in their upper neck, the brain and nervous system are severely affected. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid flow is changed, leading to changes in the way the brain is functioning. These brain changes can lead to a variety of physical, mental and emotional issues.
A gentle NUCCA correction of this upper neck misalignment has been shown to restore proper mental function and symptoms frequently improve naturally.
Millions of children take medication that chemically alters the mind and changes their personality, in the hope that these drugs will help them perform better in school. But the evidence now reveals that these drugs are doing far more harm than good.
Instead of bouncing off the walls, these kids are now just staring at the wall.
Are you tired of your child struggling in school?
Is it time to find out if something can be done other than brain altering drugs?
To schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click here.
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Dr. Armen Manoucherian of Health Edge Family Spinal Care in Glendale, California is an Upper Cervical Chiropractor trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). He has helped many children and adults find natural relief for ADHD in Glendale, California. His upper cervical clinic also serves the communities of Pasadena, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Burbank. He is uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems. More information can be found on his website at http://www.healthedgela.com