Treatment options for ADHD can run the gauntlet from behavioral modification to heavy medications that are basically pharmaceutical grade speed, and more people than ever before have been diagnosed with this mental disorder. Those diagnosed include a large number of children, some who may be as young as 4-5 or even younger. Some research has suggested that medicating ADHD symptoms with strong amphetamine drugs could be occurring far too often. Many parents, adults, and even mental health experts believe that treating ADHD with a combination of effective treatments that do not involve these dangerous medications may be the best route. When it comes to children many of the drugs being prescribed have not been approved for use in those under 18 years of age, but thousands of prescriptions are written for this age group every month by misguided but well meaning mental health professionals.
There are non drug treatment options for ADHD that can be used, and these treatments do not carry the same risks that the drugs designed to treat this condition can have. According to Los Angeles Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California researcher Dr. James McCracken “ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed neuropsychiatric disorder in children, and we know full well the risks it poses for children’s future success in every area of functioning. Our current treatments clearly benefit most children in the short-term, but we’ve yet to find ways to protect those with ADHD from suffering many of the long-term risks.” Many adults are now being diagnosed with ADHD as well, and in many cases non drug therapy can be effective.
