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Shame There are many other profound effects. Perhaps most significant here is the belief and conviction that one is somehow defective and inferior, that one is not ok without drugs. The feeling that goes with this is called shame, and it feels lousy. Responsibility A related additional belief is that one is not responsible; the message is that you are not responsible because you have an illness. Something goes wrong, there's a bad day, and the first question is "Have you taken your Ritalin today?" And soon enough, everyone's off on the search for a different dosage, or a different or additional drug. Violence The more dramatic effects get our attention. Even the PDR lists "frank psychotic episodes" as an effect of Ritalin. The American Psychiatric Association acknowledges suicide as a major complication of Ritalin withdrawal. Prozac was associated with more hospitalizations, deaths, or other serious adverse reactions reported to the FDA than any other drug in America; many of them concerned suicidal or violent self-destructive behavior while on the drug. There are many psychiatric drug studies demonstrating a connection between suicide and violence and use of psychiatric drugs, and between psychiatric drug withdrawal and violence. We are becoming aware of the remarkable fact that so many, perhaps most, of the perpetrators of so-called senseless violence in the last fifteen years were taking psychiatric drugs. In 1998 and 1999, Oregon's Kip Kinkel, Colorado's Eric Harris, and California's Steven Abrams are dramatic examples. Recreational Use of Prescribed Psychiatric Drugs That DEA pharmacologist Gretchen Feussner has spoken here today attests to the fact that we are on dangerous ground with our children. The most popular psychiatric drugs we use with children, methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamine (Adderall and Dexedrine), are controlled substances because they have high abuse liabilities. Research consistently shows that neither animals nor humans can tell the difference between cocaine, amphetamine or methylphenidate when administered the same way with comparable doses. Increasing problems related to illicit and recreational abuse of psychiatric drugs in the schools... the ready availability of these drugs?.. associated incidents of violence?.. a school environment where significant numbers of a child's peers are altered in various ways by drug use?. I hope that all these facts make it very clear that this is not only an issue of family choice. All of our schools and all of our children are affected, even those whose parents choose not to give their children these drugs. American psychologist, Ken Livingston, spoke recently to another sadly strange aspect of this situation. His words: "There is something odd, if not downright ironic, about the picture of millions of American school children filing out of 'drug-awareness' classes to line up in the school nurse's office for their midday dose of amphetamine." This Texas psychologist thinks of arrested brain development, stunted growth, fear, shame, anger, social alienation of Ritalin kids who are shunned by their schoolmates, and children robbed of their chance for an abundant, drug-free life. Special Education The federal government has had profound impact on our educational system. Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which covers anyone with a physical or mental impairment that limits a "major life activity," including learning, was a determining factor in the expansion of special education since it required that schools not discriminate against children with disabilities. In 1990, however, the even more significant Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was passed by Congress as Public Law 94-142. The IDEA goes beyond prohibiting discrimination; it mandates that eligible children receive access to special education that must be designed to meet each child's unique educational needs. Furthermore, the IDEA legislation provided schools with an additional $400 per year for each child in special education. In 1991, the Department of Education issued a policy clarification that ADD be included as a covered disability. Many feel that this policy change was the spark that set off the explosion in Ritalin production and use-a 6-fold increase between 1990 and 1995. The well-intentioned attempt to meet more of the needs of our children through special education has gone awry, perverted into the awful reality that an estimated 15% of our school-age children are now on psychiatric drugs. This is a shame worth crying for, and a disgrace to us all. |
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