In the article "Attention Disorder or Not, Pills to Help in School," Alan Schwarz brings to light the use of pills that help children in school, even if they don't have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or A.D.H.D. for short.
According to the article, Dr. Michael Anderson gives his patients, who aren't doing so well in school, a pill called Adderall. The pill is supposed to give the children more focus and control while in school. Dr. Anderson makes the diagnosis, but he just uses it as an excuse to give the children the medicine. The article states that he gives it to children because of their academic struggles in school.
Dr. Anderson, who is a pediatrician for the poor families in Cherokee County, said "I don't have a whole lot of choice. We've decided as a society that it's too expensive to change the kid's environment. So we have to change the kid."
He, and a few other physicians are giving different children, who aren't doing well in school, this medince. Not just for A.D.H.D., but to help them do better in school.
Experts say that children who already are good in school still use the pill, but the physicians who are on this, only give it to struggling students. "People who are getting A's and B's, I won't give it to them," Dr. Anderson said.
After reading this article, my opinion stayed the same; I don't think that this pill should be given. In the beginning of the article, it stated that Dr. Anderson uses A.D.H.D. as an excuse to give the pill. In toher words, he's diagnosing kids with a disorder that they probably don't have. Also, I feel that pills like these can get really addicting. When they get addicting, some people can become suicidal, see things, and even go crazy. The article didn't even state the side effects. Therefore, my opinion has not changed.
According to the article, Dr. Michael Anderson gives his patients, who aren't doing so well in school, a pill called Adderall. The pill is supposed to give the children more focus and control while in school. Dr. Anderson makes the diagnosis, but he just uses it as an excuse to give the children the medicine. The article states that he gives it to children because of their academic struggles in school. Dr. Anderson, who is a pediatrician for the poor families in Cherokee County, said "I don't have a whole lot of choice. We've decided as a society that it's too expensive to change the kid's environment. So we have to change the kid."
He, and a few other physicians are giving different children, who aren't doing well in school, this medince. Not just for A.D.H.D., but to help them do better in school.
Experts say that children who already are good in school still use the pill, but the physicians who are on this, only give it to struggling students. "People who are getting A's and B's, I won't give it to them," Dr. Anderson said.
After reading this article, my opinion stayed the same; I don't think that this pill should be given. In the beginning of the article, it stated that Dr. Anderson uses A.D.H.D. as an excuse to give the pill. In toher words, he's diagnosing kids with a disorder that they probably don't have. Also, I feel that pills like these can get really addicting. When they get addicting, some people can become suicidal, see things, and even go crazy. The article didn't even state the side effects. Therefore, my opinion has not changed.
Good summary, but this post could use a bit more opinion and commentary. For instance, if you are against the use of medication, what should be done to help these kids perform better in school? 90
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