ADHD Holistic: Uncovering the Real Causes and Evidence-Based Natural Strategies for Kids and Adults

By Case Adams

Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with ADHD? Do you know what caused it? Did you know there are dozens of scientifically proven treatments for ADD and ADHD outside of drugs? If you want answers to these questions, this book is for you.
There has been an alarming rise in ADHD diagnoses among children and teens, and ADHD among adults – both women and men – in recent years. The ADHD disorder has practically become an epidemic, affecting more and more families each year. In "ADHD Holistic," the author sheds light on the underlying factors contributing to this trend and offers evidence-based strategies to help reverse it.
This groundbreaking book challenges the conventional understanding of ADHD and offers a new way of thinking about the disorder. By exploring the impact of environmental pollutants, food toxins, nutrient deficiencies, diet, sleep issues, play and other factors on brain health, the author provides a fresh perspective on ADHD that can help families break free and regain control over their health.
"ADHD Holistic" offers a roadmap for understanding and managing the disorder naturally. With practical advice and evidence-based strategies, this book can help you and your family thrive and embrace life.
Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder or ADD both deserve a fresh perspective. These are rampaging through our children, our young adults, and now older adults. The rate of this disorder has nearly doubled in a little over a decade in modern cultures.
The solutions provided to us by conventional medicine over the past 50 years are not working. Yes, they have been able to temporarily curb some of the symptoms. But these are short-lived bandages. They do not meet the requirements of finding the real causes of this condition, nor are they providing the long-term solutions needed to slow the rate of contagion.
“ADHD Holistic" is a comprehensive guide that provides a fresh perspective by exploring the underlying root causes and offering practical evidence-based strategies for ADHD in children and ADHD in adults.
This book delves into the latest research on ADHD, revealing the often-overlooked factors that contribute to its development, including those that affect the brain, moods, depression, anxiety and of course, hyperactivity. Using a holistic approach, the author empowers readers with the scientific studies on proven natural strategies that have been shown to help manage ADHD symptoms, including diet, nutrients, probiotics, herbal medicines, family therapy, exercise, play, music, mindfulness and others.
Whether you are a woman with ADHD, a parent of a child diagnosed with ADHD or an adult looking for a natural approach to managing your symptoms, "ADHD Holistic" offers practical guidance and evidence-based strategies to support your journey towards optimal health and well-being. This book is for expecting parents, parents of kids of all ages, teenagers, young adults, or older adults, this book will help you learn to unlock your or your child’s true potential and thrive naturally.
Drawing on the latest research, the author sheds light on the importance of gut health in managing ADHD symptoms. From dietary changes and nutritional supplements to lifestyle and mindfulness practices, "ADHD Holistic" offers a holistic path that can improve overall well-being and quality of life for individuals of all ages.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Logical Books
• Release date: Jan 11, 2024
• ISBN: 9798215933213

Case Adams

“One summer decades ago, as a pre-med major working my way through college, I hurt my back digging ditches. I visited a doctor who prescribed me with an opioid medication. I didn’t take the drug but this brought about a change of heart regarding my career in medicine. I decided against prescribing drugs and sought an alternative path. During college and afterwards, I got involved in the food business, working at farms, kitchens, and eventually management in the organic food and herbal supplement businesses. I also continued my natural health studies, and eventually completed post-graduate degrees in Naturopathy, Integrative Health Sciences and Natural Health Sciences. I also received diplomas in Homeopathy, Aromatherapy, Bach Flower Remedies, Colon Hydrotherapy, Blood Chemistry, Obstetrics, Clinical Nutritional Counseling, and certificates in Pain Management and Contact Tracing/Case Management along the way. During my practicum/internships, I was fortunate to have been mentored and trained under leading holistic M.D.s, D.O.s, N.D.s, acupuncturists, physical therapists, herbalists and massage therapists, working with them and their patients. I also did grand rounds at a local hospital and assisted in pain treatments. I was board certified as an Alternative Medical Practitioner and practiced for several years at a local medical/rehabilitation clinic advising patients on natural therapies.“My journey into writing about alternative medicine began about 9:30 one evening after I finished with a patient at the clinic I practiced at over a decade ago. I had just spent two hours showing how improving diet, sleep and other lifestyle choices, and using selected herbal medicines with other natural strategies can help our bodies heal themselves. As I drove home that night, I realized the need to get this knowledge out to more people. So I began writing about natural health with a mission to reach those who desperately need this information and are not getting it in mainstream media. The health strategies in my books and articles are backed by scientific evidence combined with traditional wisdom handed down through natural medicines for thousands of years.I am hoping to accomplish my mission as a young boy to help people. I am continuously learning and renewing my knowledge. I know my writing can sometimes be a bit scientific, but I am working to improve this. But I hope this approach also provides the clearest form of evidence that natural healing strategies are not unsubstantiated anecdotal claims. Natural health strategies, when done right, can be safer and more effective than many conventional treatments, with centuries of proven safety. This is why most pharmaceuticals are based on compounds from plants or other natural elements. I hope you will help support my mission and read some of my writings. They were written with love yet grounded upon science. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.”Contact: case(at)caseadams.com

Book preview

ADHD Holistic

Uncovering the Real Causes

and Evidence-Based Natural Strategies

for Kids and Adults

By Case Adams, Naturopath

ADHD Holistic: Uncovering the Real Causes and Evidence-Based Natural Strategies for Kids and Adults

Copyright © 2023 Case Adams

LOGICAL BOOKS

www.logicalbooks.org

All rights reserved.

Printed in USA

The information provided in this book is for educational and scientific research purposes only. The information is not medical advice and is not a substitute for medical care or personal health advice. A physician or other qualified medical practitioner expert should be consulted prior to any significant change in lifestyle, diet, herbs or supplement usage. There shall neither be liability nor responsibility should the information provided in this book be used in any manner other than for the purposes of education and scientific research. While animal research may be referenced in the text, neither the author nor publisher supports the use of animals for research purposes.

Publishers Cataloging in Publication Data

Adams, Case

ADHD Holistic: Uncovering the Real Causes and Evidence-Based Natural Strategies for Kids and Adults

First Edition

1. Medicine. 2. Health.

Bibliography and References; Index

ISBN-13: 978-1-936251-59-9

Table of Contents

Introduction

1. What is ADHD?

2. What Causes ADHD?

3. ADHD and Diet

4. ADHD Nutritional Strategies

5. Herbs for ADHD

6. Probiotics and ADHD

7. Other ADHD Strategies

References and Bibliography

Other Books by the Author

Introduction

Today attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a major concern our stability as a society and as individuals. Just consider what this disorder means: A weakened ability to focus and concentrate, and a tendency for bouts of hyperactivity.

Over the past few decades, two opposing positions have developed about this condition. One side has taken the position that this is a mental disorder, one that requires psychiatric pharmaceuticals to treat. Yes, this is being categorized by conventional medicine as a psychiatric condition.

The other side has decided that this is a made-up disorder. They suggest it is the result of a society that gives kids and adults slack: Those who just don’t want to do the hard work that is required to learn and excel in life taking an opportunity to escape from responsibility.

These two opposing positions have set up a problem for parents, educators, school nurses and doctors. The problem is proving to the other side that either this is a made-up disorder or this is a serious psychiatric disorder requiring decades of drug dependency.

This book enlarges the perspective and takes another position altogether. Yes, there is definitely a condition or challenge involved, resulting in many children and adults having difficulty focusing and concentrating.

But rather than labeling this a psychiatric disorder, or even dismissing the problem out of hand – there is another way to look at this: As a challenge in our society that needs to be carefully and objectively investigated.

Such an investigation should review all of the available scientific research on the condition, and determine what causes it and what has been shown to help one embrace the challenge and thrive in life.

This book assumes the medical scientific community has already put forth their science showing that pharmaceuticals can help ADHD symptoms. There is little to add to this volume of data and research, other than to confirm that there is good evidence that shows that some of the pharmaceutical interventions have been shown to significantly improve symptoms of ADHD in adults and children.

This book also assumes there are some people who either do not want to subscribe to pharmaceuticals or who cannot take them for some reason. Such reasons might include chemical sensitivities, allergies, liver issues; or they may include religious or philosophical reasons related to not wanting to give themselves or their children pharmaceuticals. My purpose is not to judge the reasons, only to provide information for those that seek it.

In other words, this book seeks to explore the scientific evidence of what may be causing this tremendous explosion of ADHD among today‘s children and adults, and whether there are scientifically-validated non-pharmaceutical remedies available.

We should note that this prospect is not new to conventional medicine. Conventional pharmaceuticals have been primarily based on natural herbs and foods. Documentation has illustrated that at least 60 percent of today’s pharmaceuticals are based on or analogs of compounds extracted from foods and herbs.

Even with a resistance to this notion, at the very least, some remedy may be provided by understanding the causes of the condition. This assumes that, at least for ongoing causal issues, cessation of the cause and lifestyle changes may have some benefit.

Such an understanding of the causes of ADHD may also provide a larger scope of remedy: That is, a longer-term societal remedy that may help encourage the lifestyle or environmental changes that can ultimately bring about a reduction in the explosion of new diagnoses in the years to come.

The science shows this is not just about environmental toxins, though environmental toxins are a huge element. We are talking about a host of issues related to how our culture as a whole tends to eat, drink, play, exercise (or the lack thereof), socialize and communicate.

These environmental and lifestyle effects have led us to a place where some in our society are showing symptoms of physical rejection: A rejection of the environments and lifestyles we have encouraged and introduced to our babies, children, teens, young adults and adults over the past 100 years.

Surely this book looks deep into the science. But I have tried to simplify this to the greatest degree possible for the reader. This will hopefully allow the reader to absorb the science without having to go back to school to get a science degree.

Yes, some of the concepts and studies involve scientific principles. But I have worked hard to boil these concepts down to practical terms whenever possible.

I have also tried to apply the science to what can be readily applied to practical living without changes that would interfere with our pursuits of lifetime goals.

It is important for the reader to understand that the material in this book is not my opinion. It isn’t anecdotal information I have dreamed up after one or two personal applications on myself or a contingent of other people I know or have done consults with.

Rather, the information provided in this book is based on scientific studies that have been peer-reviewed and published in some of the most prestigious scientific and medical journals by experts in the fields of medicine and psychiatry, including professors and doctors that have dedicated their lives to studying and informing us on what can make us healthier.

For these reasons, the information in this book should satisfy the needs of a practitioner who wants to provide their patients with real solutions to this disorder. The concepts presented have been gathered from scientific studies and exhaustive reviews of research, which are listed in the reference section of the book.

As such, the professional reader should be able to easily follow the evidence presented here and even look deeper into those studies using the search tool.

Moreover, the reader who wants to get through the strategies without deep-diving into the science can easily skim the material, reading the introductions and strategy explanations while skipping over some of the details of the studies.

For this reason, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all the scientists and researchers who have dedicated their careers to discovering elements of our minds and bodies that allow us to apply the scientific evidence that reveals potential solutions to this intrusive life challenge.

Finally, I wish to emphasize that anyone considering a change in their diet, lifestyle, supplementation or environment should first consult with their medical professional, especially if they are undergoing any sort of treatment program.

1. What is ADHD?

ADHD incidence is exploding, particularly among western industrialized societies. A 2021 international study found that about 5.9% of children between 9 and 17 have now been diagnosed with ADHD, and 2.5% of adults now have been diagnosed. Some research has estimated that up to 10% of the U.S. population may be affected by ADHD.

In the United States alone, about 11 percent of kids have been diagnosed with ADHD. That translates to more than 6.4 million kids according to the Centers of Disease Control.

Boys are diagnosed with ADHD at a much higher rate than girls, at nearly five to one. Some have suggested this is the result of girls having different symptoms than boys. But this has not been substantiated by the medical research at this time.

Unfortunately, there are a number of negative consequences of ADHD in kids and adults. Children with ADHD have been found to have difficulty with social situations and relationships. They have problems with sharing, cooperation and taking turns. Two studies, one of more than 53,000 kids and another nearly 64,000 kids, found that ADHD kids were nearly three times more likely to be bullies to their peers.

Other studies have found ADHD kids were more likely to be involved in burning accidents, and they also had up to a 50 percent greater likelihood of being involved in accidents, including automotive accidents.

ADHD kids are also more likely to have concussions, and were twice as likely to have minor traumatic brain injuries.

The worst news relates to death. Suicides and attempted suicides are twice as likely in those with ADHD, and ADHD-sufferers are twice as likely to die from homicide.

Other research has found that those with ADHD are more likely to be convicted of crimes and more likely to be incarcerated for crimes. Kids with ADHD were more likely to be in juvenile detention. Self-poisoning and other forms of self-harm are also greater among kids with ADHD.

In terms of education, kids with ADHD were twice as likely not to graduate from high school on time. ADHD is also associated with inferior performance with language and expression-related tasks.

ADHD sufferers are also more likely to have problems gambling, and a greater incidence of reckless driving.

Those with ADHD also have more than a triple risk of developing some form of dementia according to a 2019 study.

A 2018 study from Germany included over 25,000 patients with ADHD. They found they had a greater risk of anxiety issues, emotional issues, substance use disorders, and obesity.

Is ADHD a new disease?

Most people assume this, but in 1775, the German physician Dr. Melchior Adam Weikard described the symptoms of ADHD in a textbook. Then in 1798, Dr. Alexander Crichton from the UK’s Royal College of Physicians wrote about the condition in a medical textbook.

Then in 1845, Dr. Heinrich Hoffmann from Germany described hyperactivity and attention deficits inside a children’s book. The book also documented behavior that today matches the ADHD condition.

Between 1887 and 1901 French doctors described symptoms equating to ADHD in French medical books. In 1902, the UK’s Dr. George Still wrote about the disorder for the first time in a medical journal. In 1907, psychiatrist Augusto Vidal Perera wrote about inattention and hyperactivity among school-age children.

In 1917, the Spanish neurologist and psychiatrist Gonzalo Rodriguez-Lafora described symptoms of ADHD in children. He thought they were part of a brain disorder. In 1932, Germans Franz Kramer and Hans Pollnow also described a condition like ADHD. He called it hyperkinetic disorder. The World Health Organization adopted this term for awhile. A term, minimal brain dysfunction was popularized in the 1940s to describe children with ADHD-like symptoms.

A 1950s study found that minimal brain dysfunction was also prevalent in some adults. In the 1960s, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the amphetamine methylphenidate, named Ritalin, for such behavioral disorders in children.

Starting in the 1970s, ADHD diagnostic criteria began to develop from the related documentation detailed above.

How is ADHD diagnosed?

Okay, let’s start with the definition as given by the medical and psychiatric institutions.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is considered a mental disorder characterized by difficulty paying attention, excessive activity, and acting impulsively. It is also considered a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting attention span and ability to regulate activity levels.

These an lead to impulsive behavior.

More plainly, people with ADHD typically have difficulty paying attention, following instructions, and completing tasks. They may also be very active and have a hard time sitting still.

ADHD is usually diagnosed in childhood, but it can continue into adulthood.

ADHD symptoms can interfere with a person's daily functioning and development. For these reasons, it can cause problems in school, home, and within social situations. There are three subtypes of ADHD:

The inattentive type

The hyperactive-impulsive type

The combined inattentive and hyperactive type.

ADHD is diagnosed as a mental disorder, with criteria established by Robins and Guze in 1970. The disorder is considered a disease condition that must be diagnosed by a licensed medical doctor in a clinical setting. The clinician uses issues presented by care-givers and others involved in the person’s life, such as difficulties learning in school, or social behaviors.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, a diagnosis must contain:

1) Developmentally inappropriate levels of hyperactive or impulsive and/or inattentive symptoms for at least 6 months;

2) Symptoms that occur in different settings, such as in the home and in the school;

3) Symptoms that are causing impairments in living;

4) Some symptoms and impairments first occurred in early to mid-childhood;

5) No other disorder better explains the symptoms.

This diagnostic criteria was also embraced by the World Health Organization in 2018.

Adult ADHD

Surveys have suggested that four to five percent of adults have ADHD. Sometimes adults are diagnosed with ADHD. Many times an adult will have ADHD since childhood but especially for older individuals there is no detection for ADHD when they were children.

Some might call this undiagnosed ADHD. But there's another way of looking at it as well discuss more thoroughly.

In adolescence and young adulthood, many people with a history of childhood ADHD will continue to have the condition. Many times, such a person might have significantly reduced hyperactivity and impulsivity. But they may still deal with issues of inattention according to some research.

Some reports have claimed that ADHD can occurs with other psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorders, conduct disorder and eating disorders. Also incidentally, with substance use disorders

Sometimes in the case of women who are undergoing menopause and dealing with a drop in estrogen, ADHD symptoms may become prevalent. These will include difficulty focusing and some memory issues.

Traditionally this has been simply described as menopausal symptoms, but more and more, modern medicine is seeking to provide a diagnosis that means prescribing more meds.

Recent stats have indicated that a good 75% of adults who are diagnosed with ADHD between 18 and 44 we're not diagnosed as children. But for those over 60 it's more like 100%.

Symptoms of adult ADHD are said to include:

being disorganized

being easily distracted

being late

difficulty prioritizing tasks

difficulty starting in new task

displaying physical verbal and or emotional hyperactivity

extreme impatience

impulsivity

inability to focus

interrupting others

leaving tasks unfinished

losing things and forgetfulness

mood swings

poor time management

recklessness with little regard to personal safety

trouble multi-tasking

trouble relaxing

For women, with regard to estrogen there are some who say that this is not ADHD, and it is simply estrogen deficiency causing these symptoms. But if we broaden the view of what ADHD is, then certainly this can be inclusive of the condition.

But considering all the above symptoms, it also means that most of us could theoretically be diagnosed with ADHD at some point in their life. Such a broad symptomatic definition of the condition leads to doubt about the validity of the so much diagnosis.

Especially when it is considered that ADHD is classified as a mental disorder.

Is Autism a part of ADHD?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are two separate disorders, although it is possible for an individual to have both ASD and ADHD.

ASD is a neurodevelopment disorder that affects communication and social interaction. It is characterized by difficulties with social communication and interaction, and by the presence of repetitive behaviors and interests.

In comparison, ADHD is classified as a neurodevelopment disorder that affects a person's ability to pay attention and control their behavior. It is characterized by symptoms such as difficulty paying attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.

While there are some overlaps in the symptoms of these disorders, they are distinct conditions with different causes and treatments. It is important to receive a proper evaluation by a mental health professional in order to receive an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

To bring these concepts into a real-world context, let’s consider two somewhat typical cases:

Billy

Billy was a bright and energetic child, but he often struggled to pay attention in school. He would frequently fidget in his seat, have difficulty following instructions, and interrupt others while they were speaking. His teacher and parents were concerned about his behavior and decided to have him evaluated by a mental health professional. After an assessment, it was determined that Billy had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Over time, Billy began to make progress in school. He was able to focus better during class and complete his assignments more consistently. He also learned how to better control his impulses and interact more appropriately with his peers. His teacher and parents were proud of the progress he had made and were grateful for the support he had received.

Robin

Robin was a bright and creative child, but she often struggled to pay attention in school. She would frequently daydream and have difficulty following instructions. Her teacher noticed that she was falling behind her classmates and recommended that she be evaluated by a mental health professional.

After an assessment, it was determined that Robin had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Robin's parents were shocked by the diagnosis, as they had always seen her as a highly intelligent and capable child. However, they knew that they needed to do whatever they could to help her succeed in school.

Over time, Robin began to make progress in school. She was able to focus better during class and complete her assignments more consistently. She also learned how to better manage her time and stay organized, which helped her feel more in control of her schoolwork. Robin's parents were proud of the progress she had made and were grateful for the support she had received.

Paul

Paul is a 32-year-old marketing executive who's been struggling with ADHD since childhood. Paul has always been highly energetic and easily distracted, which has made it difficult for him to focus on his work and complete tasks on time. He often feels like he's in a constant state of chaos, jumping from one thing to the next without ever feeling like he's really accomplished anything.

Despite these challenges, Paul has always been highly creative and excels in brainstorming sessions with his team. He's also known for his quick thinking and ability to come up with innovative solutions to problems presented to him.

Recently, Paul has started to explore more natural approaches to managing his ADHD symptoms, such as meditation and exercise. While it hasn't been easy, he's starting to see some positive changes in his ability to focus and manage his time more effectively.

Paul is a driven and creative individual who has learned to work with his ADHD rather than against it. While he still faces challenges, he's determined to continue to find new ways to thrive in both his personal and professional life.

Medication for ADHD

We should note that the parents of Billy and Robin sought medical treatment for their children. And Paul, who was prescribed drugs for years, is looking for alternatives. And yes, these two children did to some degree respond to their medication. But are there any risks for children to be taking drugs at such a young age?

And are there any evidence-based alternatives to pharmaceutical interventions? That is precisely what this book will discover.

It is difficult to estimate the exact number of children with ADHD who are taking medication, as this can vary depending on the population being studied and the criteria used to diagnose the disorder.

That said, medication is often the mainstay of treatment for children with ADHD. This actually began in 1937, when Charles Bradley found that amphetamines seemed to reduce ADHD symptoms in kids.

What? Kids taking amphetamines? Speed? Uppers? Crystal-meth?

Yes, amphetamines are drugs – drugs that have been abused over the decades, and crystal-meth is none other than methamphetamine, virtually the same drug that is in Adderall®, and similar to what is in Ritalin® (methylphenidate, also a central nervous system stimulant like amphetamine).

How did it come to this?

It all started with chemist Gordon Alles, who thought he had a new asthma medicine. Alles worked in developing a compound he called beta-phenyl-isopropylaminek, which later became known as Benzedrine.

This drug was first synthesized by Romanian chemist Lazar Edeleanu in 1887. But it was considered a dubious chemical for decades, until Alles began self-medicating himself in 1929 with injections, noting the drug gave him euphoria.

Alles tested guinea pigs, but then began testing people. He found out quickly it was not useful for asthma.

In 1932 Alles filed a U.S. patent for being the inventor of amphetamine sulfate and amphetamine hydrochloride.

Alles approached the pharmaceutical firm then called Smith, Kline, and French (SKF). They were already producing a Benzedrine inhaler, which they had patented as Alles was working with his amphetamine compounds. After an agreement was established, SKF began marketing the amphetamine as a wonder drug.

By the late 1930s college students were using pep pills and amphetamine was given to American soldiers in World War II. Uppers were used in the 1950s by the Beatniks, along with housewives in the 1960s and truckers, as speed.

Soon it was recognized that amphetamines were addictive and destructive to people’s lives. This was exasperated by the use of crystal-meth in the 1970s.

Then amphetamines were reintroduced as prescription medications for kids with ADHD, in the form of Adderall.

And yes, crystal-meth and Adderall are both indeed virtually the same drugs used as amphetamines in the decades previous.

Yes, by 1937 the American Medical Association permitted the advertising of the amphetamines as treatments for mild depression, even narcolepsy and Parkinson’s.

By the 1960s, billions of amphetamine pills were produced every year in the United States. These were used by anyone who could pay a pusher.

In 1936 psychiatrist Charles Bradley gave amphetamines to a group of boys with learning disabilities. Issues like brain damage or emotional issues. Bradley found the amphetamines calmed many of the children.

This later became the basis for the later use of amphetamines such as Adderall and later Ritalin by the pharmaceutical companies.

It should be noted that while Adderall technically contains amphetamine salts, and Ritalin contains methylphenidate. Both drugs are considered central nervous system stimulants that work similarly, to boost norepinephrine and dopamine levels in the brain. While Ritalin may be not be the same compound as amphetamine, its effects are similar.

As mentioned previously, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 6.4 million children aged 2-17 in the United States have been diagnosed with ADHD. Approximately two-thirds of those children are taking medication as part of their treatment. It is important to note that medication is just one aspect of treatment for ADHD, and it is often used in combination with other interventions such as therapy and educational support.

In 2020, according to IQ Via, previously IMS Health, over six million children between 0 and 17 years old were taking psychiatric drugs. Over 400,000 of these kids were five years old and younger.

About half the kids taking psychiatric drugs were aged up to 12 years old, and the other half were aged between 13 and 17 years old.

As for ADHD drugs – over three million kids were taking ADHD drugs in the United States during 2020.

That’s a lot of kids – over three million in the U.S. – on psychiatric drugs.

As we’ll discuss in this book, the research supports a number of other therapies for disorders related to hyperactive behavior in children.

You might ask: Does giving kids psychiatric and ADHD drugs increase the likelihood of these kids becoming medicated throughout their lives?

Some medical researchers – including those paid directly or were indirectly financed by the pharmaceutical industry – have indicated there is no evidence that kids prescribed medications aren’t at a greater risk of abusing drugs later.

But one might ask, how was such a claim established? Do people readily admit abusing drugs to medical researchers? What would be the consequence for a person admitting they were abusing drugs to a clinical researcher? Undoubtedly, they’d be at risk of being turned over to authorities for arrest or drug treatment for admitting drug abuse. Such a bias would naturally present a hurdle for such evidence to be readily assumed.

We also understand there is a significant black market for ADHD drugs in high schools, colleges and on the streets. Like opioids, these medications are attractive in the black market because they are mind-altering. Because of this black market, it would be nearly impossible to determine with any accuracy to what extent those who have been prescribed ADHD medications have turned to the black market to continue their use or even misuse of these or other black market drugs.

At the same time the research indicates that it is not uncommon for kids taking ADHD medication continue taking their medication into adulthood. Many adults with ADHD find that medication helps them to manage the symptoms of the disorder and improve their ability to focus and organize their thoughts.

This could well be equated to dependency, depending upon one’s definition. One can argue that some have become reliant on the drugs to function.

Western medical doctors will be clear in stating that ADHD medication is not intended to be taken indefinitely. So why are the drugs continued to be supplied throughout adult life in many cases?

This is not to say that medication is the only therapy that kids typically get in Western medicine. Medication is often used in combination with other interventions such as therapy and educational support.

This certainly brings the question of how much the drugs are responsible for their improvement and how much benefit the therapy is. Frankly, we must ask, what if the therapy was utilized without the drugs, and could this be where natural therapies could replace the medication?

Certainly, a treatment plan for ADHD should be tailored to their specific needs and may change over time as the person's needs change. It is also important for individuals with ADHD to be closely monitored by a health professional while taking either medication or natural treatments that we’ll discuss in this book.

To be clear, there are no medications specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This doesn’t mean that a child with ASD won’t be prescribed to manage symptoms or conditions that often occur in people with ASD, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, or depression.

The U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse’s Drug Facts regarding Stimulant ADHD Medications: Methylphenidate and Amphetamines states very clearly that these drugs are the subject of abuse:

"Prescription stimulants are sometimes abused however – that is, taken in higher quantities or in a different manner than prescribed, or taken by those without a prescription. Because they suppress appetite, increase wakefulness, and increase focus and attention, they are frequently abused for purposes of weight loss or performance enhancement (e.g., to help study or boost grades in school).

Because they may produce euphoria, these drugs are also frequently abused for recreational purposes (i.e., to get high). Euphoria from stimulants is generally produced when pills are crushed and then snorted or mixed with water and injected."

A 2020 Swedish study reviewed the histories and medical records of 41,840 Swedish adults during 2013 who were prescribed ADHD meds. They found that younger ADHD sufferers taking ADHD drugs were four times more likely to also be taking sleeping pills. They were also fifteen times more likely to be taking psychotropic drugs compared to those not on ADHD drugs.

The rates of using other drugs were even greater for older adults on ADHD, with their incidence of taking other drugs up to 20 times higher than those who were not taking ADHD meds.

Does this mean that taking ADHD drugs increases the likelihood of taking other types of drugs? You tell me.

Should younger kids be put on psychoactive drugs?

Should younger children be given psychoactive drugs that have a host 0of side effects including the possibility of addiction?

A report released at the 2011 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference recommends that children as young as four can be diagnosed and treated for ADHD. Does this