tv show 60min

[Kymn]

good morning all,I was just wondering if any of you saw the show 60 min that apperently talked about kids who take stimulants get addicted to drugs.It sounds like a bunch of you know what to me but a girlfriend of mine said she saw it and thats what they were saying.I dont know if she really saw it or heard it from someone.She just recently found out her daughter is add and is scared of meds like we all were so I am not sure if she is just hearing what she wants to hear.Anybody see it and can tell me what it said???
thanks
Kymn

[eaccae]

This is my view (and it is only opinion). Note - I didn't see the 60 minutes.

Drug addiction is something that has so many variables - depression, environment etc. So it is really hard to say why people get addicted to drugs - it is such a case by case thing. I know many bipolar adults who refuse to take medicine but smokeitor do other drugs because they THINK it regulates their behavior but of course it doesn't. There are people who are depressed and find drugs to be an escape. Some people grow up in an environment where either friends or relatives use drugs and due to their environment get involved. And there are people who have a genetic history, i.e. alcoholism in the family - that makes them more suseptible. There has been NO research to show that ADHD children who take stimulants become addicted to drugs at all. Do some? I'm sure there are some that do - but is it the stimulant? Or is it depression, environment, etc. Perhaps some were misdiagnosed. Maybe some had a really bad family life. I DO, however, know people - not just bipolar - who do drugs to "help" them stay focused or more in control (which is a crock). So it goes both ways. But until there a a complete, unbiased, long-term reasearch study that takes into account *everything* - which is probably close to impossible - I, personally, think it is a bunch of baloney! And let me just add that having a genetic predisposition to addiction is not the same thing as not having a predisposition but taking stimulants to help ADHD or other disorders. Our kids who are taking stimulants for ADHD are NOT getting high. And, for the record, DS is completely against drugs. We have had many conversation regarding drugs, the difference between medication and drugs etc. How Elvis died of a drug overdose - in the toilet (not a pretty picture) etc. Why people feel the need to do drugs. That they may start out "fun" but will end up ruining yoru life - like Elvis. (He brought up the drug conversation so I went with it and we had some really positive and open discussions). I think a lot also has to do with how we as parents educate our kids - we have to be open and frank and talk to our kids - not just ADHD kids but ALL our kids. I don't think our ADHD kids who take medication are at risk anymore than any other child. I actually tend to lean towards the opposite - if our kids aren't getting help (and I am including supplements etc. in the help) - and they are constantly fighting to stay focused, develop a low self-esteem and feel "stupid" - they are more at risk than a child who is more in control, learning how to be successful and KNOWS they aren't stupid. If that makes any sense.

I know some don't share my view - but this is just my opinion.

[on_edge]

I didn't see the show, but as a probation officers of drug offenders, it was shoved down my throat that add was a bunch of crock and parents are making their kids drug addicts.

I left the position 6 months ago and am now so pissed at the department for what I perceive as opinion and not education. From what I saw, there was more people self-medicating themselves with illegal stimulants who most likely were ADD or other disorder and trying to figure out what was going on with themselves. I wanted to help them so bad that I always felt that my soul was in conflict with the job.

From what I saw, kids on meds that became addicted, was also using other drugs, alcohol, etc. They were hanging out with a "party" crowd and found a legal substance they could abuse to get a high. These kids on ritilin were not predisposed to addiction by the use of meds, but by peer pressure, lack of parent involvement, etc.

Our kids may be more of a target for addiction because they are craving peer acceptance and sometimes fall in the wrong crowd looking for it. This is the same thinking for alot of kids who join gangs. A kid who gets addicted to drugs will do so whether on meds or not.

[Kymn]

Thanks guys I feel the same way as you and when she told me about this program on 60min that I didnt even hear of and am wondering if really existed it made me furious.All I could think of was great heres another d**n show talking bad about our kids and how we need to medicate them etc etc you all know the shpeal but with all the research I had done I thought there is no way this can be true.Anyhow thanks again for your input and reasurance
have a great day
Kymn

[kstquilter]

well i didn't see the 60 mins. show. but i've been told by some people that our kids are less likely to become addicted to drugs.
our kids already take pills on a daily basis and would rather not. they don't like being different. so taking drugs isn't an unknown for them. now i realize it's not the same kind of drugs, etc. but just a different thought on this.
i agree that any kids who gets involved in drugs has a variety of reasons why. they don't necessarily have anything to do with someone who already takes meds. just hate to see another show that sounds as if it may have been one sided.
karen

[adhdtimes4]

I can't name one person I know who has taken meds for ADHD that has abused drugs or alcohol. By contrast, I can name several adults with untreated ADHD who have major substance abuse problems.

One ADHD friend of ours is a recovering alcoholic. It took prison to make him realize how bad his problem was. He missed two years of his children's lives. He has developed a strong Christian faith now, and it (and a 'stand by your man' wife) has kept him sober for several years now. And his two sons with ADHD - they used meds. The boys have grown into exceptionally wonderful teenagers.

I wish 60 Minutes would do a show on that.

[Kymn]

Amen to that adhdtimes4 amen to that

[Angelia]

I did see the 60 minutes show, and I can say that your friend took it completely out of contex. The show was about a young college boy that was on trial for running over about 10 other college students with his car, and killing 5 of them in the process. His attorneys were trying to make it aware to the jury that he had adhd along with several other pshycological disorders. I remember bipolar being one of them also, and that he had been on several different types of medication for all of this. Once he went off to college he quite taking his medication, and started using other illegal drugs. so, along with the illegal drugs that he had taken, and not being on the other psychological drugs that he needed he freaked out! I can say that they did reference to adhd, and it was a very alarming show, but this was his deffence team talking trying to save his behind, and they were trying to make it aware to the jury that he had numberous psychological disorders with the first one being diagnosed when he was younger being adhd. I can say that if I had a child that was just being diagnose it would have scared me a bit, but this boy obviously had a multitude of things wrong with him adhd not being his biggest problems by far, and he did start to use illegal drugs also. With being messed up already further took him over the top. Hope that this helps you all that did not see the show to better understand it. On a last note I have a child that has adhd, and I did not take the show offensively. Also it turn out that the jury found him not quilty by reason of insanity, and he is in a mental hospital. So, that goes to show you that he really had problems.

[eaccae]

Thanks for the update on the show!!

[kstquilter]

thanks for the update also. does sound like the adhd was the least of this kids' problems. glad he might be getting some help at least and that the adhd wasn't blamed for all his problems.
karen