The boy with ADHD did not introduce his girlfriend to any of his friends because he could not remember her name, similar to how a chicken with ADD never fully crosses the road due to distractions.
ADHD is a developmental and behavioral disorder that affects 3 to 5 percent of all school-age children. According to the American Psychiatric Association, individuals with ADHD struggle to consistently act on their knowledge due to an inability to efficiently stop and think before responding. This is believed to be caused by abnormalities in dopamine neurotransmitters in the brain.
Symptoms of ADHD include inappropriate levels of inattention, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity for a person’s age. Essentially, the patient’s brain acts like a constantly flickering light at inconvenient times.
While there is no cure for ADHD, treatment can help manage symptoms. The most commonly used form of treatment is stimulant therapy, specifically Adderall RX (Methylphenidate), which improves symptoms in 70 percent of adults and 70-80 percent of children shortly after starting treatment. The exact mechanism of action for this medication in humans is still not fully understood according to Dr.[Author’s Last Name]. It is believed that the stimulatory impact of methylphenidate occurs due to its activation of both the brain stem arousal system and cortex.
Users of Adderall have mixed opinions about the drug. It has proven to be helpful for improving concentration and focus in school or work settings. One long-time user, Jenny Pearcy, used to struggle as a student but found that Adderall changed everything for her. She likened it to wearing Superman’s glasses because it provided clarity and organization.
However, despite its benefits, there are several side effects associated with Adderall. These include severe weight loss, nausea, constant headaches, sleeplessness, heart palpitations, cardiac arrhythmia, blood pressure fluctuations, and changes in pulse. These serious health risks can occur when using Adderall and it may also alter a person’s personality making them less lively.
Although many of these side effects can be managed due to the significant benefits provided by the drug itself, patients often question whether it is worth it and if they could have achieved similar success without using Adderall.
In the United States alone, over five million children (approximately three to five percent of all American school children) are prescribed Adderall to treat ADHD (Sturdy 44). The necessity of using Adderall or similar drugs for treating ADHD is debated by Dr. Edward Hallowell who believes that having ADHD is not necessarily negative. Instead, he argues that individuals with ADHD often possess high levels of imagination and intuition. Those who possess strong intuition or insight have an innate ability to grasp the essence of things while others may rely on systematic reasoning.Garber (56) states that acknowledging the existence of ADHD can lead to improvement. Modifying the learning environment, like removing distractions and providing clear instructions with extended testing time, has also been explored as an alternative approach. Some individuals seek counseling from psychiatrists who teach children strategies for overcoming challenges associated with ADHD. While medication is often the preferred treatment method for diagnosing ADHD, non-drug alternatives have shown success in certain cases but can be costly and time-consuming without guaranteed improvements. On the other hand, medications such as Adderall have proven effective for many individuals. Unfortunately, there is a lack of awareness regarding alternatives like eliminating artificial colorings and flavorings from food and drinks or making environmental adjustments to enhance functioning. If these alternatives were more widely known, different treatment decisions could have been made. Nevertheless, Adderall allows individuals to reach their full potential unmatched by any substitute option.
Berne, Samuel A. (2002). Without Adderall. Chicago: Keats Publishing. Retrieved from https://www.example.com on pages 1-4.
Garber, Stephen W., Ph.D, Marianne Daniels Garber, Ph.D, and Robyn Freedman Spizman. Beyond Ritalin. New York: Villard, 1996. p 56-59.
Pearcy, Jennifer Jean. Personal Interview. 1 Mar. 2005.
Stordy, B. Jacqueline Ph.D. The LCP Solution, The Remarkable Nutritional Treatment for ADHD, Dyslexia and Dypraxia. New York: Ballantine Books, 2000. p 42-43.
Weiss, Dr. Lynn. Attention Deficit Disorder in Adults. Dallas Texas: Taylor Publishing Company, 1992. p 54-55
