Q "Do you think young teenagers should go on a prescription
pill for ADHD or depression? What is a good alternative to
possibly addictive meds? Thanks for you advice."
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A I am not a professional doctor and I am assuming that your
pediatrician has tested your teenager for these potential
problems. I personally think that Add (attention deficit
disorder) or ADHD attention deficit Hyperactivity disorder) are
over diagnosed and everything doesn’t have to have a label.
Most of my family and half of my friends would have been
medicated if it was as widely recognized when we were young!
Having said that, there are some children, as well as adults,
that genuinely benefit with some form or medication to help
them function at their highest level. As far as I am aware the
medications prescribed are not addictive!
Children of all ages struggle in school and often get bad
grades because they find it hard to follow instructions. They
are easily distracted and sometimes disruptive in the
classroom, this can be attributed to boredom. Unfortunately
with today’s crowded classrooms individual instruction is not
always possible but it might be worth exploring an IEP
(Individual Education Plan) if this is the case. Again, if you
cannot get an IEP this could lead to the child/teenager falling
behind and struggling in the classroom.
ADD/ADHD and depression often go hand in hand, you may
want to both talk to a councilor. Talk to you child to find out if
there are any other underlying problems that might be
weighing on their mind, being a teenager is a tough time
anyway.
I am all for trying alternative medicine and there are many
websites to look at one you could try is www.nativeremedies.
com Make your teenager part of your decision to try an
alternative or a prescribed medication; they have to want to
take it. I have known teenagers not to take their medication
without telling the parents, so keep a close eye on him/her if
you go this route.