JS>JK> Then stick to them.  The FACTS are, as amply demonstrated by doctors 
who
JS>JK> are specialists in addiction and related fields, that children and
JS>JK> others with ADHD are from families with a history of alcoholism in a
JS>JK> certain percentage of cases.
JS>JK> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JS>I'd bet that children and others withOUT ADHD are from families with a
JS>history of alcoholism in a much higher percentage of cases.  Statements 
like
JS>that are not very useful.
I think that your logic stinks.  If some of the cases of ADD and ADHD
are from families with a history of alcoholism, then some are not going
to be.  And if the amount with is significant enough that several folks
are concerned about these children being misdiagnosed and mistreated,
then it is far past time for all around them to be concerned with the
very real spectre of malpractice and injury to those same children.
Every doctor should be able to diagnose alcoholism and addiction.  There
have been several articles published on this subject, yet they remain in
denial.  I worked for one doctor in Alaksa who had a practice full of
them, was giving them one drug after another that didn't do sicum for
the problem, yet no where in the records was there any mention of the
real problem.
JS>Jane, have you ever heard the saying "To a man who only has a hammer, 
very
JS>problem looks like a nail"?  I'm afraid that's how you have come across.  
It
JS>may be that AD(H)D is related genetically to alcoholism in some cases, I
JS>don't know nor do I know that anyone knows.  Doctors who are specialists 
n
JS>addiction and related fields may be justifiably concerned about the 
ffects
JS>of medications on the people they treat and study, but that doesn't mean 
tha
JS>patients who benefit from medication should do without.
YES, IT DOES. ALCOHOLICS AND ADDICTS WILL APPEAR TO "BENEFIT" from
drugs of their choice.  The alcoholics function much better with
alcohol in the early stages of their addiction.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHY THERE IS SO LITTLE CONCERN SHOWN FOR THE TRUTH AT
THE PRESENT TIME.  Everyone wants a fast fix.  The school wants  the kid
to quiet down and act normal, the family wants an end to the temper
tantrums, etc.  So if some drug will provide this, the pressure is on to
do just that.
 JS>There have been a lot of unsubstantiated claims that Ritalin is
highly JS>addictive, but the refutation comes readily to hand: people
who use Ritalin JS>for AD(H)D often have trouble remembering to take it.
That is not typically JS>characteristic of an addiction.  About two
years ago there was a big JS>discussion of pill timers and the like here
in this conference; I doubt that JS>you'd ever hear anything like that
in a conference for heroin users.
FOR THOSE WITHOUT THE BRAIN CHEMISTRY OF ALCOHOLISM, Ritalin is great.
AND those folks will not tend toward addiction.
NOW LISTEN UP.  THE BRAIN AND BODY CHEMISTRY OF THOSE FAMILIES WHICH
HAVE ALCOHOLISM IS DIFFERENT AT BIRTH.  This doesnt abruptly change
later on.  It just gets worse with the constant damage to the human
immune system.
ONe friend of mine developed emphysema from smoking.  His habit wasn't
any worse than anyone else's habit.  He was the one who had the Ritalin
as a kid and never should have had it as he is an alcoholic.
THE SAME ENZYME system that gets rid of the Ritalin in the body also is
the one that GETS RID of all other drugs.  And when it is heavily
damaged, the immune system is also damaged.  Last I heard from him he
was going to attempt to build his immune system back up again.
JS>There was a lot of noise about "Prozac made me eat my baby" a few years 
ago,
JS>and that was apparently a well-orchestrated campaign by the 
ientologists.
I have had two male, bipolar alcoholic friends ride in the small
Japanese pickup truck I own at two different times.  Both went off on
me, suddenly becoming very weird and exhibiting unusual behavior. Both
were taking Prozac at the time.  The first one promptly called his
doctor who was one of the better known psychiatrists in Seattle.  She
took him off the Prozac immediately (planned withdrawal) and there were
no further incidents.
The second one also went into his psychiatrist and was withdrawn from
the Prozac.  That doctor also did some research into medications and put
him on an alternative for the bipolar condition.
There are other folks around here who will not either take Prozac or who
will not prescribe it due to similar experiences.
 JS>Overall, Ritalin and Prozac have both been studied
extensively and are JS>relatively benign compared to (for example) a
high-fat diet.
ONLY FOR A PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION
And, the latest remedial diet is not the high-fat diet.  It is a mixture
of carefully formulated food supplements that work far better for the
families with alcoholism than the Ritalin ever will.
 JS>That being said, I've been
told by people in AA/Alanon that alcoholics JS>shouldn't even take
aspirin because they have "addictive personalities."
They don't know what they are talking about and should stop practising
medicine without a license.  I have attended A.A. and Alanon meetings
for nearly 30 years and some damn fool will try to pontificate on this
subject and promptly get swatted down by his peers.  Same damn fool or
fools will try to get patients to stop taking insulin or other
medications such as Lithium which are necessary for some mentally ill.
Thank heaven most who attend those meetings have more sense.
I was at an A.A. dance many years ago in Seattle when one person went
into convulsions.  As a nurse, I went over to assit him.  I had various
objects offered me instantly including one soft leather wallet that was
perfect to put into his mouth to prevent injury to his teeth or tongue.
Others went to his home and got the medications he was on.  They were
ready and waiting when the paramedics arrived on the scene. And yes, one
of them was Dilantin.
  I JS>consider that
to be suspect on a number of grounds, but it is certainly a JS>common
belief.  My impression is that you are making the same assertion,
JS>basing it on biochemistry rather than the outmoded concept of
"addictive JS>personalities."
I am basing what I say on several books and research papers that I have
around here.  I am saying it as a chemical dependency counselor, fully
licensed by this state to diagnose and treat alcoholism and drug
addiction, as well as the prevention of these in the families of
addicts.
And I see a big problem with doctors who do not take the time to do a
complete history on all patients, one that includes a family history of
addiction.  In this day and age, that will shortly be construed as
malpractice in some court of law.
Which will be of no comfort at all to the person who has been mistreated
and suffers a damaged immune system as a result.
 * SLMR 2.1a * Press any key to continue or any other key to quit
                                                                              
                                               
--- JCQWK
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