PAUL NOURSE (On 30 Jan 97) was overheard expounding to ALL
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST
 PN> To think that using Ritalin for years has little risk is foolish.
 Thank you.  I genuinely appreciate being told that I am foolish for
 doing my own literature reviews, talking with more than one ADD/ADHD
 specialist and many MANY parents of kids with ADD/ADHD before
 deciding to accept the recommendation to use ritalin with my child.
 I especially appreciate it coming from some one who has established
 no prior presence in this echo and one who's comments are strangely
 familiar.
 PN> The public school bureaucracy gets moneys from state
 PN> and federal Gov't for students with the ADD/ADHD disability.
 The federal govt does not fund any special ed programs.  Congress has
 mandated that states will provide the services and fund them.
 PN> What did they do years ago?  Not much, it was not known.
 Exactly.  Those kids fell through the cracks; characterized as lazy,
 unmotivated, disobedient, disrespectful and stupid which, of course
 they were not.
 PN> I had it and did not know it.
 "IF" you really had ADD/ADHD then you still do today.
 PN> I had a hard time.  I was bored and did not pay attention, I fell
 PN> behind then I was lost because I had not learned all that I was
 ---8<--- more typical ADD/ADHD descriptors cut..
 PN> I was able to cope and have overcome it but it was hard!
 Congratulations on learning coping skills - if you really have
 ADD/ADHD it was probably _very_ hard.
 PN> One of my son's has it and I am able to help him because I understand
 PN> it first hand.  It is a behavioral problem that can be corrected with
 PN> help and understanding but they need to know that they only need to
 PN> work alittle harder to overcome it.
 ADD/ADHD is not a behavioral problem.  Children with ADD/ADHD have
 behavioral problems caused by the disorder.  You claim to be an adult
 with ADD/ADHD who has a son with ADD/ADHD.  On one hand you tell us
 that you had a very difficult time in school, didn't learn much of
 anything if you were not interested in it and on the other hand tell
 us you are subjecting your son to exactly the same thing you went
 through.  To what purpose?  To waste his school years as yours were?
 As some warped kind of character building exercise?  Do the letters
 CPS mean anything to you?
 PN> It can be an asset.
 In what specific ways can it be an asset?
 More often it is detrimental and can cause a lot of misery and
 unnecessary suffering.
 PN> I have harnessed my energy and am very creative and hard working.
 You have learned, the hard way according to you, how to cope; you
 have probably gravitated into some line of work that does not require
 sustained attention to any kind of detail or any kind of boring
 repetitive work.
 PN> Of course this does not work for all
 You bet it doesn't.  There are adults who post here who have told
 absolute horror stories about what happens when they forget to take
 their meds, or the med has lost it's effectiveness.
 PN> and the drug is a much easier and quicker fix.
 It's not a fix, no one here claims that it is; it's also not easier
 for multiple reasons.
 PN> Please help your children without drugs before you even think
 PN> about Ritalin or other drugs.  In the long run you may save alot
 PN> more for the extra effort.
 Please post more of the scientology pamphlet material at your
 earliest convenience - it's always good for a chuckle and sometimes a
 real tension breaking belly laugh.
... I feel more like I do now than I did before.
--- PPoint 2.02
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