Re: ADD/Ritalin

Ritalin is not a sedative. The sedative effect is caused by Johnny being
able to focus their minds on tasks rather than everything around them. The
diagnoses of ADD in the US is becoming a catch all for everything from true
ADD to simply precocious kids. The true ADD boys that I have had dealings
with are very bright boys. When put on medication, their behavior changes
in concentration not sedation. They still act like children of their age,
but they are now able to perform tasks that the other children can perform.

The best thing for Scouter to do is to work with the boys AND their
parents. If the boy is on medication, and you should know, then the parents
need to know how their son is doing. Ritalin is a controlled drug (at least
in California) and the prescribing doctor should be keeping close track of
how the boy is doing, both physically and emotionally. The boy and his
family will most likely be seeing a counselor also. More and more doctors
are now requiring this to get the medication. The idea is to correct the
problem with medication but to educated the child, and parents, in
behavioral modification as well.

That's my feeling on this. Keep the parents involved! I have not met many
parents who have a TRUE ADD son that didn't want to know how their son was
doing.

YIS

DonC

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