I have been a pharmacist for over 10 years (doesn't mean much) but here is what I have seen over the years and just my .02 cents. First thing, I hate dispensing ADD or ADHD drugs to kids to begin with. Almost every prescription has one thing in common, parents, teachers and everyone else thinks its going to fix everything and the kid is automatically going to be cured overnight. Secondly the drugs are usually used wrong or given wrong, most parents will not or are afraid to do drug holidays which is where the kid does not take any drug usually weekends, holidays or vacations and only use it M-F or while in school. Parents become dependent on the drug because they are afraid to deal with the kid "off their meds' so the kid ends up taking the drug year round. Taking the drug year round or all the time will lead to taxiphylaxis where the kid needs a higher dose. Next is the FACT the kid has a label associated with them so anytime the kid does not fit the scope of normal life they are referred as ADD or ADHD. If you have never seen a parent whose kid is out of ADD/ADHD meds they are usually the worst person to deal with. These meds are used as "in school babysitters" for teachers and at home for parents who do not want to watch their kids. Now this is not saying all parents are like this but the ones I typically see. My family doctor wants to put me on meds as a kid and THANK GOD my mother said no. For a lot of kids is a medication induced coma.
