dont you think I have basis to make that claim? NOPE! Remember, also, that schools cannot diagnose and cannot prescribe. Thus, there is NO basis for this tale. I think that the myth of teachers diagnosing ADHD and prescribing Ritalin has its source in an altogether different situation. Teachers usually are the first ones to point out the possibility of ADHD and any other Learning Difficulty (I don't like disability ). The parents of these children have problem known the child was different from day one, but the situation only gets to the point that the child needs help once the child hits the school system and is faced with directives to follow and the need to pay attention and break up attention in order to follow the rest of the class. Therefore, the teacher will report the findings to the parents and suggest a course of action. Usually, where behavior issues are concerned, the first possible reason for the behavior the teacher will suggest because it is the disorder where there is the most information available. That is not the case where such disorders as CAPD, BPD and SI are concerned. If/when the situation gets really bad, the school administration will/might suggest and evaluation and they may suggest that meds are indicated. At this point, one of two things will happen: the parents will go ahead with the school suggestions and have an evaluation done. Or they will get in a huffy fit and say that the teacher, unrightfully, diagnosed ADHD and prescribed meds. Even if the parents go ahead with the evaluation and opt for meds, the perceived course of events could still be that the teacher diagnosed ADHD and forced the parents to opt for meds. Not in one of the cases enumerated above has ADHD been diagnosed by the teacher or anyone in the school. And the doctor prescribed meds, not the teacher. And it is unlikely that the school forced the parents to opt for meds though it certainly can feel that way when your child is being disciplined daily, sent home regularly, suspended, etc. etc. However, these measures are not really an indication that the school is forcing the parents to opt for meds, it is an indication that the school is ill-equipped to deal with the child and taking measures, in the hope of dealing, once and for all, with the behavior, but the measures are not effective at all. I guess you can tell it's Christmas break and I'm not having to deal with the schools, hence the detached and _object_ive approach I can take, LOL!!

So be careful ... get a second and third AND a psych evaluation. Be sure before you drug the problem into other problems. I think being careful and getting numerous opinions are wise and prudent moves. Personally, I suspect the truth lies somewhere in between the two positions here. I think Danielle and the others have many valid points we should not be so quick to dismiss. And from what I've seen of them, I do not think any of them have made a quick and hasty decision, or taken the easy way out. OTOH, I do understand your concern that as a society we are prone to quick fixes. That concerns me, too. In a way I guess I acknowledge that it is healthy to have this debate rage on. It assures me that there is a check to balance out things, for those who would reach for the quick fix. Unfortunately, such a person would be *highly* unlikely to spend time on Usenet reading this debate. jen * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet's Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet - Free!

Mark Probert < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it wrote in message Remember, also, that schools cannot diagnose and cannot prescribe. But that's where the first recomendations for ADHD come from... reguardless of whether or not then can

D. C. & M. V. Sessions < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it wrote in message Are you still having trouble keeping your story straight? First it was 30% ADHD.  Then LD, then ADHD, now LD again. For some reason inconsistency seems to have a negative impact on credibility. Cheese and fugdge and rice on corn flakes... Would you stop being so nitpicky. Just be an adult ok? You know what I was saying so knock it off. You're trying to make an issue where none exsists You cannot cite data to support any of your statements.  And yet you come back on your drug 'em kick. I just did... Read back thru a bit And quite a few people HAVE gone back through the archives and come up blank.  Now it's possible that we're ALL wrong; since you seem to have no trouble finding those posts how about posting a message ID or two and then there'll be no room for doubt. (Or not; maybe you can't find them either.) wyn posted the info.... WYN posted the info So in the words of Pink Floyd in one of the songs on the wall... WRONG...Do it again * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet's Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet - Free!

I dunno... seems like a nitpick question if you ask me. Are you suggesting she obtained her results illegally? Who cares - they may still be valid and accurate. Don't children take doses during the school day? Perhaps she polled the school nurses and asked them to report BLINDLY the number of pupils receiving such meds - not their names or medical records. All she'd need to know is quantity of students, by grade. Anyway, I'm sure her study won't be the last. Time will tell if it stands up to peer review. Btw, I read that the gov't of Canada is expected to do its own study along the same lines. A better question, I think, is what is the rate of students who continue to take these meds for years? Perhaps 8-10% of children are put on a trial for a month or two, but only 2-3% continue to take it over the long-term... because it works for them. jen * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet's Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet - Free!