Psychological, and Social Harm

Children are given stimulant drugs for ADHD during a period of time in which they are developing their psychological and social skills, and, indeed, their very identity. What does it mean to a child, and later to the grown adult, to be told that his or her brain has crossed wires or a biochemical imbalance What are the repercussions of children hearing that 

As the list of criteria demonstrates, ADHD is one more DBD— another way a child gets labeled as a source of frustration or disruption. This is true even in regard to some of the criteria for the inattention aspect of the disorder. As Golden (1991) observed, The behavior is seen as being disruptive and unacceptable by parents and teachers, and the child is socially handicapped as a result.  

Dulcan (1994 see also Whalen et al., 1991) summarized some of the harmful moral, psychological, and social effects on children who are prescribed stimulant medications such as Ritalin and Adderall  

An unpublished report (Jensen et al., n.d.), circa 1989, Why Johnny Can t Sit Still Kids Ideas on Why They Take Stimulants, was based on research conducted by physicians Peter Jensen, Michael Bain, and Allen 

Jensen et al. (n.d.) concluded, Research investigating children s perceptions of the meanings of stimulant medication, as mediated by the family context, adult and child attributions, and the child s developmental level, are long overdue. Unfortunately, Jensen never published the paper and instead went on to a lucrative and influential career as one of the nation s most uncompromising advocates of drugs for children. 

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