Troubled Teens Resources

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder presents numerous quandaries for parents raising troubled teenagers. So much of the treatment is based on the specific needs of the teens. There are cases where minimal medication is required and then there are those teens whose ADHD is present with other factors that make it harder to treat. For instance, a teen might also be dealing with other emotional issues that are exacerbated by ADHD.

Parents need to also consider the future ramifications of treating an ADHD teen with medication. Some experts claim it pre-disposes them towards teen age drug abuse. A new report suggests that the longer a teen is on Ritalin, the more likely they are to commit a crime.

“Children who use Ritalin for a long period of time could be more at risk of delinquency and substance abuse, a study has found.

Doctors are suggesting children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) should take a break from medication after three years of use.

An American study - published in the Medical Observer _ has found that while drugs such as Ritalin can initially help sufferers, the benefit of prolonged use is in doubt.

Some children stay on medication until they reach 18, but researchers believe it may not protect them from all the symptoms.

The US Multimodal Treatment Study of Children revealed the more days of prescribed medication, the more serious delinquency became.

In a cohort of 500 children with ADHD - followed for 36 months until they were 12 - researchers found 27 per cent were at a greater risk of committing crime, compared with 7 per cent among “normative” children.

Substance use also increased to 17 per cent in ADHD children - almost double the normal rate.”

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Teen age drug abuse has been linked with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder and some studies exist supporting the connection. By the same token, if your teen has been diagnosed with ADHD, it doesn’t automatically condemn him to inevitable drug use. In fact, some of the arguments against the use of medication contend that automatically treating a teen with drugs sets them up to view pills as a solution.

A diagnosis of ADHD can cause a parent a great deal of concern if they haven’t done their research. Research will reveal a great many alternatives to medication. Getting a second opinion is also advised. It has become too easy to label the merely restless child as ADD.

“ADHD is a real medical diagnosis, but not every child who is fidgety or can’t focus has it. There is a tendency to think in these terms when a child seems restless, and that is not always fair to the child. An immature system, behavioral or emotional issues, crises at home, diet, vision problems or learning issues could also be the culprit, and it takes time to rule out these other possible sources of the child’s inattentive behavior.”

Nor should a parent feel pressured into immediately medicating their teen. Here are some suggested issues to review before a parent makes a decison.

• Have other causes for my child’s behavior, such as learning issues, been ruled out?
• Does my child have trouble with being easily distracted in all settings, not just school?
• Has ADHD been thoroughly explained to me by my provider?
• Have the possible side effects of medication been explained to me?
• How long should my child be on medication before I see a result? (The good news is that it usually takes only a few days to see a positive result.)
• Do I feel comfortable with my child’s teacher and pediatrician’s level of understanding and knowledge about my child?

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