Is ADHD a disease, many people ask. They want to know because they have not been
able to get to the bottom of what this ADHD thing really is and they are
ignorant about a lot of facts, partially fuelled by the media and the
pharmaceutical lobbies.
1st Fact. Well, it is not a disease and you cannot catch it
as it is not contagious! Seriously, though, it is just a mental disorder in
which the brain transmitters are not firing properly. That, in reality means
that signals are not getting through and the result is lack of focus when studying or driving, difficulty
in concentration and a certain hyperactivity in many cases.
2nd Fact. Can you inherit ADHD? Most experts now tell us that it is about 76%
inheritable and that is a very high figure. That is why many parents discover
that they have this condition when they get their kids tested,. The reason is
that very many cases of ADHD are undiagnosed.
When we compare the 76% figure with other inheritable traits we find that
depression is about 50% while autism is
about 90%.
3rd Fact. Medications for ADHD may help and they are very
often effective. We just need to be aware of a few facts. One is that side
effects may cause about 30% of children to give them up altogether and to look
at alternative ways to treat ADHD. Also,
that the meds tend to be less and less effective over time so that should also
be borne in mind.
Abuse of meds by college students and others (they can
study all night) has led to a dramatic increase in the number of admissions to
the emergency rooms. Just think – these visits have doubled in a five year
period (2005 -2010) and they are mostly students aged 18 and over. While use of these meds is mostly safe for
ADHD patients, their illegal use is anything but and is illegal and dangerous
as these figures show. These figures are
from the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration).
4th Fact. There are
alternative ways treat ADHD and these can cover anything from herbal medicine
to homeopathy. The latter is highly regarded and extremely popular because
there are no side effects at all and there are no health risks either.
5th Fact. Most children with ADHD will respond to medication
but it has to be accompanied by basic parenting skills, behavior therapy when
necessary and also putting a structure and routine into place at home.
So, is ADHD a disease is a totally useless question.
But many people are in total ignorance and one of the greatest challenges is to
inform the public and educate them about what are the best ways of treating what
is just a mental disorder.