email Tracy at [email protected]
http://www.jewishworldreview.combyStop the Ritalin racketeers http://www.jewishworldreview.com -- "TEENAGERS SHUN DRUG USE," announced the New York Times last week. Public officials are positively giddy about puurported signs of a decline in teen drug use. One new report says 40 percent of teens polled agree strongly that "kids who are really cool don't use drugs." Another recent study found that less than one in 10 youths say they use cocaine, marijuana or other hard drugs. "We have turned an important corner on youth drug use," our non-inhaling President Clinton declared. Not so fast. While one hand of government waves "drug-free" signs and T-shirts, the other hand peddles a widely-abused substance to schoolchildren across the country. The drug, which is classified by the feds in the same regulatory category as cocaine, morphine, and PCP, is methylphenidate hydrochloride. An estimated six million youths who now take the psychostimulant know it better by its commercial name: Ritalin. Use of the drug has skyrocketed 500 percent in the past five years, according to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. Chronic abuse can lead to psychotic episodes and violent behavior. Toddlers as young as three are popping it; grade-schoolers are hawking it on the playground; college students are snorting it to help them concentrate. A study last year by the respected Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin found that 16 percent of K-12 students surveyed had been approached to sell, give or trade their prescribed Ritalin; 44 percent of the students said Ritalin was stored unlocked at school. The Journal of School Health reported that a worrisome number of non-health professionals – principals, secretaries, and clerical workers – are dispensing the drug. Two federal policies abetted the Ritalin racket: the opening of the Supplemental Security Income program to children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and the creation of a $400-per-head school grant for every ADHD-diagnosed student. The programs are ripe for exploitation. SSI benefits are not subject to family caps; there are no limits on how the money is spent. An Education Department official admitted to Investor's Business Daily that the student grants give schools "an incentive to identify more kids with special education needs,'' leading to potential ''over-identification'' -- and over-medication -- of ADHD in schools. School nurses and scientific experts have expressed similar concerns. Yet, critics of rampant Ritalin use in the classroom are often cast as pharmaceutical bashers, bigots, or religious zealots. When a majority of the Colorado state board of education issued a non-binding resolution this month expressing concern about psychiatric drug use among children, they were pilloried by the press, medical groups, and mental-health lobbyists. Why? The board simply opined that behavioral drugs such as Ritalin have been dispensed to control "what are essentially problems of discipline which may be related to lack of academic success." The resolution encouraged teachers not to rely on drugs as a crutch for controlling classrooms. The board's offended opponents fumed that Ritalin skeptics were medically ignorant and prejudiced against students diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. But experts at the National Institute of Health themselves admitted in a consensus statement last fall that "an independent diagnostic test for ADHD does not exist." More studies are needed "to establish the validity of the disorder," the panel determined. The NIH also pointed out that non-drug approaches such as "contingency management" (which involves point/token reward systems, timeout strategies, and other disciplinary measures in the classroom) are effective in treating ADHD. That's exactly what the Colorado education board endorsed. Responsible school officials should follow their lead. Defenders of school-dispensed Ritalin scoff at fears that the government is engaging in dangerous "mind control." But those fears are well-founded. Recent newspaper investigations in California and Washington state uncovered appalling abuse of psychotropic drugs by public officials looking for expedient "chemical straitjackets" to manage foster children. One California health official made glib reference to a common government prescription for kids dubbed the "bad-boy cocktail" – a behavioral-drug mixture of Ritalin, Depakote and Clonidine. The Los Angeles Times reported that doctors, judges, attorneys and child welfare workers in 13 states and Canada said such drugging occurs in other areas of the country as well. Drugs, kids, and the Nanny State are a toxic combination. Public schools have plenty to do without becoming full-service pharmacies. If parents and educators don't stand up and say no to government-sponsored Ritalin racketeers, who will? from IP address 208.135.46.173 |
ack on Ritalin RacheteersbyDear Mike, I really loved and appreciated reading your post "Stop the Ritalin racketeers". (below) My name is Debbie and I have been posting to a group called misc.kids.health here at Deja. There are however many pro-Ritalin members who are flaming any natural alternatives even mentioned on the list - such as one I posted regarding helping the child get tutored before putting him on Ritalin. Many mothers who come in requesting information on Ritalin or natural alternatives are given completely false pro-Ritalin information from several of these drug enthusiasts. Could you please help back some of us up and post this wonderfully informative post of yours as a new subject in that group? That would really help blow them out of the water with the truth about Ritalin. Thank you so much. Respectfully, Debbie Delgado from IP address 208.135.46.173 |
Respond to Ashley via above email re: Ritalin far from harmless. Our son was...byOur son is severe ADHD.Recognized by the state and now in a special education classroom. Ritalin is far from harmless. Our son was nothing short of suicidal for the short time he was on ritalin. We were tired of Doctors quick fix drugs. We now have him on natural supplements and he eats again, no dark circles under his eyes, doesn't fall asleep in school, and the school is planning to mainstream him back into public school. We have our son back! My advice to parents with ADHD children is get them off these harmful drugs! Ashley Corey from IP address 208.135.46.173 |
Untitledby Ashley CoreyOur son is severe ADHD.Recognized by the state and now in a special education classroom. Ritalin is far from harmless. Our son was nothing short of suicidal for the short time he was on ritalin. We were tired of Doctors quick fix drugs. We now have him on natural supplements and he eats again, no dark circles under his eyes, doesn't fall asleep in school, and the school is planning to mainstream him back into public school. We have our son back! My advice to parents with ADHD children is get them off these harmful drugs! Ashley Corey from IP address 208.135.46.173 |
Extraordinary Seminars for Parents and EducatorsbyJoke (pronounced Yoka) Reeder, founder of the Mojave Academy, has been an educator for 32 years, and has given lectures, seminars, and workshops to parents and educators all over the world on the subject of raising and educating children according to philosophy and technology of Mr. L. Ron Hubbard. In her seminars and workshops, Ms. Reeder discusses, with wit and humor, solutions to common problems parents face every day: bored and/or uncooperative children, kids who don't want to go to school or do their homework, kids who are dreamy or disruptive, teens who are having a difficult time with their appearance, dating, and their goals in life, etc., etc. Joke provides answers to these and many more questions. Her seminars have been eye-openers to many parents and educators. The seminars will be on the following subjects: 1. raising and educating children on the precepts of The Way to Happiness (the precepts discuss 21 points of a happy life such as keeping promises, competence, abstaining from harmful drugs); 2. exchange between children and parents; 3. a workshop for teens on dating, choosing your mate, and preparing for marriage. The filming of these seminars will be held at Celebrity Centre International in Hollywood, California. Ms. Reeder’s workshops usually cost much more, but since these seminars will be filmed the charge will be only $10 per person. If you decide to attend you will be asked to sign a release stating that you agree to be filmed, etc. Bring your questions to the seminar, Joke will answer them. For more information please contact me at: Phone: 213-694-1888 e-mail: [email protected] from IP address 152.163.213.56 |
Daughter missing education due to petit mal seizuresby B.I have a 9 1/2 year old daughter who is in the 3rd grade. She has always struggled in school to make c's and d's. We have had her tested through the school. She came out being about "average" in all her tests. Then, we found out that she suffers from Petit Mal Seizures (silent seizures of the brain, that make them "zone out", for a few seconds, at a time). Which, this would be a very good reason why she's had to struggle. Her neurologist put her on medication. It helped somewhat but, not like what he lead me to believe it would. So, then he upped her dosage. Still no real help. Now, he's saying that although she has this problem, that he cannot up the dosage anymore (which I agree with, also) but, that maybe there is another reason she is having trouble learning but, he doesn't know what it could be. I just yesterday got a note home from her teacher, y-e-t a-g-a-i-n (every year it's the same thing all year long)... "She's not focusing, or she acts like she doesn't even know what the heck is going on or where she's even at, when she is called upon." So, I have a conference tomorrow. I am at my wit's end. My husband and I take turns helping her every night with homework, so the frustration doesn't build up too much on either of us. But, I tell you what, after last night's homework, all three of us wanted to cry our eyes out. We always try to be supportive but, the worry of her not making it to another grade is bearing down on us like nothing we've ever faced before. (She's already been held back once. ) And, it's not a behavior or emotional issue. She's a very well-behaved, emotionally secure little girl. This is our only problem but, it's such a big problem. What do you do when the doctors are throwing their hands up in the air and the teachers are starting to wonder if maybe she DOESN'T get the help she needs at home. I could just cry all day and all night. Is it possible for a child to actually reach a certain level and then just stop learning in school altogether? I mean ---even in other aspects of her life (EX.) She never knows what day it is, forgets her birthday the same day we've told her when it is, CAN NOT comprehend that a $20 bill is more than two one dollar bills, still doesn't understand why when Saturday comes, it's automatic that she doesn't go to school, can not learn how to tell time, still can not make something as easy as chocolate milk---even after I have shown her how every day for the past 3 years---she forgets.) She forgets but, is not irresponsible---if that makes any sense. She even forgets why the bell is ringing in school---like if it's time to go home, or time for recess. She knows it's time for something but, can't comprehend which. All of these things I have mentioned, we have worked, and worked, and worked on, with her, on a daily basis but, still nothing. No understanding, at all. And, I actually SEE her STRUGGLE so badly to understand. I am just trying to give examples so that maybe someone can recognize this and give me an idea or two. You see, these are all things that even my 6 yr. old can comprehend. My daughter will be 10 in January and I want so badly to help her because I know she is also frustrated but, I don't know what else to do. To look at her and talk to her, you may never even know that she had a problem. She's "normal" in every other way but, this. And, I don't know what to do anymore. I just don't. B. from IP address 208.135.46.163 |
Here's what I did (as a tutor)byI have been a tutor for over 25 years and have had a few children who experienced petit seizures while in class and in their tutoring sessions. They were all on low doses of medication and when weened off made much faster progress. Specializing in concentration drills, I was successful in applying these drills to bring out focus for longer and longer periods of time getting more and more out of our session. Here's what I did with them. I put two chairs facing one another. We each sat in a chair and the student was to do nothing but be there comfortably with eyes closed. We did this starting with about thirty seconds and over a period of about 10 sessions worked up to at least an hour. There was no moving, no laughing (this took a little practice and patience), and no opening of the eyes. I explained to the student that I just wanted him to practice listening to the sounds in the room, and being aware. Not thinking of the past or future, just right now this moment. Now what happened in the beginning in every case, was that the student could not do this. I gently let them know I understood and we just made a target of so many seconds or minutes and then they received a star. As they continued, I could see their eyes twitching, wanting to open etc. I would gently tell them, "You are doing so good... just a little more... Wow, you're so good at this" This would make them want to try a little more and gain more and more ability to do this. Their time gradually increased and it became easier and easier. Now doing this actually brought on MORE frequent petit seizures at first. I didn't interrupt the seizure by talking or even moving. I just let it take its course and waited it out. When the student returned from the seizure, I maintained my position as though it had never taken place and continued the drill. The seizures often came three to four times more frequently than normal when doing this drill. Sometimes the student would stay gone longer almost as though unconsious and sometimes not even trembling from the seizure. After several sessions, they began to shorten. Then they came less often. Then we would get through an occasional session with no seizure at all. With persistence, we reduced the seizure lengths and frequencies so much that the doctor was able to stop the medication. But the drills continued until there were no more seizures during sessions and those during school were rare. The learning took off. Now this is not a medical therapy. It is spiritual and requires tremendous patience and gentleness on the part of the tutor or parent. If you cannot have endless patience and gentleness, I advise against doing this spiritual therapy. I expect many kind flames from this posting, but that's ok. It's something that would have to be seen to be believed. But what if, just what if... this works? If you read the book Dianetics, you will understand the mechanics of this. I have never experienced a child whose seizure advanced into more severe seizures. If this should ever occur, be prepared and know what to do medically. Do not try to let the seizure run its course as typical dangers from more severe seizures could occur. To repeat, it never happened to me but I only did this therapy with children who had only petit seizures. I have heard that increasing medication can bring on more severe seizures. This can be confirmed with a little research. Tracy Sherwood from IP address 208.135.46.163 |
Daughter missing....byMay I forward this post? from IP address 216.221.66.60 |
re: May I forward this postbyYes you may. Just for our support reasons, would you like to share your concern and purpose for forwarding? We are interested! Thank you. Tracy Sherwood from IP address 208.135.46.173 |
A new poem: Creating Our TomorrowbyCreating Our Tomorrow A man without a dream is a man about to succumb. A man without friends is a man filled with loneliness. A man without love is a man who's incomplete. A man may try to cover up his despair, his dissatisfactions, his inadequacies, with drugs of many names, from alcohol, to prescriptions, to street drugs. This is not the road to success, or to companionship, or to happiness. No, it's the road to ruin, to many regrets, to more hardship. Help our youth to set goals, cultivate friendships, and know what love is. For they create our future, and we help shape it, by taking responsibility, teaching values, sharing our experiences. By Sandra Moatz © 1999 from IP address 209.178.149.175 |
response (ack) to ADD alternatives postbyAuthor: Sade <[email protected]> Posting History This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0082_01BF343E.403CB400 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I found this store that sells and has a lot of information on add/adhd. They have a variety of natural approaches to this which has been investigated. things that were used before are time. they have a lot of natural remedies on different things. its at http://www.emall4all.com page down till you get to mothernature and click on the tab for add/adhd and it will take you there. http://buy.at/emall4all either link will take you The main drug treatment for ADD, Ritalin (methylphenidate), is very similar to the illegal drugs known as amphetamines. Paradoxically, these types of drugs can cause hyperactivity in adults but most often have a calming effect in those with ADD. Nevertheless, parents have expressed growing concern about treating their children with an amphetamine. A variety of natural approaches to this condition have been investigated as alternatives to drug therapy. Dear Sade, I read your message and applaud your positive message regarding natural alternatives to Ritalin. That was very cool for posting that to the group. I too help mothers find natural solutions to Ritalin. Have you ever checked out this website which also is a natural store with alternatives to ADD ? The address is: http://www.karens-health-boutique.com/websitep/kidshome.htm This is worth looking at - I think you're the type of person to enjoy this site. I also work at a tutoring company where we actually don't accept kids on any psychiatric drugs simply because we find that they don't learn as well when on the drug - they are more like in an artificial calmness, like a zombie -like state where they appear to be learning - but they can't retain the information! This has been true in 100% of the cases, and when we take them off the drug for about 3 months, we tutor them and handle their missing basics like phonics, clear up all their misunderstood words, make sure they really understand and can apply what they are studying and WHAM, it's magic! This tutoring method has taken several "ADD cases" and turned them into bright, quick, A students - beating their classmates when returned to school after the program...I guess their "chemical brain imbalance" just magically disappeared....The website address for the place where I help tutoring is http://www.superphonics.com By the way, if you ever come across a mother or child who is asking for help or alternative solutions to ADD, you can refer them to the superphonics website where they can get free disabilities testing online. This address is http://www.superphonics.com/testdir.html The owner of Superphonics does the evaluation herself and she helps find the missing basics and weak areas of the child's education, which when addressed, and tutored on her program, can quickly and effectively handle the problems in school which are often causing their ADD symptoms. Anyway, there is also a lot of data regarding Ritalin which I have come across including the fact that it is a class 2 drug (same as cocaine, and just as addicitive). I have seen thousands of reports of the side effects, from teachers noticing kids demanding their medicine early and serious withdrawal symptoms if they don't get it, and from parents saying that the drug has turned their child into a lifeless uncaring child, so uncaring that they began discussing suicide after a month or two on the drug. It is scary but an obvious reaction to the drug if you think about it as the drug numbs the kids up, so they are unfeeling - killing and suicide are not so strange for them to commit while on the drug, something which the last big news stories have failed to mention. The September edition of the international alternative magazine Nexus, also reported on "Psychiatric drugs: the link to school violence". Washington D.C psychiatrist Joseph Tarantolo candidly admitted that the newer groups of antidepressants, SSRIs, "relieve the patient of feeling. He becomes less empathic, as in 'I don't care as much', which means, 'It's easier for me to harm you.'If a doctor treats someone who needs a great deal of strength just to think straight and gives him one of these drugs, that could push him over the edge into violent behavior." But most disturbing is that these millions of American children on the drug don't even need it - proven time and time again by tutoring effectively using the proper method, and change of diet/healthy alternatives. ADD still no has a standard diagnosis, and there still, to this day, is not one shred of evidence that there is such a thing as a chemical brain imbalance - the APA has admitted this at their annual convention this year. So how many kids are incorrectly diagnosed and on the drug unecessarily? ALL of those 6 million kids -and the APA's "goal" is to have 10 million US kids taking the drug by the year 2000 - what kind of goal is that? It's a goal which proves that psychiatry is and has always been directly pushing the pharmacuetical line as a priority..$$$. Well, I'm glad I saw your post - Well, I just wanted to let you know that I agreed with your message whole heartedly and thanks for posting it. Keep doing it! If you are interested in finding out where I got some of my facts regarding Ritalin from, check out http://www.cchr.org , they have 100% verifiable evidence. They have helped us a lot in helping parents and teachers stand up to the lies in the system and refuse the drug. Trust me, it's hard to do though..there's so much false information conncected to Ritalin and so many parents/teachers fall for it. Well, have a good one. You can reply and let me know if you enjoyed any of these sites or have any more questions. Also, let me know if you need or want anything from me in helping to get the message out. Thanks a lot. Much love, Debbie and daughter Cassandra from IP address 209.156.98.211 |
ADD questionsbyDear Joe and Shelly, Hello, my name is Debbie and I am a mother as well. I believe that you want the best for your child, which is why I am posting this. I would like to help. I read your message and I thought you might like to check out a really excellent educational site where you can actually get a free online disabilities testing done by the founder of the program herself, who has been tutoring for 25 years. Her name is Tracy and my daughter loves her program and methods! She is great and could really help your 7 yr old girl. It's at least worth getting a second opinion regarding her ADD. The URL is http://www.superphonics.com/testdir.html . Let me know how it goes. Good luck with your daughter. Love, Debbie PS: By the way, I applaud your choice to try a drug-free method first. Many people out there have been given false information regarding ritalin, but it is really important that you get the truth. Please check out this really important website: http://www.cchr.org You will find true information regarding ritalin and can check out the facts yourself - you'll see that they are 100% correct. Thanks and good luck. Remember, there are many alternatives including nutrition. Check out this site: http://karens-health-boutique.com/websitep/kidshome.htm for natural solutions. Most importantly, there are study methods which really work, such as those used by Superphonics, which are proven and effective. Be sure to see the Superphonics website address above. from IP address 209.253.231.79 |
ADDbyDear Lisa, Hello, my name is Debbie and I am a mother as well. I do believe that you are trying your best as a parent, and want the best for your child, which is why I am posting this. I would like to help. I read your message and I thought you might like to check out a really excellent educational site where you can actually get a free online disabilities testing done by the founder of the program herself, who has been tutoring for 25 years. Her name is Tracy and my daughter loves her program and methods! She is great and could really help your 7 yr old boy. It's at least worth getting a second opinion regarding his ADD. The URL is http://www.superphonics.com/testdir.html. Let me know how it goes. Good luck with your son. Love, Debbie from IP address 209.253.231.79 |
ADD questionsby Joe and ShellyAuthor: Joe and Shelly Posting History (this was their message which was posted on the misc.kids.health discussion forum) Hello. I am new to this group and have a couple of questions regarding children with ADD. My seven-year-old daughter, Micha, who is in second grade, was diagnosed with ADD today. This is her first year in this school. The staff has been wonderful and my daughter has actually enjoyed school this year. The school does not believe in controlling ADD through medication first. They have done wonders with having patience and lots of tutoring for the children. I am making an appointment with our family physician and would like to go to the appointment with more knowledge than I have now to make the most of the appointment. I would appreciate any references to good web sites about ADD. My daughter's teacher has also indicated that Micha seems to be trying so hard to concentrate that it seems as if Micha is suffering. What other alternatives are there to Ridelin(sp), both natural and chemical? I would appreciate any information that anyone gives to me. Please feel free to post or respond by email. Thank you, Shelly and Micha from IP address 209.253.230.35 |
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