Dear FRONTLINE,

I'm glad these drugs weren't around to be administered to the diverted attention spans of DaVinci or Thomas Jefferson.

I also hope that no one decides to suggest their use to Robin Williams.

Paul Roberts
Powhatan, Virginia

Dear FRONTLINE,

I have two ADHD children, both adopted, so I can't speak to the influence of genetics. I resisted the diagnosis for both of them and resisted medication.

My pediatrician, who is also a family friend, suggested my son was ADHD when he was two. I rejected that and called him "all-boy". Unfortunately, his control did not improve as he got older. He had a very bad year in first grade, even though the teacher bent over backwards to help him.

My daughter was clearly the most active in her peer-group from age two on, and has always had a mind of her own and been very willful. Likewise, I attributed her misbehavior to the example of her brother and our battles of will. She also had a bad year in both kindergarten and first grade, getting into a lot of fights. Last spring, at the strong suggestion of a psychologist and her classroom teacher, we had her tested. She came out to be "extremely" ADHD.

My son has been on medication for over three years and my daughter for less than one; we started medication for them both at the beginning of second grade. For both of them, the difference in their ability to focus, control their impulses, and to concentrate is tremedously improved with medication. In school performance, it is a night and day difference -- not just being disruptive in class and getting into fights, but in acedemic learning. I now wish that I had put them on medication sooner. The medication has not turned them into zombies. Their character and individual quirks still come through. It has allowed them to concentrate, focus, and control thier impulses.

ADHD is real; it is not will or bad parenting. Yes we use behavioral methods, but why remove such a powerful tool for them to control their behavior. They are not "bad kids", but without the medication that is the label they will wear from society.

Karen Pitts
Hopewell, NJ

Dear FRONTLINE,

Thank you for your program. It is so good as a parent of a small child with ADHD to hear about this in such a candid way. Usually you get bombarded with the opinions of only one side.

My husband and I struggled as so many parents do for a long time with what to do about our son's disorder. After taking him first to one pediatrician, then two psychologists, then another pediatrician, we finally took him to the Department of Psychiatry at Children's Hospital in Washington, DC. After several weeks of studies, and talking, and observation, my husband and I finally agreed to medication.

I really did not want Ritalin so we discussed other options. My son is a very bright, very creative, VERY ENERGETIC! young boy. We were very concerned about him losing his spirit and his lust for life. After a few months we finally found something that worked for him and it has truly changed all of our lives. He is still the fun-loving, happy, playful child that we hoped for. But and this is hard to explain he seems to be able to understand and deal with his feelings much better now. He definitely talks more about his feelings. He has always known the difference between 'right and wrong' - but now his behavior reflects that more. He can concentrate on things now where before he would just flit from one thing to the next to the next then over here and back again...

He has NOT lost his spirit. He has NOT lost his lust for life. You can not look at him and tell he is on medication. It has been a blessing not only to him but to the whole family. It was a very tough decision - but I am confident the choice we made was the right one. Thanks also to the other families who shared their struggles - opening up about this is not an easy thing to do. And thank you, Mr. Cameron, for your thoughts - if there is one thing we need as families who do decide to use medication for our children, it is support.

Lexington Park, MD

Dear FRONTLINE,

I need to respond to the individual from Indianapolis that said that the medications make children mindless followers and kill their creativity.

My 6 year old daughter has ADHD and takes Adderall. Far from being a "mindless follower," she now has an attention span long enough to finish creative projects that she starts, play games with the other children in our neighborhood, and finish the math assignment the teacher hands out in class. Before, she would start to color a simple picture and leaving it undone because she couldn't sit still that long. Now she is making painted glass ornaments and writing stories. She joined our local soccer team and can now last through an entire 1/2 hour game, even when she isn't actually playing.

Her grades have improved and, more importantly, she hasn't told me lately that she hates herself, that everyone hates her, that she hates school and that she doesn't want to live anymore she actually said the other day that she loves herself. Also, she had a physical manifestation in that she had picked all of the skin off of every one of her fingers from the tip down toward the first knuckle . . . she still picks, but she is not bleeding on a regular basis. I don't want to medicate my child into submission . . . that fact is that I now have a normally active and happy 6 year old that is concerned with normal 6 year old things, like the Easter Bunny, nail polish, and what her friends are wearing in their hair, instead of when she is going to die. Before the Adderoll, we tried all of the behavior modification techniques, from time-outs to grounding, to taking away priviledges . . . each step just made her more frustrated and more depressed, and it got to the point where she would act out and then discipline herself because she knew what was coming but couldn't stop the behavior before it happened.

She still gets grounded and time-outs, but less frequently and for reasons that I hear other mothers talk about also. She is under constant monitoring by her pediatrician and the school system has been wonderful. We meet with her teachers and principle every three months to talk about her progress and what is working and what isn't.

She is in special education three times a week to help her catch up with her class in reading, because she missed the basics in kindergarten. She doesn't see herself as different from the other kids anymore, she knows she is just like everybody else and, for the most part, acts like it too. Not that she doesn't have bad days . . . she does, but so do her peers. If my daughter had diabetes, I would give her insulin . . . just because you can't draw her blood and see ADHD doesn't mean there isn't a problem.

Williamsport, MD

Dear FRONTLINE,

Your report failed miserably. Why were only Scientologists used to show the other side of the coin? Where were all the parents who do not medicate their children? Why is this problem only in the United States? Could the American lifestyle and our diet contribute to the prevalence of ADD and ADHD in our children?

As a mother of a 13 year old son, I have experienced first hand the pressure to drug my child. My son has a very high IQ. He is energetic and impulsive. In second grade he spent the entire year in the library resource room because his teacher had taken a 2 hour seminar and diagnosed my child with ADHD. She refused to allow him in her classroom until he was medicated.

My husband and I did not want to medicate him. We did not want to change the way his inquisitive mind worked. This was our wildly creative child who can process information at the speed of light. We read all the latest books on ADD and ADHD and consulted doctors and teachers. Our plan of action was behavior modification and diet.

When my son started third grade, we worked hand and hand with his teacher to create a stable school environment. My sons desk was next to the teacher. He had a partition that prevented him from being distracted by other students. We eliminated caffeine, chocolate and processed food from his diet. It worked. Every year we began the process again with a new teacher. Their cooperation was a blessing. We have taught our son how to stay organized and focused.

Today as a junior high student with straight As, it is hard to believe he is the same child. He is still impulsive at times, his handwriting is atrocious and he does lose things on occasion but is this because he has ADHD or because he is a teenager? He joined the cross country team this year and this has stabilized his energy level.

Medication should only be used as a last resort. Yes, I believe there are children who benefit form Ritalin and other drugs but I believe it is a small percentage. I urge parents of these hard-to-raise kids to consider behavior modification and diet changes first. Individual sports like cross-country, track, tennis and golf are great for ADHD kids.

Terry Henley
Stillwater, OK

Dear FRONTLINE,

Thank you for your show on ADHD. We have a six year old son with ADHD. He is on medication, Concerta, the difference it has made in his life is worth it. We have been through three differnt medications and found the time released Concerta to be best for our son.

He does not get the emoitional roller coaster ride he got with ritalin and adderall which he ahd to take several times a day. When he started Kindergarten he could not stay focused to do anything, reading, writing, math, anything. The computer was the only thing he could do for a long period of time. Since he started the Concerta he has written books, he reads above his level, and he can do simple multiplication and division.

We never had him tested as for as his intellect but as you can see he is ahead of his kindergarten class and we look forward to what he can do in the future. We knew he was smart, we just had to find a way to let it out. We are proud of him and we are not ashamed of our choice to put him on medication. He dosn't walk around like a drugged child. He is still vibrant and fun and loving and productive. It was the hardest decision to make but once again worth it.

Asa parent we have to give our children the tools they need to get through life and sometimes that means medications. It's no different than having a child with diabetes. Sometimes medication needs to be used as a tool in life. I hope someday people will understand that what one peerson does isn't always right for another, but we need to respect each others choices. We are active parents. Our son would not be where he is without our love and attention and support. We're behind him every step of the way. We love him unconditionally so the ADHD doesn't matter. We just want him to be the best he can be.

His Kindergarten teacher calls him her "little CEO". He has become a leader instead of a distraction to other children. I hope every parent realizes that they have choices and no on has the right to judge them for it. Thank You!

Galesburg, Il

Dear FRONTLINE,

I hope your program and this discussion board will make Americans start asking many more questions.

1 Are the children in question unable to pay attention to anything at all? Or do they not pay attention to things that do not interest them i.e., imposed by adults. If it is the latter, then we are talking about domination and control here. It is human nature to resist that, and so we have a state of war in homes and schools all across America. Parents at war with their children, perpetually dissatisfied with them, the entire process of acquiring literacy and skills turned into a combat zone. Is this really the way it is supposed to be?

2 Your program only touched upon the fact that many children cannot tolerate Ritalin. We had to get a note from a neurologist, stating that psychostimulant medications were absolutely contraindicated in a child with my son's nervous, hypersensitive disposition and high allergy profile, in order to get school personnel to stop pressuring us. The result: they announced they could no longer "meet his needs," and he could not return to that school the following year. Even so, the psychologist on our "child study team" continued to pressure us to medicate him. We eventually pulled out of the public school system entirely,

and have been homeschooling for the past two years. We felt that our child was NOT a "specimen" to be "studied" by a "team" of government bureaucrats. And it was also clear that the only tool these people had in their bag of tricks anyway was -- medication. We have a much more relaxed child since leaving The System. Hyperactivity is no longer an issue, partly because of maturation, and partly because of reduced agitation caused by The System itself.

3 How come only white kids of European descent are seen to have these defective brains? There were no blacks or Orientals in your program. Do they not have difficulty paying attention in school, and do they never suffer depression? Or are their parents less inclined to seek the guidance of "experts?"

4 Why is the institution known as "school" never at fault? Why must so many children be "fixed" in order to conform to the demands of this institution? Is it possible that the institution itself is completely incompatible with the needs of human beings? How many of these children get a message very early in life that they will never be "good enough," or that they can only function in this world with medication?

New Brunswick, NJ

Dear FRONTLINE,

I work at a school for severely emotionally disturbed boys grades 6 through 12. While I am not a special ed. teacher, I am a credentialed in Language Arts secondary and Multiple Subject elementary. At this school, just about all the students are medicated. Most are from group homes; many have no family at all.

Do these teenagers need medication to function? For the most part, yes. Are some overprescribed and are children in regular schools ever inappropriately medicated? Yes, again.

Before medication is given, proper discipline and behavior modification should be used. Even after medication is prescribed, the teaching of coping skills should continue. Unfortunately, the schools cannot do this alone. Parents must, from the beginning, teach their children self control. Remember, here in California, classes in excess of 30 are the frequenly the norm in most classes over grade three. Teachers cannot do it alone.

Here in the United States we need to place greater value on self-discipline and education. Parents need to be parents, not buddies. Teachers need small enough classes to allow for individual differences.

Is there a place for medication? Yes. Is it the first or only answer? Absolutely not.

Lucy Walker
Ojai, CA

Dear FRONTLINE,

As a school psychologist I applaud you for a very balanced and realistic presentation on the issue of ADHD and medication. Thank you in particular for highlighting the views of the extremists, which do so much more harm than good. I have been mortified at the some of the trash these groups have produced and propogated... I would be glad to engage in dialogue about what is really happening in our schools..

John Paisley
Forest Lake, MN

Dear FRONTLINE,

As a 38 year old male that has ADHD along with Dyslexia medically diagnosed in the early 1970's and subjected to Ritalin for about a month. I found this that this episode of Frontline did not live up to it's reputation of finding all sides of the story, and even went as far as not to report all the facts.

The two main sides shown were, the drug companies and the Scientologists. Neither of these can be considered reputable in their opinions on ADHD and drugging.

Also completely ignored is that fact that drugging those with ADHD, kills off the extra creatively that ADHD gives us. Also, ignored was the fact that these drugs turn very vibrant people into mindless followers. Instead of turning to a drug as an answer, active parenting for children with ADHD is what's called for. As the father of 6 children, 5 biological and with ADHD, I refuse to kill off who my children are.

Indianapolis, Indiana

Dear FRONTLINE,

I have just read the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders for ADHD. I should print this out and show it to every teacher in New York City. These behaviors are seen every day of the week, in every classroom in New York City. So, should we then have every student in the New York City Public Schools be on Ritalin? This test is too subjective to even be considered serious! I object to this drug being administered to children before any testing has been done on the side affects of this drug. My nephew was diagnosed with ADHD and I'm very leary of the medications that were suggested to my sister for her son. When she asked me for advise, I read up on the medication. When I told her that these medications were too powerful for such behaviors.. She told me that she just paid a Psychiatric Dr., a lot of money to suggest this for my son? Why would he tell me this if it wasn't true? Good question, what should be done is a bit of parenting workshops on how to raise children with boundries! But, that wouldn't be politicaly correct in today's society. A parent today wouldn't listen to this type of corrective criticism. It might take a bit longer to correct this type of child, it is quicker to medicate.

NY, NY

Dear FRONTLINE,

As a parent of a 7 year old boy with adhd I can best describe "my life" before putting him on medication as being a prisoner in my own home when not at work. Like most parents I dismissed his behavior as a toddler as "being a boy" since I had a daughter before him that was 7 1/2 years old when he was born. It became increasingly difficult for me to go out in public with him because of his hyper-disruptive behavior. Even visiting with friends was a chore not to mention that there was no way to take him to any of his sisters activities like cheering football games or choir concerts at school. Even going out to eat as a family was a strain. One of us would scarf down our meal and take him to the car so the other one could finish their meal and pay the bill. So, my husband and I would alternate staying home with him so the other could go enjoy our daughters events. Daycare was a nightmare we tried every form of discipline from spanking, time out, taking away nintendo,having the daycare call us at work so we could talk to him and even leaving work to go tho the daycare to spank him. Nothing worked and probably between the age of 4 to 5 I was certain that he had adhd before even doing much research on the subject. I remember telling his pediatrician at one visit that I felt that he was hyper and that he either needed to put my son on medication or give ME something. His reply was to wait until he started school and I agreed. By the time he started kindergarten I had a beautifuly landscaped backyard my prison! Problems started immediately when he started school and I initiated the testing process and the psychiatrist visits. At first my husband was somewhat in denial as many are but we felt like medication was our best bet. We started my son out on adderall and WOW! could you see a difference the first week. My daughter even made a comment about his changes. We did experience some tics "blinking" while on the adderall. We took him off for a couple of weeks and they went away so we resumed the meds. Around the holidays this year his "blinking" came back along with another tic where he would draw his chin and shoulder together. The blinking was constant and worse than the first time. We took him off the adderall for aprox. a month and the blinking still continued. During this time school was a nightmare and he was not doing well at all and coming home daily with bad conduct notes. He would even come home and tell me that he needed his pills. OUCH!!!!! That hurt me as a parent because now I knew that he was aware of how difficult it was for him off of the medication. We changed psychiatrists because I really didn't care for the first ones bedside manner. I really like the new Dr we are seeing. Now my son is taking concerta and tenex to help with the tics. It has helped some but it is still there. He is doing better in school at home and socially. I guess my concern now is the long term effects of the medications and his tics. I do know one thing though, I don't thing we could survive without the medication so I guess we will take it one day at a time. The Dr feels like he will outgrow the blinking tics. I have recently joined CHADD and just got the information book in the mail and will soon get involved in their support group im my area.

I can tell you one thing that I have learned. I will never look at another disruptive kid in public and think to myself, "They need to discipline that child!" Now I see these children and parents and think, I've been there and I know what your going through. And we still have a long road to travel.

Traci Frazer
Spring, Texas

Dear FRONTLINE,

My son is eight years old and has a hard time not talking in class. Since 1st grade, he has been an "A" Honor Roll student and conduct grades have been satisfactory. Recently, his 2nd grade teacher informed me that he exhibited three syptoms of ADHD and perhaps he ought to be tested.

Back when school began in Sept., my son told me that "half the class takes pills that the nurse hands out every day after lunch time". When I asked the teacher about this, she stated she could not tell me how many children from the rest of the class were taking medication due to parent-teacher confidentiality. I then asked her if half the class was taking medication for ADHD, how would a normal, energetic child NOT on ritalin or other medication appear next to the medicated children... She answered "excitable, fidgety, hyper".

Add to this the fact that the teacher has admitted that one child is severely challenged, under a psychiatrist's care, taking heavy medication and often disruptive in class. The teacher told me she didn't give conduct marks for talking when the children were acting in reaction to his being out of control, but only when he was having good days and not disrupting the class...

I believe the combination of mixed disciplinary messages and medication of more than half the class is enough for me to challenge any suggestion by the teacher to medicate my child.

While I agree some children may need/require medication to aid in their daily routines, I sincerely doubt that over half the children in the US on these drugs truly need them. God help us when these kids need to come off of the medication... You think kids can't cope now as evidenced by Columbine and Jonesboro, I shudder to think about the ramifications of all these kids de-toxing in their teens, at the same time.

Additionally, I think schools need to examine if their "open classroom" and "center-based" learning styles have contributed to the students' inabilities to cope and focus in the classrooms. I am sure that in most cases we are treating symptoms of the problems instead of trying to resolve them.

Ellaine Gillis
Houston, TX

Dear FRONTLINE,

My daughter has been diagnosed as a child with ADHD. My husband and I have known this for many years but we didn't like the idea of putting her on medication that is addictive and could possibly cause her more harm than good. We dealt with her mood swings and her tantrums, along with her inability to be able to even sit more than five minutes through a movie that she had been wanting to see forever, until she turned 11 years old and we decided to have her checked at a doctor to see what our alternatives were because frankly, our nerves and patience couldn't hold out much longer without some type of intervention be it psychotherapy, medication or whatever other options a doctor might give us. The doctor felt that medication, in a very small dose, 5mg. a day to start would be something we should try on her. We kept her on the 5mg. a day for 1 month and saw some improvement but not as much as she needed so, the doctor moved her up to 10mg. a day. She takes 5mg. in the morning before school, and 5mg. after lunch at school. This seems to be working well for her. I think that trying to deal with the problem without medication is something every parent should try to do first because in alot of cases, medication isn't needed, but, if it gets to where you feel that your child needs a different type of intervention than what you can provide without medication, then the parents should see a doctor "WITH" the child, discuss the options, and then go from there.

Tammy Morris
Stow, Ohio

Dear FRONTLINE,

Many years ago I had and probably still have ADD.At 55 I now realize that when I took stimulants that were very easy to get back in the early 60's I did much better in school. When the FDA/DEA made stimulants very difficult to get I stopped taking them. To ask a doctor to give them to me now would be useless because ADD is a so called kids problem. In my own genentic family I see the same problems I had as a kid. It is in my brothers male children as well as one of my sons. With no thanks to all of the so called DARE programs kids are taught that drugs are bad. I'd like to say that certain drugs have been around for hundreds of years perhaps even thousands of years, Ephedra the precursor to many of the stimulants the show mentioned is sold as an over the counter herb type product.

To all of you anti drug parents and so called do gooders, GROW UP and realize man has had cures that nature made and modern man has only improved on.

Long Valley, NJ