Disorder? A Dubious Diagnosis

Ten years ago, PBS ran the documentary- ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER- A DUBIOUS DIAGNOSIS?. The case was made that the epidemic of Attention Deficit Disorder affecting mostly white, middle class boys is to a large extent man-made, one result of a long-term, unpublicized financial relationship between the company that makes the most widely known A.D.D. medication and the nation’s largest “A.D.D. Support Group.”

No question that A.D.D. is spreading, along with the use of powerful psychostimulants. The number of children being medicated-now an estimated 2,000,000-seems to be doubling every two years.

In preparing our documentary, we heard time and again that Ritalin is “all over the schools.” Recovering drug addicts told us that Ritalin was becoming what’s called a “gateway drug,” the first drug a child tries. And addicts told us that some teenagers snort Ritalin for a quick, cheap (but dangerous) high.

Viewer reaction to the the broadcast of the ADHD diagnosis television show was generally positive.

“And did I ever tell you that ADD: A Dubious Diagnosis probably saved my son’s life? His pediatrician gave me a copy and I think it was her way of saying that perhaps you might want to reconsider accepting the diagnosis. Watching this video was undoubtedly the most pivotal point that revealed/exposed to me the collusion that’s fueling the ADHD epidemic in the US. It really changed the course of our lives in an very positive way. Thanks a million for making it.”

“It is refreshing to see someone with an objective viewpoint weigh in on this issue. The very idea that we would condone giving children drugs that can damage the brain of a child before the brain has even developed is in my opinion insane.”