Dr. Thorburn Editorial

ADD or ADHD is diagnosis created by the mental health field to give a label to certain behaviors.  There are no actual tests that locate a “Disease” of ADD.  It is simply a diagnosis placed on someone who appears to have a behavior that is disruptive.  There are no laboratory tests, brain wave changes or any other real evidence that this condition exists and is a medically treatable problem.

Behaviors that can cause someone to be labeled as ADD include:

• Inattentive, can’t sit still/fidgets, does not complete work, doesn’t like to read, poor school performance, can hear but does not listen, always touching things, angry, moody, disrupts others.

Because this condition is diagnosed subjectively, meaning it is an evaluator’s viewpoint of the child that makes the diagnosis, a child can be labeled as ADD by someone with a low tolerance of active behavior and not labeled as ADD by someone who can tolerate activity.  The same child can be seen by different evaluators and get different opinions.

The standard medical “treatment” is drugs.  It is not unusual for children to be on 2-5 medications at t he same time.  Then when the child gets depressed from the drugs he or she is on, they are put on another drug for depression.  Long term outcomes for children placed on drugs verses those who are not placed on drugs is not very different.  The degree of sustained attention, anger control and scholastic achievement are very similar for drugged and non-drugged groups.  There are many concerns, however about the long-term effects of drug usage not only on the liver, hear and kidneys but also on the self-image and brain function of the user.  There are many reported cases of children committing horrific crimes e.g. Columbine who are on drugs for ADD or some “mental health condition.”   Ritalin is the most commonly prescribed medication for ADD and ADHD.  Over 6 million children are on Ritalin in America.  We consume more Ritalin than any other country in the world.  Are American children so different from the rest of the world or has a problem been created where there are better solutions?

The drug companies have a vested interest in children being on Ritalin.  If the drug does not agree or work, the child is put on a different or several medications at the same time.  The child can then feel poorly from being on the drug and can appear depressed.  They then are put on an anti-depressant when the real problem is not repaired.  Who benefits the most?  Just look at the cost of medication today.  Drugs are not safe and do have long-term effects. 

Ritalin (Methylphenidate Hydrochloride) is chemically similar to cocaine.  In laboratory experiments, Ritalin and cocaine have been used interchangeably.  Both drugs take up the same binding sites in the brain.  Parents have been known to sell their children’s Ritalin on the street as it gives quite a high when injected.  This is not an innocent drug, but a powerful mind-altering drug with many side effects.

Side Effects can include:  Terero’s Syndrome (a permanent neurological disorder resulting in uncontrolled movements or verbalizations), stunted growth, tics, visual disturbances, nervousness, insomnia, depression, social withdrawal, irritability, abdominal pain, increased heart rate, psychotic-like symptoms, headache, chest pain, irregular heart beat, blood pressure changes, joint aches, liver changes including death, cerebral arteritis and anemia.

Many parents and health professionals are beginning to question the use of mind and health altering drugs for their children.  Those who choose to look at ADD from another viewpoint search for underlying reasons for a child’s behavior and choose not to cover-up behavior through a drug.

Could there be other reasons for the behavior we see being called ADD and ADHD?

Many health practitioners think so.  Children and adults can act differently when there are physiological changes in their body.  For instance, an adult with a headache could overcome their pain enough to act sociably with their friends.  A child may not have that coping ability and will act out when they hurt.  Children also respond differently to their environment.  Children release 10 times the adrenal in response to sugar than adults do.  Could that make them hyperactive or inattentive?

The following conditions could result in a child behaving differently than expected:

• Low blood sugar

• Parasites

• Yeast problems

• Food allergies

• Food sensitivities

• Thyroid problems

• Learning differences and study problems

• Poor nutrition

It is vital to look for the reasons for your child’s behavior and fix the cause.

Dr. Charlene Thorburn R.N.,D.C.,D.A.B.C.O.,Q.M.E. is a Registered Nurse and Chiropractic Orthopedist who has blended traditional and Chiropractic into a safe and effective treatment.

With any further questions, contact Dr. Thorburn at:

Dr. Charlene Thorburn
1612 West Burbank Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91506
Phone:  (818) 841-1313