uncoolcentral's Journal: ADD Ritalin Adderall and other speedy goings on

Just a rant. Look elsewhere for something else.

I've never been a huge fan of our increasing emotional health medicating trends. I'm of the school that leans toward a decent diet, exercise and mental stimulation for what seems to ail most of us. Seems doctors and drug companies don't agree though. So many fucked up people on specious pills.

The most alarming scenario on my mind of late is the seemingly inane practice of giving kids with ADD and adults with AADD some form of speed to help focus. Backwards as it may sound, it allegedly works wonders. But we're stuck with the treatment of one symptom as a panacea as speed doesn't address other problems that seem to go hand in hand with both attention deficit disorders.

e.g. if there's a budding performance artist of a kid next door with ADD who just so happens to like tormenting animals, starting fires and painting public (or others' private) property, etc. - the Ritalin will help him focus, sure. But do you think he/she's going to all of a sudden decide to ponder bad poetry and schoolwork? I doubt it. Beast unleashed.

The same thing'll happen with the adult. That quiet tweaky guy next door who used to watch his mountains of German sheise videos in-between OCD bouts of nail-clipping and vacuuming the carpets, will be able to ultra-adderall-focus on the hot 16 year old gal across the street's ass.

Extreme examples, sure, but they're the foundation for the greater slippery slope of the "solution." Me? I kinda liked the South Park solution for ADD/Ritalin - it went somethin' like, "*smack* SETTLE DOWN YOU LITTLE PUNK! *whack* DO YOUR HOMEWORK!"

Better ideas?