The Ritalin Fact Book: What Your Doctor Won’t Tell You About Adhd And Stimulant Drugs
Review
Author Peter Breggin doesn’t try to hide his opinion: the introduction to The Ritalin Fact Book clearly states, “This book is written from a viewpoint that is critical of stimulant drugs and their prescription for “attention deficit hyperactive disorder.” As a medical expert in legal cases against pharmaceutical companies, Breggin has access to information many doctors have never seen, and what he presents is frightening. After a vivid and harrowing tale of a young man placed on numerous medications that only compounded his problems, Breggin dives into several fairly technical chapters concerning the effects of stimulating drugs on children and how they can actually cause psychiatric disorders. He…
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After reading this book you will not be ready to inspire world peace, end world hunger, or even balance your own check book. However, you will be a better parent for taking the time to educate yourself about a critical topic. The easy answer is to cave into an educator’s diagnosis that your child is ADHD and get a prescription to dope your child. The educators are motivated to neutralize your child if they pose any teaching challenge. And what doctor won’t write prescriptions?
Everything that Dr. Breggin writes will not work for your child. However, traditional doping may not be right for your child either. Be a good parent, do your own research and follow your instincts. In conducting my own research, I found a father who lost his daughter to Ritalin – suicide. I Googled him and found his phone number. During our discussion, his most memorable statement was that he should have followed his instincts and taken her (daughter) off the Ritalin.
None of the expert opinions should replace your parental instincts! Read contradictory pieces to formulate your own position. Without the courage of Dr. Breggin and others like him, we would only get to read the pharmaceutical industries position.
Finally, regarding the input from “A Reader”, who is the quack? The commentator refers us to “Quackwatch” to uncover some discrepancies regarding Dr. Breggin. However, what you find is that Dr. Breggin is guilty of his biased opinion. Just as the author of Quackwatch has his own bias. Additional Googling uncovered that the author of Quackwatch (Dr. Barrett) has also had his credibility challenged. As posted on the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation web site, “under a heated cross-examination … Barrett conceded that he was not a Medical Board Certified psychiatrist because he had failed the certification exam.” Maybe “A Reader” should have read a little more!
Read Breggin’s books along with the books of other authors. More importantly speak with other parents and learn from their challenges. Also, is your child just like you? Did you need doping? If not, why does your kid? Use a little logic and common sense.