It is the parents choice, unless the child is 18. No one else can decide it other than you.. But it should be decided upon between you, THE CHILD, and preferably a psychiatrist.

Unless it is different where you live than it is in Texas, you can not force students to take pills for ADD or ADHD. At the doctor’s discretion, they can prescribe medication and then it is the parents choice about giving it to the student. The school has to work with the child no matter. If the student is so disruptive that they have to be removed from the class room and/or put into an alternative type school setting, the school can do what they need to do. I will say that usually the school has a very good understanding of what the student needs to be successful with the stress of school settings. When children are home they don’t have to constantly stay on task, its alright to make some noise, be in constant movement, veg out, or not put any thought into what is going on around them. School is work and especially when you have a very hard time maintaining your focus. When I taught, my statement to parents was always, if the child can be successful without the medication, then don’t give it to them, but if the child is not able to succeed then they need help. There are some dos and don’t about foods that help some children, but I have in 35 years in education not seen but a couple of students that the change in diet made a significant change in their classroom performance. So, yes if it necessary for the child to succeed, then don’t punish then by depriving them of needed help.

ADD and ADHD are valid disorders, but they are over diagnosed. Neither is due to lack of discipline, which is the standard cop-out for those who have never been around a child that has ADDor ADHD on a daily basis. Just because ADD/ADHD isn’t visible- like a broken arm- many people assume it is made up. I suppose they think clinical depression and bi-polar disorder are fictitious, as well.

I firmly believe that medication should be the last resort after parents have tried everything else, but that is merely my opinion. The choice to medicate a child is not easy and I do not have a child with ADD/ADHD, so it is easy for me to say that. Parents are, and should be, the only ones to make such decisions regarding their children. Medication may yield positive results, but have horrible side-effects, such as making the kid a zombie or keeping them from eating or sleeping. Medication for ADD/ADHD is not for everyone and no one should be forced to take it.

Last time I checked, schools can’t force medication. That’s why parents have to sign a consent just for the school nurse to give medication. But then again it’s funny how ADD/ADHD get thrown around as a bad thing when the teacher is trying to correct behaviors but a good thing when the student can’t complete the work. I mean you’re telling the teacher that you don’t want them to be able to discipline your child but the child can’t sit still or pay attention long enough to learn the material? If you have a problem with how the school district is teaching, home schooling is always an option.

As a techer, I think it should be parents choice. However, when they do not use medications and it affects the childs ability to focus and learn, I would hope the parent would at least try the “pills” for child sake, at least to see if they help. I’ve seen some students do O.K. without meds, in mild cases.

However, when child is failing because of a medical condition that is treatable, I would hope parents put needs of childs educational needs into consideration. They can end up so far behind- and it’s not really the child’s fault- they end up being retained or referred for special education, if can’t function on grade level. I am not a fan of meds. for children wih ADD or ADHD- I would recommend and hope child gets understanding teacher- gives child some down time, for example- I think meds. should not be 1st choice in a solution to this medical condition, however out of 13 years of teaching, 8 was special education. Some children truly need meds. – have no impluse control- and are danger to self. There are mild form to very severe so as long as it’s not affecting education, impluse control to point they are hurting self, for example touching hot stove even though they know it’s going to burn them, and also disrupting EDUCATION of others, I say no don’t medicate. By the way, as an educator, I know it’s recommended to take child off meds during summer breaks or any other time school is out for more than a weekend. By the way, In my state Dr. sends teacher a form to fill out about child to help determine diagnosis.

It is definitely the choice of the parent. No one else has the right to give your child any medication that you do not approve.

As a mother of a child with adhd and bipolar I am disgusted by some of the comments I read. I can say for a fact that adhd is not always caused by toxic levels of metals in the blood, a child’s diet, or lack of discipline. My son was poked and proded for all sorts of alternative physical explanations and was found to be in perfect health. He also is disciplined. While I agree that it is probably over diagnosed, adhd is a valid disorder. My son has made leaps and bounds while on medication, therapy, and behavior modification therapy. And he is still a very active child, not a zombie.

It should be the choice of the parents and (as the child reaches an age where they are capable of making medication decisions, typically around 12 or 13) the child. Many medications either do not work, or cause the child to become very withdrawn and sleepy. In an age where medicines are often over-prescribed, parents who try alternative methods should be applauded, and medicine should only be used if it is necessary. If the child has become such a serious problem in school to the point where they are not controllable, then the parents should be called in, and solutions should be discussed.

The sad thing about ADD is that a lot of the symptoms are similar to PTSD, many (not all obviously) kids exhibit these symptoms and rather than ask if there is an abuse issue, ADD comes up as an easy label. Read “The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog” by Berry? I believe was the author.

It should be the choice of the child and parents with help from a doctor. Teachers should have nothing to do with it.

As a child/teen with A.D.H.D (primarily inattentive) I think it should be the child’s choice. I wasn’t tested until I was in the eighth grade because my parents just thought I was “lazy”, the excruciating emotional pain and torment I felt in those years from being teased for not being “smart”has affected me still today. However, I am glad I was not medicated until high school because I needed time to be a kid, but if a child is struggling to the point where they are being made fun of they are always other ways to help them other than putting them on medication. Only the child really knows if they want to be medicated or not, it should NOT be forced upon them by anyone and the decision should only be theirs, not their parents.

While I agree that obvious diet and exercise factors need to be taken into account first…probably before even seeing a physician, medicine is a viable choice. Why deny a child the right to a calm mind when entering class so that s/he can engage in the classroom? Then at home, daycare, etc take active measures to teach him how to handle his or her symptoms. Hopefully, they will learn to manage the behaviors without the medical treatment, BUT why stress out an 9 year old who’s probably struggling through school (academically and soically)? Just so their parents can MY child doesn’t take medication?

Legally, it is the parents’ choice. My counter questions would be: Would anyone leave a child with diabetes or asthma untreated? Is it a choice?

Is the child’s diet fiber and protein-based, rather than starches, fats, and sweets-based?

I do not agree with addictive substances given to kids. There are non-addictive medicines for ADHD in the market, but I believe that before using these, behavioral and nutricional approaches should be tried by both, parents and schools. It’s easier said than done, but it is doable.