The Pros And Cons Of ADHD Medication

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ADHD is one of the most common child diagnosis in America. 4 million children in the United States have been diagnosed with ADHD and more than half of that amount take prescribed medications (Smith). At an early age, children who seem to have trouble concentrating in school get tested and diagnosed with ADHD where they are then prescribed medication such as Adderall and Ritalin. According to a recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, kids and young adults attain these medications without being seen by a mental health professional (Smith). Although some have been evaluated and do have ADHD for which they need medication to function properly in society, kids that have been misdiagnosed or over prescribed with …show more content…

The kids affected are unable to pay attention and stay still in class, lessening their ability to learn as well as others in class. In order to help this, ADHD medications such as Adderall, Ritalin, and Vyvanse are made to stimulate one’s brain, increasing one’s heart rate and blood pressure (Bhargava). Ritalin, which is commonly prescribed to ADHD patients, can result in damage to blood vessels in the heart and brain ("The Vicious Effects of Prescription Stimulants”). For children, especially those with present cardiovascular issues, being prescribed these medications at a young age could increase their risk of blood pressure and cardiovascular issues because that effect on the body everyday can overwork the cardiovascular system ("The Vicious Effects of Prescription Stimulants”). There have even been reports on sudden deaths from heart attack or stroke that were influenced from ADHD drugs (Dotinga). Dr. Soren Dalsgaard, an associate professor at Aarhus University was the lead author in a study conducted in Denmark on the effects of these medication. Although ADHD is a mental illness that should be treated, the side effects should be considered as Dr. Dalsgaard stated, “The benefits from ADHD medication can be worth the risk of adverse effects, but we should not underestimate the risk of cardiac effects” (Dotinga). These medications should be evaluated and improved so that no other children will not have the risk of heart attack, stroke, or any other cardiovascular issues when they are older. Children should not be at risk for heart attack from taking a drug that helps their psychological

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