I received a post from Melissa Henkel recently that read:-

“I am adopting a special needs child. She is 11 years old and currently in a residential facility. She came from a horrible background of neglect and abuse. She had to care for other children in the home because her mother was a nonfunctional alcoholic. The mother willingly released her rights a year ago. How do I teach this child not to lie and steel?”

I know of a mother who put her child on Ritalin because “he couldn’t study”. I wasn’t sure if she was joking or just plain out of her mind. A recent report has confirmed further the research that I have gathered in readings. Let me quote Mind Your Body, a supplement of the Straits Times, April 19th, 2006.

“In the past seven years, there have been 51 deaths among children and adults taking drugs for ADHD… these dugs can raise blood pressure and heart rate…”

“Dr. Ong cautioned that medication use alone cannot sustitute for therapy and behavior management.”