A study recently published by Harvard focused on children and teens with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and the role of Ritalin and others in regards to drug and alcohol abuse. An earlier study, by the same author, showed that the prescribed drugs seemed to have a protective effect on the children and teens. This new 10-year follow-up study of the same patients showed that the protective effect was worn off by the time they reached adulthood.

But there are other reasons to consider when deciding if your child should be put on Ritalin or Adderall. Real weight loss can occur along with a delay in the onset of sleeping and these drugs can effect their growth. Another point to consider is that children and adults with ADHD are 3 times as likely to have depression than those without ADHD. And they are also 2 to 3 times more likely to have an anxiety disorder. Substance and alcohol abuse is a much bigger problem when ADHD is not treated than when it is. So if your child or teen is prescribed these medications, consider the pros and cons very carefully and if you do decide to put them on them, always monitor the medicine and your child’s behavior.

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