Fwd: [SSRI-Research] Canadian Ritalin Protester Gets Say in House After 6 Months in Tent

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Wed, 07 Jan 2004 23:23:03 -0500

[sSRI-Research] Canadian Ritalin Protester Gets Say in House After 6

Months in

Tent

 

Ritalin protester gets say in House after enduring six months in tent

http://canadaeast.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID==/20031213/TPEBRIEF/312130002

 

(Noel Chenier/Telegraph-Journal)

 

After six months of living in a pink tent on the legislature lawn in

Fredericton, protester Charles Leblanc packs up his belongings

Friday.

 

BY NINA CHIARELLI

Telegraph-Journal

 

His protest started with a belief that New Brunswick's children were

being prescribed Ritalin unnecessarily. Ten thousand signatures, and

180 days later, protester Charles LeBlanc is calling it quits after

finally getting recognition from government that something needs to

be done.

 

Mr. LeBlanc has been camped on the front lawn of the legislature

since June, living in a ramshackle tent, several times removed by

authorities, and at least once the target of vandals.

 

He braved Hurricane Juan, high winds and torrential rain. He survived

temperatures that dipped below -20 C and almost half a metre of snow

dumped on him during last week's blast.

 

But none of it shook the man who took on Ritalin, doctors, and

government, all in the name of children and attention deficit

hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and attention deficit disorder (ADD).

 

Until Friday.

For the first time since his odyssey began, Mr. LeBlanc sat

comfortably on a plush, velour settee in the presence of the

politicians he so opposed.

 

Invited into the Legislative Assembly, sitting so near the front he

could hear off-hand comments by House Speaker Bev Harrison, Mr.

LeBlanc ended his six-month protest by hearing aloud the petition for

which he worked so hard to get support.

 

" I agree that Ritalin is over prescribed in this province. Je suis

d'accord que le Ritalin est sur-prescrit dans cette province, " the

petition said.

 

It was with tears rolling down his face, that Charles - as he's

intimately called by the politicians who saw him daily - could barely

control his cracking voice as he described the standing ovation he

received from New Brunswick's MLAs.

 

" It's emotional. But I still think the message is the kids. I hope

they will pay attention to the over-prescription of Ritalin, " he said.

 

" The first two, three months, it was really, really, hard. But it's

an issue that has to be addressed. "

 

Mr. LeBlanc, a Saint Johner, isn't your typical protester. Wiry and

nearing middle age, Mr. LeBlanc suffers from ADHD himself. He's

easily recognizable as the scruffy man from the pink tent who talks a

lot, and is unapologetic for it.

 

He biked across Canada and the United States in his early 20s for

something to do. Only five years ago, when he was diagnosed with

ADHD, was he able to put his busy fingers, his constant talking and

his bicycle journey into context.

 

However, each time he is asked about what brought him to the

legislature's front lawn, he says the same thing:

 

" Never mind about me. Talk about the kids. These kids must be treated

with dignity. It's only about them, nothing else. "

 

The petition was read by Liberal MLA T.J. Burke (Fredericton North),

who called Charles " one of the true, last protesters of this province.

 

" Charles and I have established a good friendship since the beginning

of June. I greatly acknowledge his efforts. He's somebody who has

strong convictions and passion for what's he's doing. It takes a lot

of conviction to sit out there for 180 days, " he said.

 

Outside the House, Health and Wellness Minister Elvy Robichaud and

Education Minister Madeleine Dubé said they supported Mr. LeBlanc's

efforts.

 

Both said they have worked to get Mr. LeBlanc meetings with

department officials who could help him. Both said they thought Mr.

LeBlanc got the attention of New Brunswickers.

 

Mr. Robichaud said he has arranged a meeting for the protester with

New Brunswick's medical society, a group that represents doctors.

 

" I think he made the point. And at least at this point we're ready to

move and do something with (him). I felt that this was a win for

Charles and a win for young people in New Brunswick, which was his

objective, " he said.

 

For her part, Ms. Dubé has arranged a meeting for Mr. LeBlanc with

staff in her department next week.

 

" It will give Charles an opportunity to speak about his concerns with

Ritalin within the school system. Hopefully after that we'll see if

there's anything we can do better, " she said.

 

Friday was a busy day for Mr. LeBlanc. He surrendered his cause and

petition to the government and he packed his tent. A lot for a man

who spent the last six months sending out e-mail updates each day

from the library, and talking to anyone and everyone who passed his

tent.

 

He'll remain in Fredericton for one more week before returning to

Saint John to spend Christmas with his family. Having made 10,000 new

friends, as he calls them, Mr. LeBlanc said he won't disappear, since

people will want to be updated on his cause and where it stands.

 

" I don't know what I'll do. Look for work, think about what's been

done for the kids, and try to move on, I guess. "

 

_______________

 

 

" Mercury is a heavy metal that is very toxic even in small doses. Exposure

to mercury can lead to damage of the brain, spinal cord, kidneys and liver. "

 

The New York Times / May 7, 2003

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/07/international/asia/07INDI.html?ex==%1053316

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