Death From Ritalin - The Truth Behind ADHD

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" califpacific " <califpacific

Fri Jan 28, 2005 9:24 am

Death From Ritalin - The Truth Behind ADHD

 

" Kathelee " <kathelee

Thu, 27 Jan 2005 14:25:33 -0500

Re: RitalinDeath.com:

Death From Ritali

 

- The Truth Behind ADHD

http://www.ritalindeath.com/

 

Death From Ritalin

The Truth Behind ADHD

RitalinDeath.com

 

New black box drug warnings for antidepressants release

drug makers from any liability or accountability.

 

 

Info for parents coerced by the school to evaluate their child for ADD

or ADHD. Children's Deaths Caused from Ritalin and other ADD and ADHD

Medications.

 

Adderall, Catapres, Celexa, Clonidine, Concerta, Cylert, Desipramine,

Dexedrine,

Effexor, Fluvoxamine, Focalin, Lexapro, Luvox, Metadate CD, Metadate

ER, Paxil,

Prozac, Remeron, Ritalin, Ritalin LA, Ritalin SR, Strattera, Tenex,

Trileptal,

Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, Zoloft

 

Since the death of our 14-year-old son Matthew, I've been educating

people world wide via the internet about ADHD (Attention Deficit

Hyperactivity Disorder) and the dangers of psychotropic drugs in

memory of our son and thousands of other children that have died as a

direct result of using psychotropic medications.

 

The purpose of this website is to even the playing field for both

parents and children.

 

Some schools are feeding parents with bias pro drug information;

parents are being coerced by schools to give their normal children

psychological evaluations.

 

We wish to expose the health risks, dangers, and deaths that are a

direct result of administering psycho-tropic drugs to children. These

psycho-tropic drugs given to children labeled with ADD and ADHD

include Strattera, Ritalin, Methylphenidate, Concerta, Dexedrine,

Dextrostat, and Metadate, just to name a few.

 

I hope our story and information will in some way benefit you and your

child and prevent our tragedy from being your families' reality and

nightmare.

 

Between 1990 and 2000 there were 186 deaths from methylphenidate

reported to the FDA MedWatch program, a voluntary reporting scheme,

the numbers of which represent no more than 10 to 20% of the actual

incidence. http://www.adhdfraud.org/commentary/1-6-02-2.htm

 

In 1998 at the National Institutes of Health Consensus on ADHD, the

following statement was issued: " We do not have an independent, valid

test for ADHD, and there is no data to indicate that ADHD is due to a

brain malfunction " .

 

Our 14-year-old Son Died from Ritalin Use

 

Our fourteen year old son Matthew suddenly died on March 21, 2000. The

cause of death was determined to be from the long-term (age 7-14) use

of Methylphenidate, a drug commonly known as Ritalin.

 

According to Dr. Ljuba Dragovic, the Chief Pathologist of Oakland

County, Michigan, upon autopsy, Matthew's heart showed clear signs of

small vessel damage caused from the use of Methylphenidate (Ritalin).

 

The certificate of death reads: " Death caused from Long Term Use of

Methylphenidate, (Ritalin). "

 

I was told by one of the medical examiners that a full-grown man's

heart weighs about 350 grams and that Matthew's heart's weight was

about 402 grams. Dr. Dragovic said this type of heart damage is

smoldering and not easily detected with the standard test done for

prescription refills. The standard test usually consists of blood

work, listening to the heart, and questions about school behaviors,

sleeping and eating habits.

 

*What is important to note here is that Matthew did not have any

pre-existing heart condition or defect.

 

Matthew's story started in a small town within Berkley, Michigan.

While in first grade Matthew was evaluated by the school, who believed

he had ADHD. The school social worker, Monica Higer, kept calling us

in for meetings. One morning at one of these meetings while waiting

for the others to arrive, Monica told us that if we refused to take

Matthew to the doctor and get him on Ritalin, child protective

services could charge us for neglecting his educational and emotional

needs. My wife and I were intimidated and scared. We believed that

there was a very real possibility of losing our children if we did not

comply with the schools threats.

 

Monica further explained ADHD to us, stating that it was a real brain

disorder. She also went on to tell us that the Methylphenidate

(Ritalin) was a very mild medication and would stimulate the brain

stem and help Matthew focus.

 

We gave into the schools pressure and took our son to a pediatrician

that they recommended. His name was Dr. John Dorsey of Birmingham,

Michigan. While visiting Dr. Dorsey with the schools recommendation

for Methylphenidate (Ritalin) in hand, I noted that he seemed

frustrated with the school. He asked us to remind the school that he

was not a pharmacy. I can only conclude from his comment that we were

not the first parents sent to him by this school. Dr. Dorsey

officially diagnosed Matthew with ADHD. The test used for the

diagnosis was a five minute pencil twirling trick, resulting in me

being handed a prescription for Methylphenidate/Ritalin.

 

It is important to note that the schools insistence and role in our

son's drugging was documented in a letter written by Monica to the

pediatrician stating: " We would have hoped you would have started

Matthew on a trial of medication by now " .

 

At no time were my wife and I ever told significant facts regarding

the issue of ADHD and the drugs used to " treat it " . These significant

facts withheld from us inevitably would have changed the road that we

were headed down by ultimately altering the decisions we would

have made.

 

We were not told that The Drug Enforcement Administration had

classified Methylphenidate (Ritalin) as a Schedule II drug, comparable

to Cocaine.

 

We were not told that Methylphenidate is also one of the top ten

abused prescription drugs.

 

At no time were we informed of the unscientific nature of the

disorder.

 

We were not told that there was widespread controversy among the

medical establishment in regards to the validity of the disorder.

 

Furthermore, we were not provided with information involving the

dangers of using Methylphenidate (Ritalin) as " treatment " for

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. One of these dangers

includes the fact that Methylphenidate causes constriction of veins

and arteries, causing the heart to work overtime and inevitably

leading to damage to the organ itself.

 

We were not made aware of the large number of children's deaths, that

have been linked with these types of drugs used as " treatment " .

 

While Matthew was taking Methylphenidate (Ritalin), at no time, were

we informed of any test: EKG, echo-cardiogram. These types of tests

could have detected the damage done to his heart. These test are not

considered " standard " in monitoring " treatment " of ADHD they are

usually never administered to children. Sadly death is inevitable

without the possibility of detection.

 

*I want to ask every parent to ask themselves these important

questions:

How different would your decisions be if information was withheld from

you? How different would your decisions be if you receive only

distorted data?

 

I, myself, know that our families and Matthews outcome would have been

quite different had we received all information. If I had known

certain facts I would have acted differently and my son would be alive

today. This I am sure of.

 

Informed Consent " , which states in part A person's agreement to allow

something to happen (such as surgery) that is based on a full

disclosure of the facts needed to make the decision intelligently;

i.e. knowledge of risks involved, alternatives etc " and " the probable

risks against the probable benefits "

 

The violation of parent's rights is when they are not told of the

unscientific nature of so-called disorders such as ADHD or the risks

of the treatments involving (drugs) and they certainly are not told of

alternatives to their child's behavior such as undiagnosed allergies

or food sensitivities, which could manifest with the symptoms of what

psychiatry calls ADHD.

 

Here are some facts that are being withheld from parents that could

possibly alter their life decisions and outcomes.

 

Did you know that schools receive additional money from state and

federal government for every child labeled and drugged? This clearly

demonstrates a possible " financial incentive " for schools to label and

drug children. It also backs up the alarming rise/increase in the

labeling and drugging that has taken place in the last decade within

our schools.

 

Did you know that parents receiving welfare money from the government

can get additional funds for every child that they have labeled and

drugged? In this way, many lower socio-economic parents (many times

single mothers) are reeled into the drugging by these financial

incentives waved in front of them in hard times, making lifestyle

changes possible.

 

Did you know that by labeling your child with ADHD, you are actually

labeling them with a mental illness listed in the DSM-IV, the

unscientific billing bible for psychiatry?

 

Did you know that a child taking a psycho-tropic, psycho-stimulant

drug after the age of 12 is ineligible for military service?

 

Did you know that the subjective checklists that are being used as

criteria for diagnosis are very similar to the checklists used to

determine Gifted and Talented Children? These two checklists are

almost identical.

 

The Drug Enforcement Administration clearly states in their report on

Methylphenidate: " However, contrary to popular belief, stimulants like

methylphenidate will affect normal children and adults in the same

manner that they affect ADHD children. Behavioral or attentional

improvements with methylphenidate treatment therefore is not

diagnostic of ADHD. " (p.11) This statement thoroughly contradicts what

is being told to many parents by the many " professionals " that have a

vested stake in the diagnosis itself.

 

The DEA further states that: " Of particular concern is that most of

the ADHD literature prepared for public consumption by CHADD and other

groups and available to parents, does not address the abuse potential

or actual abuse of methylphenidate. Instead, methylphenidate (usually

referred to as Ritalin by these groups) is routinely portrayed as a

benign, mild substance that is not associated with abuse or serious

side effects. In reality, however, there is an abundance of scientific

literature which indicates that methylphenidate shares the same abuse

potential as other Schedule II stimulants. " (p.4)

 

Did you know that groups like CHADD and others available to parents

are being supported financially by pharmaceutical companies? This is a

red flag and demonstrates a conflict of interest in the role that

these groups have regarding our children's health and well-being.

 

Did you know that there are studies such as the Berkeley Study that

contends that Ritalin and other stimulants further raise the risk of

drug abuse? From the Wall Street Journal, Monday, May 17, 1999 by

Marilyn Chase: " Nadine Lambert, a professor of education, followed

almost 500 children for 26 years. She argues that exposure to Ritalin

makes the brain more susceptible to the addictive power of cocaine and

doubles the risk of abuse. " This study seems to never make it into the

hands of parents because it doesn't support the theories of those

using the diagnosis to profit off of our children. What does seem to

make it into many parents' hands is research indicating that if

children go " untreated " , which corresponds with " unmedicated " they

will " self-medicate " or end up as juvenile delinquents. Sadly many of

these parents are not aware that many of this biased and unproven

research (one such is the Beiderman study) infiltrating our schools

are actually being distributed by pharmaceutical companies, such as

Novartis. This in itself is another red flag and conflict of interest

surrounding our children's health.

 

I leave you with this question: How many more 11 year old Stephanie

Hall's, 14 year old Matthew Smith's and 10 year old Shaina Dunkle's

need to die before we realize what is happening and speak out and act

to put an end to it? One toy might be recalled if 1 or 2 children die

from it. How many children have to die from these drugs before we

realize and put an end to this horror. Why should hundreds or

thousands have to die before we are outraged and act? Is the profit of

so many, worth more than our children's safety and lives? Sadly the

deaths of these children have remained unexposed and suppressed for so

long because there is a tremendous amount of money and profit at stake

for so many. My son's voice will not be one of those suppressed and

quieted.

 

Matthew's Voice in Death Will be Heard by All

 

9/1/95 - 3/21/02 Photo

 

IEP (Individualized Education Program)

 

Parents if your Childs school wants to set up an IEP (Individualized

Education Program) meeting, make sure you do your home work prier to

the meeting; Know all your rights, you as the parent carry a lot of

weight when it comes to making the decision for your Childs

educational programs. Google Search Parents rights at IEP meetings.

 

Sample Parent-Rights Letter

This is a sample letter to the school district delineating parents

rights to demand that school counselors/psychologists NOT counsel a

student without prior permission and/or their presence.

 

Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)

PPRA is intended to protect the rights of parents and students in

two ways

 

Children Perish From Parents Lack of Knowledge

 

Written by Lawrence Smith

8/29/04 www.RitalinDeath.com

© 2004 Lawrence Smith

info

 

Many parents are being feed bias pro drug information, this is a

violation of informed consent laws.

 

Parents are being coerced by schools to give their normal children

psychiatric evaluations just because they are energetic (full of life)

or need extra help understanding what the teacher attempting to teach

them.

A child could be misbehaving because they are frustration.

 

If the school believes a child has a mental disorder like ADD /

attention deficit disorder or ADHD / attention deficit hyperactivity

disorder and a parent allows the school to do a psychiatric

evaluation, this label will end up in the Childs permanent school

record.

 

Schools are coercing parents to follow up with their psychiatric

evaluations to take their children to a pediatrician or psychiatrist

to be diagnosed with ADD or ADHD because schools are not allowed to

write a prescriptions for lethal and additive psychotropic drugs.

 

In some cases schools will even go as far as to give parents the names

of a few doctors that have a history of going along with their

evaluations and recommendations.

 

Some school teachers, social workers and psychologists are guilty of

making parents feel as though they are bad parents just because they

refuse to subject their children to a psychiatric evaluation, when in

reality parents are just protecting their Childs physical and mental

health.

 

Some schools should be focusing more on educational tools and less on

drugs.

If a child needs extra help learning the school should be able to

provide the help without doing a psychiatric evaluation and trying to

get the child put on lethal psychiatric drugs.

 

If a parent doesn't want their child to be put on psychotropic drugs,

and if a parent doesn't want their Childs permanent school record to

say they have a mental disorder like ADD or ADHD, which could

stigmatize a child and cause them to have a low self esteem, I would

say that under no circumstances should a parent give a school

permission to do any type psychiatric evaluations.

 

If a school is persistent about a child getting evaluated for a mental

disorder like ADD or ADHD I would be letting the school know that I

don't believe in psychiatry and that if my child is going to be tested

for ADD or ADHD it would done by a licensed neurologist.

 

Many of the behaviors listed in American Psychiatric Associations DSM

IV which means Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders -

Fourth Edition) the criteria for ADHD is nothing more than a list of

normal childhood behaviors, especially for a young boys.

 

The percentage of boys diagnosed with ADD and ADHD are much higher

than girls.

 

Many children that are being diagnosed with ADD and ADHD have a great

IQ and are very creative individuals.

 

I believe there are two main reasons why schools are evaluating so

many children with ADD and ADHD.

 

1. Money, if a child has been diagnosed with either ADD or ADHD they

are now considered learning disabled, if a child is labeled learning

disabled the school will receive extra money from both the state and

federal government, furthermore there is no accountability for how the

extra money is spent, even though the money should be used for your

Childs educational needs, the school can spend the money on what ever

they want with no accountability.

 

2. Behavior Modification, if a child is diagnosed and labeled with

ADD or ADHD they will most likely be put on a lethal psychotropic

drug, which will make the child submissive.

 

If a child is drugged during school, of course they are going to sit

there and be quiet, because of the effects the drugs are having on

both their body and their mind.

 

This will also make the work day much easier for the teacher that has

25 to 30 students and he or she just doesn't have enough time for the

five children that need extra help with their lessons.

 

Not all teachers have the time or patience to deal with an energetic

child that could be acting out because they aren't understanding and

they need extra help with their lessons.

 

Even though a child knows they need extra help, they will not always

ask the teacher for help in fear of what the other students might

think about them.

 

Too much emphasis is put on what the students are doing wrong, but

what about some of the teachers? Maybe schools should start keeping

track of teachers that consistently recommend their students be

evaluated for ADD or ADHD.

 

Audio

http://www.worldtalkradio.com/archives.asp?sid=97.The truth about ADHD

and psychiatric drugs for children: Radio series archived on Annie

Armen Live; includes John Breeding, PhD, Fred Baughman, MD, Able Child

founders Patty Weathers, Sheila Matthews, and activist parents like

Vicky Dunkle and Lawrence Smith whose children have died from the

effects of psychiatric drugs. Great information and powerful true

stories.

_________________

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjoguest

DietaryTipsForHBP

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Genes

 

 

 

 

AIM Barleygreen

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

 

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets.html