To Medicate Or Not To Medicate

To Medicate Or Not To Medicate

Laura J. Welling
Salt Lake Community College

When you look at Olivia you might think she is a normal eight year old. But as you

To Medicate Or Not To Medicate

watch her behavior, you realize she is not. She will jump from one chair to the next, one activity
to the next, one topic to the next. She cannot sit still for more than a few minutes at a time.
And often, for no apparent reason, she will become extremely angry and start to scream or cry.
Often she will hit or kick things violently. No one knows how to predict her behavior, not even
her parents.
Olivia has Traumatic Brain Disorder which she got from abuse she received as an infant
(before she was adopted into the home she is now). She also has severe Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). I know Olivia well, for she is my granddaughter. Her parents
have struggled for years as how to treat her. They tried many approaches before they finally
decided they would try medications.
Medicating children is a very controversial topic. I have heard many of the arguments for
not giving children medications and I will discuss many of them in this article. I have to admit
that I agree with many of their issues. However, I think each child needs to be considered on a
one by one basis. I believe children can have severe illnesses and that the appropriate use of
medication can ease their suffering. There are even situations where withholding a beneficial
medication can actually be harmful.
Up to 15% of children and adolescents have a mental disorder serious enough to cause
some impairment.

More than half of those children who used a prescription medication for

emotional or behavioral difficulties reported that their medications helped them a lot (Meyers,
2006).
Research shows that half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14 (NIMH,
2010). Helping young children manage difficulties early in life may prevent the development of
these disorders.

To Medicate Or Not To Medicate

5%-9% of United States school-aged children are diagnosed with ADHD. 70%-80% of
children with ADHD respond to the medications (Insel, 2014).
One in 88 children or 11% of United States children have been diagnosed with autism and
55% are taking psychiatric drugs for their symptoms (Wedge, 2013).
It is easy to quote statistics. The important thing to remember is that each child is an
individual and should be treated as such. A child is never a number. Just because medications
work or don't work for another child shouldn't be the reason to start a medication or stop one.
One major reason people are against giving medications to children is that their bodies do
not absorb and eliminate medications in the same way adult bodies do. Their developing brains
may be affected differently than the adults on whom the drugs were tested. This is a valid
argument. It is also true that putting children on medications puts them at risks for drug
interactions and side effects. However, I believe that there are some occasions when the benefits
of treatment outweigh the risks. Without medications, some children would suffer serious or
dangerous consequences. Serious untreated mental disorders themselves can harm brain
development.
A sad fact is that some parents intentionally medicate their children simply to make their
behavior more manageable. Medications are used to make it easier for parents and teachers to
handle challenging kids. These are not the situations I am referring to. I am referring to the
children for whom medication can mean the difference between being functional and growing up
or being a constant behavior problem with all the consequences that implies. Children with
ADHD who are left untreated often don't complete school, don't go on to higher education and
may turn to self-medicating which can lead to substance abuse. They often suffer above average
rates of anxiety and depression (Leham, 2012).

To Medicate Or Not To Medicate

This can apply to children with other mental illness diagnoses and/or autism as well. For
example, Autistic children are often unable to express their anger and anxiety, regardless of how
verbal they might be. They may become so overwhelmed that they put themselves and other
family members at risk by breaking glass, throwing heavy objects, and biting.
One father expressed his feelings about medicating his child. We couldn't exist without
him [his son Gavin] being medicated, said Rob Gorski, Gavin's father. We struggled with it at
first. Nobody wants to medicate their kids, but it comes down to a quality of life issue. When
he is un-medicated, his quality of life is really low (Park, 2011).
Another parent talked about medicating her son. Jennifer Myer's son, Jack's agitation
made it nearly impossible for him to be in school. We had stopped going out to restaurants,
stopped doing things with other families or grandparents, and what life is that? To not be able to
learn, or experience new things, have friends or be loved by your grandparents? When Jack
started taking Adderall he was able to comfortably be out and about again. He was calmer and, of
course, it made parenting easier, and less stressful, which does change his life (Arky, 2012).
Children with better self control (that medications often give them) have fewer academic,
behavioral and social problems. With effective treatment, many will achieve academic success
and live productive lives that might otherwise not be possible.
I believe the decision to use medication come down to function. Is your child's ability to
function impaired? Have other efforts failed to control the symptoms? One important thing to
remember is that the side effects of medications are not lethal, irreversible or very painful. If the
medicine is effective, but the side effects can't be tolerated, the medication can be stopped and
your child will soon return to his or her usual self.
Kids with ADHD may act without thinking, be hyperactive, or have trouble focusing.

To Medicate Or Not To Medicate

They may understand what is expected of them but have trouble following through because they
can't sit still, pay attention, or attend to details. Eventually, this kind of behavior can have
increased negative effects on those around them as they become adults.
There are other interventions besides pharmacological treatments that do work for some
children who suffer from ADHD. Sometimes limiting media stimulation at home, enrolling the
child in an active sport, developing a consistent schedule, or moving him or her to a new
classroom will be enough. Usually though, both behavioral therapy with home and classroom
interventions and medical treatments can be more effective. Combining them can yield better
outcomes than using either alone and enables the use of lower doses of medications.
ADHD medications are stimulants. These medications affect the way the brain controls
impulses, behavior, and attention span. Stimulants are believed to work by increasing Dopamine
levels in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with motivation, pleasure, attention,
and movement. For many children with ADHD, stimulant medications boost concentration and
focus while reducing hyperactive and impulsive behavior (Leham, 2011).
If a medication is working well, parents should see an increase in the ability to focus on
tasks such as homework or chores. A child who simply becomes lethargic or unemotional is
probably not benefiting from the medication because he is not receptive to learning new problemsolving skills and may need a different medication, a different diagnosis or even a different
approach to the problem (Leham, 2011).
There are some things to consider when deciding whether or not to use medication for
your child. First, start with a good evaluation by a trusted professional, usually a child
psychiatrist. Next, consider how your child might benefit from the medicine. Also, get accurate
information regarding all side effects. Do not feel rushed to make a decision. Finally, remember

To Medicate Or Not To Medicate

that your decision is always reversible.

There are non-medicine ways to help your child. After all, psychotropic medications
should not be the first option for a mental disorder. Providing a healthy diet for the child is
beneficial. Making sure they get plenty of sleep. Trying therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy
can be adaptive to fit the needs of each child. The child can receive this therapy with or without
parents as well as in a group setting. Regular exercise is also important. And, although this one
may be very difficult, it is crucial that you maintain a positive attitude. Your child can usually
sense how you feel.
Some people argue that children with behavioral or emotional problems are being over
medicated at the requests of parents who are too busy to provide a healthy home environment.
They also believe schools are too busy to provide recess or activities for fidgety kids. Some
people even blame the pharmaceutical companies that market these medications saying they are in
pursuit of profits.
The truth is that most parents resist medications rather than request them. Most of the
schools are providing recess and activities for the children. They are seeing an increased need for
this in toddlers, years before they begin school. Finally, the drug companies have reduced, not
increased, their marketing budgets in the United States (Insel, 2014).
Is it possible that the increase use of medications is not the problem but a symptom? What
if the actual problem is not over-treatment but increased need? If we discovered more children
were being treated for diabetes or immune problems, we wouldn't blame the problems on the
parents (Insel, 2014). Shouldn't we be asking why so many children at younger ages are being
seen for emotional and behavioral problems?
It is very easy to judge a parent who is medicating his or her child. But as Beth Arky put

To Medicate Or Not To Medicate

it, One would have to live with one of these kids before even beginning to criticize those parents
for medicating their child. Their life and the life of their child are far less chaotic and disrupted
and difficult for [all of] them (Arky, 2012).
I can now play a game with Olivia and she is able to take turns, something she never
would be able to do before medications. She is a much happier child now. Of course, she still
has struggles and probably always will but I believe her parents have made the right decision in
trying to help her through medications. It works for her and should be looked at as a good
option for others in her situation. Medicating your child is an important and personal decision
that should be given consideration. As I have seen, it can make a difference.

References

To Medicate Or Not To Medicate

Arky, B. (2012, June). Autism and Medication. Retrieved from www.childmind.org.

Insel, T. (2014, June). Retrieved from www.nimh.nih.gov/about/director/2014.
Leham, J. (2012). Out of Control Behavior. Should I Medicate my Child? Retrieved from
www.empoweringparents.com.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2010). Treatment of Children with Mental Illness.
Retrieved from www.nimh.gov/health/treatmentofchildrenwithmentalillness.
Myers, L. (2006, November). Medicate or Not? Monitor. 37(10) 24.
Park, M. (2011, May). Little People, Lots of Pills: Experts Debate Medicating Kids.
Retrieved from www.cnn.com/2011/health/kidsovermedicated.
Wedge, M. (2013, February). The Drawback to Medicating Children. Retrieved from
www.themotherco./2013/02/choice.