It's appalling. Most studies for the effectiveness of ADHD medication are conducted for only 3 or 4 weeks. But some kids take the medication for 15 years!
And the news gets even worse.
Long-term research funded by the US National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) shows that medication for ADHD makes things worse.
Looking at 3 National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded studies:
- the original MTA (also read about it below),
- a 3-year follow-up, and
- an 8-year follow-up.
In the 3-year follow-up they state: "participants using medication ... actually showed increased symptomatology during that interval relative to those not taking medication." From 2 to 3 years, medication made things worse.
In the 8-year follow-up, medication use was "associated with worse hyperactivity-impulsivity and ODD symptoms and CIS impairment." (CIS is a tool for rating impairment). After 8 years, those using medication were worse.
So, medication makes things worse. Maybe we should stop pushing it. After all, there are many other treatments and interventions that work well.
~ Jerry Jensen, MA, LP