Ban the Use of ADHD Drugs in Children Until Their Dangers Can Be Investigated

Messages Sent So Far

We ask the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Senate and the President to support a ban, or at least a drastic limit, on the use of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) stimulant type drugs for teens and children under the age of 18 until the dangerous consequences of their use can be scientifically disproven.

We believe there are serious issues related to the administration of amphetamine type drugs such as methylphenidate (trade names Concerta, Methylin, Ritalin, Equasym XL), Dexedrine, Cylert and Adderall, which are used to treat children diagnosed with ADHD.

Due to the promotion and marketing of ADHD and ADHD drugs directly to the public and medical community by the pharmaceutical industry, ADHD has become the most commonly diagnosed, and potentially misdiagnosed, mental disorder among children in the United States and the numbers are increasing. According to the Center for Disease Control by 2011, 6.5 million children were diagnosed with ADHD in the U.S. and of those diagnosed, 3.5 million were being prescribed medications, which was an increase from 4.4 million children diagnosed with ADHD and 2.5. million children medicated for ADHD in 2003.

1) These stimulant drugs are mostly prescribed for (ADHD) and other childhood "disorders" and are "Schedule II" drugs, meaning they have the same potential for abuse as morphine, opium and cocaine. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reports that studies show that Ritalin is more potent than cocaine and affects the brain in the same way as cocaine does.

2) Concerns have been raised that long-term therapy of these types of drugs can cause drug dependence, psychosis (mania), depression, insomnia, agitation, social withdrawal, stunted growth, heart irregularities and sometimes even death. It is unacceptable that drugs with such potentially damaging side effects are allowed to be given to children.

3) There are no objective medical tests for ADHD, and the screenings and diagnosis for these drugs are subjective and are open to misdiagnosis. Therefore, we believe that multitudes of normal, spirited children with no mental condition are being placed on these drugs.

4) The real long-term effects of these medications, both physical and psychological, on children have not been fully examined and publicized.

Therefore, we ask the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Senate and the President to conduct a full investigation on the extent of these medications? effects on children and we urge you to ban the use of these medications for children until conclusive scientific evidence determines their safety.

Take Action Now

Public Comments

Jul 3rd, 2014 Someone from Fresno, CA signed.
Jun 28th, 2014 Someone from Rohnert Park, CA signed.
Jun 27th, 2014 Someone from North Port, FL signed.
Jun 27th, 2014 Someone from Los Angeles, CA signed.
Jun 26th, 2014 Someone from Costa Mesa, CA writes: I would have been one of those children put on drugs if they had it when I was a child. It scares me to think that we are drugging little boys for being little boys. Flag Comment REPORT COMMENTS Do you want to report these comments to the moderator for removal? They should be offensive, threatening, a duplicate submission, or spam. No, Cancel
Jun 24th, 2014 Someone from Scottsdale, AZ writes: Adderall is one of the worst things you could give to a child. Flag Comment REPORT COMMENTS Do you want to report these comments to the moderator for removal? They should be offensive, threatening, a duplicate submission, or spam. No, Cancel
Jun 21st, 2014 Someone from Las Vegas, NV signed.
Jun 20th, 2014 Someone from Burbank, CA signed.
Jun 19th, 2014 Someone from Warner Springs, CA signed.
Jun 19th, 2014 Someone from Mountain View, CA signed.
Jun 19th, 2014 Someone from Warner Springs, CA signed.
Jun 19th, 2014 Someone from Los Angeles, CA signed.
Jun 19th, 2014 Someone from Warner Springs, CA signed.
Jun 19th, 2014 Someone from Harlingen, TX signed.
Jun 19th, 2014 Someone from Greensboro, NC signed.
Jun 19th, 2014 Someone from Las Vegas, NV signed.
Jun 18th, 2014 Someone from Temecula, CA signed.
Jun 17th, 2014 Someone from Dublin, OH signed.
Jun 17th, 2014 Someone from Thousand Oaks, CA signed.
Jun 16th, 2014 Someone from Thousand Oaks, CA signed.
Jun 16th, 2014 Someone from Thousand Oaks, CA signed.
Jun 16th, 2014 Someone from Ventura, CA writes: Life over Money !!! Flag Comment REPORT COMMENTS Do you want to report these comments to the moderator for removal? They should be offensive, threatening, a duplicate submission, or spam. No, Cancel
Jun 16th, 2014 Someone from Johnstown, PA signed.
Jun 16th, 2014 Someone from Garner, NC signed.
Jun 16th, 2014 Someone from Cincinnati, OH signed.
Jun 16th, 2014 Someone from Columbus, OH signed.
Jun 15th, 2014 Someone from Glendale, CA signed.
Jun 15th, 2014 Someone from Yucaipa, CA writes: As a parent of a ADD child, alternative methods to treat this condition must be found. Many of these children become addicted. Flag Comment REPORT COMMENTS Do you want to report these comments to the moderator for removal? They should be offensive, threatening, a duplicate submission, or spam. No, Cancel
Jun 15th, 2014 Someone from Memphis, TN signed.
Jun 15th, 2014 Someone from Willamina, OR signed.
Jun 15th, 2014 Someone from Milliken, CO signed.
Jun 15th, 2014 Someone from La Habra, CA signed.
Jun 14th, 2014 Someone from Dunedin, FL signed.
Jun 14th, 2014 Someone from Austin, TX signed.
Jun 14th, 2014 Someone from Austin, TX signed.
Jun 14th, 2014 Someone from Largo, FL signed.
Jun 14th, 2014 Someone from Austin, TX signed.
Jun 14th, 2014 Someone from North Brunswick, NJ signed.
Jun 14th, 2014 Someone from Acworth, GA writes: Stop destroying our innovative thinkers and artists with drugs. Flag Comment REPORT COMMENTS Do you want to report these comments to the moderator for removal? They should be offensive, threatening, a duplicate submission, or spam. No, Cancel
Jun 14th, 2014 Someone from Caliente, NV writes: Having hyper active children, means you need to find alternative ways of getting through to your child. It doesn't mean they have a disease and it doesn't mean we should prescribe children the equivalent to METH to get them to "shut down" Flag Comment REPORT COMMENTS Do you want to report these comments to the moderator for removal? They should be offensive, threatening, a duplicate submission, or spam. No, Cancel