My daughter who will be 8 in a few weeks, was just diagnosed on Tuesday with ADHD and prescribed Adderall. This comes after 3 years of fighting with the school (Kindergarten, First and now Second grade), having her tested by a psychologist (in First grade) that our pediatrician recommended, who agreed no meds, and working with her pediatrician. I've fallen into this trap (believing all the media and CHADD) and help convince the pediatrician and my husband that this was right answer. After looking at your website, I'm beside myself for what I've done.

All along I had been against medicating her, as she does fine academically. At the last meeting with the school, it was stressed that no matter how well she does academically, she could be failed (in 3rd grade) for her lack of social skills.

[Fred A. Baughman Jr., MD: this is the invariable coercion which is the US Government, Congress and US Dept of Ed. pushing drugs--pure and simple. There is no disease, there is no such thing as a psychiatric disease. ]

My daughter's behavior problems at school are that she "blurts out" and "doesn't stay focused". I get daily notes about all of her "inappropriate behavior". These are things I felt she would grow out of. I also have always felt that she is very creative and didn't want to diminish that. But after this last meeting I was at my wits end and I finally caved.

All along I have asked for a more definitive task to determine if she really had ADHD

[Fred A. Baughman Jr., MD: there is no such thing as really having ADHD, it is not real, it does not exist. These are normal, if troublesome, behaviors in normal children]

vs. just going off of some survey (Conner's). I read about all the "signs" and how she fit almost all of them. The pediatrician discussed putting her into a different school district or private school.

[Fred A. Baughman Jr., MD: Yes to get her out of this harm's way.]

We made the decision that next school year we would move her; we didn't want to do it in the middle of the year. Everyone else was recommending medications. We tried some behavior modification techniques. The school has her somewhat isolated in the classroom, to help her focus. I really feel that she has been labeled. (Although when I confronted them, they completely denied it.) They even complained to me that she is always the last one out of the lunch room and hasn't finished eating because she's talking so much.

Isn't this what part of lunch time is - to socialize?

[Fred A. Baughman Jr., MD: What they say and do has nothing to do with actual behaviors or the child, but only to do their duty which is to see that the child is drugged, that the product of the pharmaceutical company making the ADHD drugs, is sold and taken, and taken for life, the label is for life.]

When I told them that I've finally had her diagnosed as ADHD and will be trying meds for 30 days they were all happy. When I then asked, well what else are you going to do for her now? The answer was, "the medication will take care of it". I should have listened to the alarm going off in my head. But, at the same time, I had complete faith in my pediatrician. So, I take part of the blame in pushing the issue and assuming meds was the final and only answer we had.

The only reason medication ever came into my mind was because of the school and other thearpist recommending it. Since she has only been taking this medication for 2 days, I'm stopping it immediately. How can I get this ADHD label out of her medical records?

[Fred A. Baughman Jr., MD: Extremely difficult, only by legal challenge, and then I am only aware of one such erasure from legal records]

How can I support my claim that she doesn't need medication? How do now I convince the pediatrician that we were wrong and meds are not the answer? How do I explain all this to my daughter, who now believes she needs a "pill" to behave at school?

[Fred A. Baughman Jr., MD: Tough, but far better for your lifetime with your daughter that you do. Most parents dont awake to the horrible realities until substantial damage causes them too.]

Thank you for listening and any help you can provide. C********

[Fred A. Baughman Jr., MD: Do purchase the video offered on my web site, "ADHD--Total, 100% Fraud"]