The most radical response to the rise in ADHD diagnoses is the charge that ADHD does not in fact exist. There are many staunch proponents of this viewpoint. A few interesting comments:

• Practicing neurologist Fred Baughman, Jr. MD says that ADHD is "a creation of the psychiatric-pharmaceutical cartel," and claims that "the entire country, including all five to seven million with the ADHD diagnosis today, have been deceived and victimized; deprived of their informed consent rights and drugged--for profit! It must be stopped. Now!" Baughman has authored a website at http://www.adhdfraud.com, intended to expose the fraudulence of the disorder.
• A March 2002 article in The Weekly Standard asks: "Are we really prepared to redefine childhood as an ailment, and medicate it until it goes away?"
• Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh believes ADHD "may all be a hoax."
• Columnist Thomas Sowell writes: "The motto used to be: 'Boys will be boys.' Today, the motto seems to be, 'Boys will be medicated.'"
• Francis Fukuyama, author of "Our Posthuman Future," writes: "No one has been able to identify a cause of ADD/ADHD. It is a pathology recognized only by its symptoms." Fukuyama also believes Ritalin is part of a growing trend to androgenize young children; he states that "together, the two sexes are gently nudged toward that androgynous median personality ... that is the current politically correct outcome in American society."
• Author Thomas Armstrong writes: "ADD is a disorder that cannot be authoritatively identified in the same way as polio, heart disease or other legitimate illnesses."
• A website entitled "Death From Ritalin: The Truth Behind ADHD" details anecdotal evidence of children dying from prescription Ritalin use. The website's author claims her son died as a result of using the drug, and urges parents to "come together and fight this horrific war against the drugging of our children, America's future!"

(Fumento, 2003)

Thus, the primary evidence against the existence of ADHD is the lack of a specific test which differentiates ADHD children from healthy children, and the fact that the specific cause of ADHD is unknown.

Evidence supporting the existence of ADHD:

• The lack of a specific test that determines whether or not someone has ADHD does not preclude the existence of the disorder; neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and psychological disorders such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder also lack conclusive laboratory testing procedures. Dr. Russell Barkley, professor of psychology at the College of Health Professionals at the Medical University of South Carolina, comments: "Where are the lab tests for headaches and multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's? Such a standard would virtually eliminate all mental disorders." (Fumento, 2003)
• The fact that the cause of ADHD is unknown also does not preclude its existence; Alzheimer's, Schizophrenia, and other neurological disorders have nebulous causes as well.
• ADHD has been related to genetic factors; University of Colorado researchers have found that a child whose identical twin has the disorder is between 11 and 18 times more likely to also have it than is a non-twin sibling (Fumento, 2003).
• When the DSM-IV description of ADHD is taken into consideration and proper clinical testing procedures are used, doctors are able to distinguish between normal childhood behavior and the symptoms of ADHD.

The following medical institutions all identify ADHD as a very real and treatable disorder:

• The American Psychiatric Association (APA)
• American Medical Association
• American Academy of Pediatrics
• American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry
• The Surgeon General's office
• The Diagnostic Statistical Manual

After a three-day conference on issues related to ADHD, the Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency said: "I . . . want to emphasize that medical authorities do believe that ADHD is a distinct health problem affecting some children who can be helped by these drugs when prescribed after careful diagnosis." At the same time, the DEA raised concerns about the rapidly increasing number of diagnoses of ADHD (http://www.add-adhd.org/ritalin.html).

Back to "Contents" Page

Back to "Don't all children show signs of ADD/ADHD?"

Back to "Social Implications" Main Page

Forward to "Reasons for the Rise in ADHD Diagnosis"