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Freeman Gerhardt

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How will the effects of the systematic prescription of drugs/medication influence the behavior of American youth in the future?

It seems that the relative ease of diagnosing people with ADHD or other disorders and giving out medication will have future ramifications. Instead of treating disorders that may just be a result of immaturity, doctors and parents insist that drugs can solve these "problems." I don't know if this is a result of Americans believing that we can be the perfect nuclear family with no problems or some other issue. Giving teenagers powerful prescription drugs seems to lead to sleep disorders, and other biological nuances. I want to focus on the psychological issues of why drugs are issued with such ease and how this will be an important issue in upcoming years. These problems can lead to self medication and a future generation of unmotivated citizens. "Why study when adderall can help me out more?" As i am a college student, this is a conversation I hear consistantly.


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    Jan 8 2014: Our society has always been in the habit of finding the easiest way around a problem. Collectively, we have always preferred snake oils and other panaceas to cure us from our various ailments, real or perceived. The problem appears to be that nowadays we have some seriously dangerous drugs and "holistic" remedies for ailments that could simply be treated by living healthier lifestyles (eating healthier and getting enough exercise and sleep), or as you pointed out; letting kids grow up.

    I myself was diagnosed with ADHD as a teenager and was prescribed Dextroamphetamine. Basically, from the ages of 12 to 17 I was given a large dose of a powerful amphetamine and consequently suffered some serious side effects which had a huge impact on my life. My boring life story aside, I remain optimistic about the future. Given that many individuals from my generation were over-medicated as teenagers, I think we are going to see a backlash over prescription drugs, especially those used to treat the symptoms of being a kid.

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