In America there seems to be an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, “epidemic” recently.  During 1990 only 900,000 Americans had ADHD; by 1998, five million U.S. citizens were diagnosed with ADHD (Barcott).  Also, one in twenty American children has ADHD (Mast).  With such a large prevalence of this disorder in the United States, there are numerous ways to treat ADHD, both with and without pharmaceuticals.  Most people do not consider alternative methods to manage attention deficit hyperactivity disorder without medication because many physicians prefer to use prescription drugs as treatment; however, other treatments, such as exercise, diet, neurofeedback and cognitive-behavioral therapy are more beneficial to an ADHD patient because there are no harmful side effects to medication-free treatments and these treatments are just as effective.  

ADHD is “a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is more frequently displayed and more severe than is typically observed in individuals at a comparable level of development” (Jacobelli and Watson, 16).  Although there is no proven cause of the disorder, patients with ADHD usually have less activity in the neurotransmission of dopamine and norepinephrine, two chemicals in the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain where emotional regulation, focusing, memory, decision making, organization and impulsivity reside (Goldrich, 145).  The imbalance of chemicals in the prefrontal cortex results in lack of concentration, impatience, memory problems, poor organizational skills and inability to finish work (Turner).  Essentially, ADHD brains struggle with transporting messages from the lower brain to the upper brain, so often thoughts stay in the lower section of the brain, which is governed by emotion rather than logic (Bock and Stauth, 95).  ADHD affects a person’s executive functioning, the process of manipulating information, ignoring distractions and shifting attention appropriately, so this neurological disorder must be treated appropriately (Bower).  “There are three subtypes of ADHD behavior: individuals who exhibit problems only with inattention and concentration; individuals who exhibit problems only with hyperactivity and impulsivity; and individuals who exhibit problems in both of these areas” (Dupaul and White); so like most neurological disorders, ADHD is difficult to treat as it “is not a single, monolithic disorder” and each patient must be treated uniquely (Bock and Stauth, 82).  Untreated ADHD can result in consequences such as stress, obesity, depression, or drug abuse (Turner; “Scary Long-Term Effects of ADD/ADHD Drugs”).

Medication is the most common way to treat ADHD because it is considered an effective and safe method of treatment; however, one pharmaceutical is not a panacea and each patient must have a treatment plan tailored to their needs (Dupaul and White).  Prescriptions commonly used to treat ADHD include schedule II stimulants, like Ritalin, and antidepressants, such as Wellbutrin.  Even though there are numerous side effects from these drugs, the typical side effects are not severe ("Pros and Cons of ADHD Medication"). Those treated with prescriptions tend to show the most improvement in ADHD symptoms (Bower).   In fact, after studying children who had been taking ADHD medication for a few weeks, a mere 10% of these students did not see improvement (“Pros and Cons of ADHD Medication”).  Medicines improve focus, social skills, memory and processing speed, while reducing hyperactivity, impulsivity, irritability and disruptive behavior (Goldrich, 28). 

American society tends to favor “quick-fix solutions,” so most people with ADHD do not explore drug-free alternatives and use prescriptions despite the numerous side effects.  In fact, by 1995, “[t]he United States was using five times as much Ritalin (just one ADHD medication) as the rest of the planet combined” (Barcott).  Over twenty years have passed since 1995 so America’s use of Ritalin, along with other ADHD drugs, has most likely increased.  Clearly, Ritalin and other ADHD drugs must be useful with such widespread use in America, but even with the initial effectiveness in treating ADHD, the benefits of medications diminish over a period of time.  On average, after two years the “fix” for ADHD symptoms disappears (Bower). In addition to the gradual attrition of benefits from drugs, there are many disadvantages to prescriptions.  Even when prescriptions seem to be correcting the symptoms, there are still many neuropsychological deficits because the medications fail to resolve the lack of executive-functioning in ADHD brains (Bower).  Also, those who continue to take their ADHD prescriptions may develop more permanent adverse effects in the future.  Long term research has also shown that ADHD medications help alleviate some of the symptoms early on in life and helps ADHD students who take them perform well in school; however, later in life, the people who continually took ADHD medications seem to be doing worse in multiple aspects compared to those who did not.  They typically are not doing as well in their professional lives.  Many medication users become depressed because ADHD drugs normally target neurotransmitters that cause depression. Additionally, many are alcoholics or have other substance abuse problems, most likely because they became addicted to their ADHD medication (“Scary Long-Term Effects of ADD/ADHD Drugs”). 

According to parents, medications significantly helped their children’s ADHD behavior at home and at school, as well as their academic performance; however, 44% of parents wished there was another way to help their children because of the side effects ("Pros and Cons of ADHD Medication").  Even though the prescriptions may be effective initially, there are so many people who “began medications and stopped because of intolerable side effects” (Jacobelli and Watson, 7).  The Food and Drug Administration warns that these medications can cause addiction, psychosis, visual hallucinations, depression, aggression, weight loss, insomnia, heart palpitations and lack of personality (Breggin and Cohen, 8).  In rare cases, they can also cause heart attack, stroke, and sudden death.  Furthermore, adverse effects are very common; over half of those treated with pharmaceuticals experience a loss of appetite and a third have sleep problems.  Only about 16-19% of patients experienced no side effects (“Pros and Cons of ADHD Medication”).  These extreme side effects can occur because most physicians recommend drugs that are mixed amphetamine compounds.  Amphetamines are similar to morphine and methamphetamine (DuPaul and White).  

ADHD prescriptions are usually schedule II medications, which according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are defined as “drugs with a high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence. These drugs are also considered dangerous” (“Drug Scheduling”).   “[These] stimulants subdue behavior by impairing mental function; they often cause the very problems they are supposed to fix” (Breggin and Cohen, 17).  Examples of schedule II stimulants (not used for ADHD treatment) include cocaine, codeine, morphine, Vicodin, and OxyContin (“Drug Scheduling”).  These medications provide an accurate depiction of the hazard of schedule II drugs. The generic of one medication used in treatment of ADHD, Desoxyn, is actually methamphetamine.  Methamphetamine is considered one the most hazardous street drugs, and yet it is used to treat a common disorder.  Shockingly, many children diagnosed with ADHD are prescribed a schedule II stimulant.  Prescribing children these medications is clearly irresponsible. “One large study of children and adolescents from 3 to 17 years of age who were prescribed [immediate release methylphenidate] found that only 54% of the children received one prescription, 19.3% received two prescriptions, 15.8% received three or four prescriptions and only 10.9% of the children received five or more” (“Expert Discusses Alternative Treatment Options for ADHD in Children”); this evidence that not all the medications prescribed are taken proves that this treatment is ineffective because of patients’ (or their parents’) refusal to cooperate.  

Additionally, Schedule II drugs are usually prescribed rarely and temporarily.  For example, many people take schedule II medications for a few days after surgery to ease the pain.  In general, doctors prescribe these medications infrequently and for short periods of time because of their psychological and physical dependency-causing nature (“Drug Scheduling”); however, physicians do not hesitate to give someone with ADHD one of these harmful prescriptions.  Also, doctors prescribe these medicines somewhat randomly, because ADHD is different in every person and cannot be treated a single way (Adesman).  This randomization of prescriptions contributes to the danger of these medications. Treatment of ADHD with medications is too risky because of the addictive nature of schedule II prescriptions when there are other treatment options available.

Since many statistics show that parents and children do not like stimulant based treatments, the appeal of alternative treatments has increased recently (“Expert Discusses Alternative Treatment Options for ADHD in Children”). Medication-free treatments of ADHD effectively eliminate the worrying of permanently harming one’s body or becoming addicted to a mind-altering substance.  Utilizing alternative treatments for ADHD would allow patients who cannot tolerate the adverse effects of their medications a different way to cope with their condition, as well as reduce the amount of ADHD prescriptions being illegally sold.  Also, these “alternative treatments… are as effective, or more effective, than medications” (Jacobelli and Watson, 231). In fact, Dr. Walsh, president of the non-profit Walsh Research Institute, has observed children on ADHD mediations, incorporated a natural way to treat ADHD, and then gradually lowered the dosage of the medication until the children were off of it.  Eighty percent of the children said they felt much better using the alternative remedy instead of their medicines to treat ADHD (“Scary Long-Term Effects of ADD/ADHD Drugs”).  The other twenty percent of children most likely did not use an alternative treatment suitable for themselves since ADHD affects everyone differently; treatment must be specifically designed for the person affected.  Exercise, diet modifications, neurofeedback and cognitive-behavorial therapy are some commonly used alternative methods of treatment for ADHD.  

Obviously, exercise is advantageous to everyone but recent research shows that those with ADHD can benefit from a healthy lifestyle more than the average person.  In several studies when kids ran for forty-five minutes a day, four days a week, the kids began to act the same as they did on ADHD medication.  Doctors explain that exercise acts as a stimulant, just like most ADHD prescriptions, because the physical activity stimulates the basal ganglia, a part of the brain that has a role in one’s attention and learning. During a workout, the brain’s levels of dopamine and norepinephrine increase, and those chemicals boost the concentration of neurotransmitters, just like a pharmaceutical would (Barcott).  In essence, aerobic activity shifts breathing and improves one’s concentration.  Patients also usually gain some motivation after exercising (Zylowska).  

Diets including or excluding certain substances are beneficial to about half of all those diagnosed with ADHD.  Researchers have found that intake of certain substances such as water, magnesium, zinc, iron, vitamin C and omega 3s can lessen the symptoms of ADHD (Bock and Stauth, 82).  Those with ADHD need to drink plenty of water, because the brain is eighty percent water and does not function well when dehydrated (Jacobelli and Watson, 71).  A magnesium deficiency stimulates irritability, hyperactivity and sound sensitivity (Mast).  Research consistently shows that ADHD patients have low levels of zinc; however, zinc intake lessens impulsivity and hyperactivity while improving brain activity, cognitive function and attentiveness.  An iron deficiency is also common: “patients with ADHD showed abnormally low levels of iron in the area of the brain that controls consciousness and alertness” (Turner).  Vitamin C can level out the amount of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that ADHD brains usually do not have enough of (Mast).  Studies show that omega 3 fats treat ADHD as well as, if not better than, pharmaceuticals because the fats improve patients’ attention and behavior (Turner).  Also, abstaining from gluten, casein, artificial coloring and preservatives in a diet can benefit one with ADHD.  

Many researchers believe that when [casein and gluten] are not completely digested, residue remains in the form of peptides… creating a morphinelike effect that can affect neurological functions, such as speech and auditory processing, and cause a child to zone out or withdraw from others. (Mast)

Additionally, Carlotta Mast reveals that artificial colors and preservatives are proven to increase hyperactivity so ADHD patients should abstain (Mast).

Neurofeedback is a technologically advanced way to treat ADHD; this technique is similar to physical therapy, but for the brain.  “Neurofeedback training is a kind of biofeedback therapy… [where] you learn to control your brainwaves” (Jaffe).  A mere total of 40 hours of treatment, usually 2 hours per week, are recommended for lasting results (Rojas and Chan).  Doctors use electrodes to monitor a patient’s brain activity while they play “a video game;” the patient creates the video game with their own brainwaves by visualizing a scenario, such as a rocket ship dodging asteroids, which is projected onto a screen.  The doctor tells the ADHD patient to change a certain aspect of the game like to make the rocket go faster or slower than previously in the game (Jaffe).  By changing a detail in the game a doctor can train the patient’s brain to increase its weak brain waves and decrease the brain waves that are too strong, which regulates the ratio of slow to fast brainwaves (Jacobelli and Watson, 31).  This biofeedback technique teaches someone to produce more focused brain waves in order to reduce distractibility, impulsivity and other ADHD symptoms (Levrini and Prevatt, 59).  In a clinical trial testing the helpfulness of neurofeedback for ADHD, patients were either treated with neurofeedback therapy or with methylphenidate.  The patients who participated in neurofeedback showed significant improvement at the end of the trial (Rojas and Chan).

If one trains for a sport for a significant amount of time, he will improve in that sport over time.  Cognitive-behavioral therapy (or cognitive training) works the same way, but instead a patient learns to improve his thoughts. 

Cognitive- behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy that assists patients by teaching them how to identify their irrational thoughts and the emotions that accompany these cognitions.  Patients learn how to challenge these internalized self-defeating beliefs and replace them with more positive and logical reasoning. (Young, 16)

Studies reveal that cognitive-behavioral training works; a person’s sense of self-worth and self-esteem increase, and fear decreases (Levrini and Prevatt, 261).  After training, those with ADHD begin to think more positive thoughts which improves their mood.  This therapy is beneficial because patients stop thinking negatively, comparing themselves to people without ADHD, blaming themselves or losing confidence.  Cognitive-behavioral therapy results in patients’ motivation; consequently, their work ethic improves (Young, 250).

There is no cure for ADHD, so the treatment of each individual must be tailored to him.  Medication is the most common method of treatment for ADHD; however, these pharmaceuticals often have many harmful or counteractive side effects, and the benefits of this treatment are significantly reduced after a few years.  Drug-free methods of treatment for ADHD are more beneficial than prescriptions because there are no side effects and they are more useful for those who have ADHD. After a few years, medicines stop working on users, whereas alternative treatments do not wear off throughout the day or over the years.  Exercise, diet, neurofeedback and cognitive-behavioral therapy are all very effective, prescription-free ways to treat ADHD.  These methods combat hyperactivity, negative thought processes, distractibility and impulsivity while improving concentration, behavior and motivation.  Alternative treatments are more effective than ADHD medications due to the multiple benefits of these treatments.  Additionally, ADHD drugs have unbearable short term side effects for many patients, have an addicting nature, and have been shown to contribute to problems later on in life. Treatment of a disorder would not usually be treated using something so addictive and dangerous especially when there are alternative options, so why is this treatment acceptable for ADHD?
