ADHD definitely is treatable

I find it very disconcerting to read Kelly McQue’s letter re “Alternatives to ADHD Treatment” (Courier, March 16). There are statements that are not factual and may cause unnecessary frustration for parents.
I was diagnosed with ADHD (and depression) over 30 years ago and have been on a variety of medications ever since. There is a good chance that anyone with a neurological disorder has a secondary condition – mine being depression – that needs to be treated separately from the ADHD.
I moved to Ballito from New York almost eight years ago, and have yet to meet a medical doctor who has updated information about neurological disorders. I was a spokesperson for Children and Adults with ADHAD (CHADD) and Novartis Pharmaceuticals had me speak to a conference for doctors about my experience as an adult who did not outgrow ADHD.
I don’t know where she got her facts, but when someone with ADHD is properly medicated, it creates a balance. Statistics and studies done by the National Institute of Health (US) report that Ritalin and similar drugs do not cause someone to turn to illegal drugs. It’s the people who have not been diagnosed, or the college student who gets Ritalin for the wrong reasons, that creates possible abuse.
As a teen I turned to drugs as I was not diagnosed until my thirties. I was self-medicating, as certain drugs made me feel balanced or “normal”. I’m sober for more than 35 years so it is easy for me to talk about this.
I was a teacher in NYC and saw when children were struggling to succeed in school. When a child was properly diagnosed and put on medication, it was like a fog had been lifted for them.
The term ADHD is misleading as we don’t have a deficit of attention, we have a surplus of attention and it is difficult to block out distractions. Go to the CHADD website for accurate information.
The medication is safe as long as you are under a doctor’s care, especially a doctor who understands.
KARENNE BLOOMGARDEN
Ballito