ADHD Refutation Paper

1

Athena Madison

Prof. Kalustian

Speech 6

April 4, 2014
ADHD: Not Yet A Political Issue
The Harm
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, also known as ADHD is considered a topic of
controversy. ADHD is both a mental health and medical condition that affects an individuals
ability to focus. ADHD is composed of hyperactivity, inattentiveness and impulsivity. According
to Medical News Today, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that
approximately 4.4 million children aged 4 to 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD in the USA by
a healthcare professional. The CDC has put together a program designed to research ADHD in
youth as it still remains a mystery, there is little knowledge on how one acquires ADHD, the
extent of ADHD and what this means for youth developmentally. The Psychiatric Times wrote
an article on Problems of Overdiagnosis and Overprescribing in ADHD raising awareness of
this controversial neurobehavioral developmental disorder. Upon researching legislation on
ADHD, there are two significant pieces of legislation that protect youth and individuals to ensure
that these individuals get the proper care that they need. Despite this, ADHD has not become an
issue of political concern nor is an issue that currently requires political interference.
Inherency
This topic lacks inherency due to the fact that it is not a stock issue that is of political concern.
ADHD is a condition that still remains somewhat of a mystery, perhaps in the future there may
be political interference from the perspective of over-diagnosing youth and overprecriptions, yet
that in itself is an issue of treatment and not an issue of the condition itself.
ADHD Refutation Paper
2

The Plan
The plan for Shakira Richardsons work on ADHD is lacking due to a lacking stock issue. The
given power point does not present a plan, the workability of Ms. Richardsons work is that it
lacks a stock issue, therefore lacking a plan with no given mandates, no proposal for
enforcement, funding or political recommendation.
Solvency
This policy recommendation also lacks a proposal addressing solvency. ADHD is a condition
that remains a mystery, yet it is believed that ADHD is only treatable not curable. Given so, there
is still no political solvency that can be offered to fully comprehend and cure ADHD.
Advantages & Disadvantages
There are no advantages or disadvantages presented in the ADHD power point. There is no
advantage to having a condition like ADHD. If a proposal were made to fuel more funding for
the research of ADHD than advantages like a medical breakthrough although slim are still
plausible, or a clearer understanding of proper diagnosing, genetics testing or medical trials to
research how to properly prescribe ADHD medicine. There are many advantages that can come
of pouring funds into ADHD research, yet none that were presented in Shakira Richardsons
work.
Unfortunately, Shakira Richardsons Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder policy
recommendation fails to meet the criteria for a policy recommendation. This proposal lacks a
stock issue, harms, inherency, a plan, solvency, advantages, disadvantages, a proposal of action
or a suggestion for political action. Although Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is an
unfortunate condition, it is a condition that is very much treatable. A recommendation that I
ADHD Refutation Paper
3

would suggest to aid this project would be a policy recommendation directly for the purpose of
fueling more funding to progress research on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.