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Maria Meidanis
Mrs. Harrell
English 4 Honors
11 November 2014
Topic Research Paper Evaluatoin
The majority of students, in both high school and college, have easy access to a number
of illegal or prescription drugs from a day to day basis. This has been a recurring problem for
years now, and it seems to be one in which nobody has a solution for. My main focus of concern
is that the prescription drugs given to patients with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder,
(abbreviated as A.D.H.D), are being frequently misused for purposes in which they werent
intended. While there many are in critical need of medications to aid in coping with A.D.H.D,
the misuse and abuse of these drugs is an issue that is becoming increasingly prevalent, because
medications are being prescribed without consideration of alternative methods of treatment, as
well as the fact that many people who have access to these medications are frequently misusing
them.
The definition of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder is, a neurodevelopmental
disorder characterized by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that cause
functional impairment (Weyandt 223). Even though A.D.H.D is a disorder predominantly in
children, many adults do suffer from this as well. My primary focus is currently on the young
adults, or adolescents, who endure this. As a broad generalization, most children are hyper and
have a high level of energy, but at what point does this become an issue, and when is it necessary
to medicate an adolescent because of this? Although many children qualify to be medicated due
to testing scores and behavioral traits, it is not always imperative for a child to be medicated. I

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believe the root of the problem for such high levels of mishandling and abuse of these
medications is due to the fact that many people are too quick to jump to the option of medication.
Ultimately, there could be other forms of coping with this disorder.
Scientist have found numerous methods for treatment of A.D.H.D as alternative routes to
prescription medications. While many are still being researched and tested, there are a couple
different methods a person can do to help eliminate Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. One
of these methods is by controlling a childs diet. Some even suggest that putting a child with
A.D.H.D. on a special diet may reduce how hyperactive they may be. The Feingold Diet
proposed the elimination of artificial colorings, flavorings, and preservatives in order to decrease
hyperactivity parents who have tried the elimination diet have reported an improvement in
their child's behavior (A.D.H.D. Alternative). When tested, this method did prove to work for
many, and could eliminate the use of prescription medications. Other suggestions are
Behavioral intervention, Chiropractic treatment and Neurofeedback, (A.D.H.D.
Alternative), along with many other substitutions, and all of which have been tested. My point
here, is that other efforts can be made to help ease the symptoms of Attention Deficit
Hyperactive Disorder.
Due to the fact that so many people now are quick to jump to medication for help,
potentially everyone, especially in the high school or college age group, may know someone who
has access to these drugs. The draw to these drugs is because for many, it does lead to weight
loss and the ability to stay awake for long periods of time, because two side effects are
Decreased appetite, and Insomnia (Once Daily). It can be proved that many are taking
these medications for these particular reasons. In a study done amongst college students, it was
proven how many students misuse A.D.H.D medications, and why. It was stated, Stimulant

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misuses for the purpose of weight lost has been reported to be nearly 12 percentand the highest
estimate of prevalence of stimulant misuse among college students is at 55 percent (Weyandt
241). These numbers are becoming higher and higher each year. My point is this: if people were
to find alternative routes of dealing with this disorder, the misuse of this drug would not be as
popular as it is today. However, some children have serious issues in which it is necessary to be
medicated. A lot of the time, their A.D.H.D. may be limiting them from their full potential, and
in this case, I do believe in the use of prescription medication for this cause. The objection to the
usage is only when it can either be managed, or if there is another form of treatment in which
may prove to be equally beneficial.
All of the above are the reasons in which alternative routes of treatment for A.D.H.D
may prevent the misuse and abuse of prescription medications, and that because people are not
doing this currently, high school and college aged people have high access to these drugs. If
these alternative methods of treatment were used, it could prevent many from being medicated,
and it could also prevent the mishandling of these drugs by those who arent prescribed them.

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Works Cited
"ADHD Alternative Treatments: Feingold Diets, Supplement, and More." WebMD. Ed. Patricia
Quinn. WebMD, 1 Feb. 2014. Web. 6 Nov. 2014.
"Once-Daily Drug Lisdexamfetamine Effective And Safe In Treating ADHD. (Cover Story)."
Brown University Child & Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update 15.3 (2013): 1.
Advanced Placement Source. Web. 20 Oct. 2014.
Weyandt, Lisa L., et al. "Pharmacological Interventions For Adolescents And Adults With
ADHD: Stimulant And Nonstimulant Medications And Misuse Of Prescription
Stimulants." Psychology Research & Behavior Management 7. (2014): 223. Advanced
Placement Source. Web. 20 Oct. 2014.

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Maria Meidanis
Harrell
English IV Honrors
October 21, 2014

Research Question: Are children being medicated too quickly for behavioral issues?
Working Thesis Statement: Children with minor behavioral issues are being medicated without
a real probable cause under titles such as Attention Deficit Disorder, (or A.D.D), or Attention
Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, (or A.D.H.D.), which can result in unusual social behaviors, as
well as the abuse of these medications by those who are not in need of them.
Refined Thesis Statement: Due to the fact that medications used to treat A.D.D., and A.D.H.D,
are being overly prescribed, many physical and social issues amongst adolescent aged children
are rising, along with the abuse of these medications becoming even more prevalent in the
present and up in coming society. There are solutions to this such as alternative routes of
treatment, or to limit these prescriptions to a more select group of people.

Annotated Bibliography
"ADHD Alternative Treatments: Feingold Diets, Supplement, and More." WebMD. Ed. Patricia
Quinn. WebMD, 1 Feb. 2014. Web. 6 Nov. 2014.

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This is a website with alternative options to curing and coping with Attention Deficit
Hyperactive Disorder that does not include medication. This sites cases in which other methods
have been tested, and it also shows the results. This will help me in my writings because it give
the readers of my paper an idea of how many other options there are opposed to prescription
medications. In addition, it gives the opinions of others who have personally tested these
different methods, which will back up the claims In my paper.

"Once-Daily Drug Lisdexamfetamine Effective And Safe In Treating ADHD. (Cover Story)."
Brown University Child & Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update 15.3 (2013): 1.
Advanced Placement Source. Web. 20 Oct. 2014.
This article gives factual evidences which will validate me in my argument, that if
medications for A.D.D and A.D.H.D become overly and unnecessarily prescribed, it will result
in social and physical altering in frequent users, as well as resulting in the misuse of the
medication by those who arent legally prescribed it. The most common means of acquisition
of these medications, is securing them from friends and family (Once). This quote proves my
point because I believe that, because these medications are being given out so often, the rate at
which they are going to be abused is going to reach a new height. They are saying here that the
possession of these medications is coming from people who may even be in the same household.
In my perspective, the abuse can be limited if the medication was only given to people who
would truly rely on it, or if alternative routes of treatment were used.

Weyandt, Lisa L., et al. "Pharmacological Interventions For Adolescents And Adults With
ADHD: Stimulant And Nonstimulant Medications And Misuse Of Prescription

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Stimulants." Psychology Research & Behavior Management 7.(2014): 223. Advanced
Placement Source. Web. 20 Oct. 2014.
This source gives me substantial evidence to support my statement that, due to the high
level of these medications that are being prescribed, misuse has become highly prevalent. This is
increasingly becoming a problem in modern society, proving it with studies tested in the passage.
This will give me scientific confirmation in why these medications are steadily becoming abused
and obtained by those who are not in need of them.