If you knew that using drugs during your childs birth would lead to hyperactivity later on, don’t you think you might be motivated to learn how to give birth without any drugs, typically called Natural Childbirth?
If hyperactivity is on the rise, why do we think more drugs are the answer?
Drug use soars
A LOST generation of children are growing up taking powerful prescription pills.
Super-strength drugs to tackle a severe childhood behavioural condition are soaring on Tyneside.
According to new figures seen by the Chronicle, the number of youngsters on medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, commonly known as ADHD, has doubled in Newcastle over the last two years.
Other areas are seeing an increase in the prescribing of strong stimulants such as Ritalin, Modafinil, and Dexedrine, as well as antidepressant Atomoxetine – which can all counteract hyperactivity.
The figures show prescriptions in the Newcastle Primary Care Trust area alone shot up from 2,284 in 2005-06 to 4,073 in 2006-07.
In North Tyneside, prescription numbers exploded from 528 in 2005/06 to 2,367 in 2006/07.
Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland and Durham City also saw an increase in the number of prescriptions.
Children as young as six could be getting the drugs, and the rise in prescriptions has been blasted by a psychiatric health watchdog, the Citizens’ Commission on Human Rights, which claims children are being “drugged into submission”.
ADHD expert Paul McArdle, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist based at Newcastle’s Flemming Nuffield Unit, says the drugs can dramatically improve a child’s quality of life.
But he admits medicating the hyperactive is cheaper than other methods.
He explained: “With the right diagnosis and the right dose of medication, these drugs can help a child lead a more normal life and reduce a lot of the distress ADHD causes.
“There are other ways of dealing with children who have ADHD, such as specialist group work, but the investment needed for that is colossal and the funds are just not available.
“So we’re left with a real dilemma – medicate, or leave the child in an impossible situation where the future looks very bleak. One of the reasons for the increase in prescriptions could be that we are now giving out monthly doses of medication rather than previously, when we would prescribe around three months.”
ADHD severely affects around one in every 100 children in the UK, but many more are mildly affected – thought to be as many as 10%. There are thought to be more than one million adult sufferers.
The condition is caused by a dysfunction in the brain which leads the child to become overloaded with information which cannot be processed.
It is estimated that ADHD drugs cost the Newcastle PCT alone more than £198,000 in the past year and some argue they are not necessary and could even harm a child.
Brian Daniels, from the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, said: “Children do experience problems and upsets in life that may result in mental troubles.
“But to represent that these troubles are caused by chemical imbalances or incurable brain diseases that can only be alleviated with dangerous drugs is dishonest, harmful and often deadly.
“They mask the real cause of problems in life and debilitate the individual, so denying him or her the opportunity for real recovery and hope for the future.”
Mum Deborah Bennett, from Washington, has decided against drugs to treat her nine-year-old son Jack’s ADHD, despite being offered Ritalin and a way to cope with his uncontrollable behaviour.
Jack, a pupil at Maplewood School in Sunderland, which specialises in helping children with conditions such as ADHD, is prone to uncontrollable swearing and aggressive outbursts towards other children, and can seldom be left alone.
Deborah, 38, said: “I was worried about the effects drugs would have on him because sometimes they can make the children seem like zombies.
“Although the summer holidays are coming up and I’m concerned about how I’ll manage his behaviour, I won’t go for drugs – and I only would as a very last resort.”
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Drug makes family life better
WITHOUT powerful ADHD medication, family life for the Fosters would be fraught with difficulties.
Jordan Foster was just five when he was given Ritalin by experts to control the condition, making him the youngest child in Gateshead to ever be given the drug.
Consultants were stunned when they visited the Fosters at their home in Low Fell, and saw the unruly youngster dart around the house attempting to rip radiators from walls and hurl toys at them.
They immediately diagnosed ADHD and Jordan is currently on a slow-release form of Ritalin 12 hours a day.
The drug often causes the youngster, now nine, to lose his appetite, but mum Christine, 43, maintains they have never looked back on their decision.
“Jordan’s behaviour was very destructive and we couldn’t do anything together as a family,” said Christine, who also has sons George, 12, and Andrew, 18, with husband Frank, 49.
“I would end up taking Jordan out separately to Frank and the boys because someone needed to control him constantly.
“We could never go out for family meals because his behaviour would cause people to stare and tut at us.
“But since the medication started, things have changed a lot and Jordan is more stable. We know what he is going to do and how he is going to react.”
Electrician Frank and Christine were initially hesitant about giving Jordan such strong medication, but were worried the condition would disrupt the youngster’s education.
And to make matters worse, Jordan, a pupil at Lindisfarne School in Gateshead, has also been diagnosed with autism.
“Initially we just gave him Ritalin during school hours and it improved his concentration a lot,” added Christine, who now runs a counselling service for families with children who have ADHD.
“He can behave more like a normal little boy and make friends, whereas before, his behaviour and the noises he made scared the other children.
“Putting Jordan on medication was a very difficult decision, but it has so many benefits and our family life is now a lot better.”

But isn’t that decision made so much easier simply because the drugs exist and are widely available?
Nutrition, gentle natural birth, and attachment parenting are the answer for this “LOST generation of children”

Jenny Hatch