My child has been diagnosed with ADD what do I do next?

Some schools require parents to medicate their children or they are not allowed to attend school Parents of children recently diagnosed with ADD (attention deficit disorder) or ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) may not understand the options that are available to them. Unlike oppositional defiant disorder, or conduct disorder, ADD, and ADHD are a little easier to manage. Parents must decide for themselves if they will begin giving their child the medication prescribed. Or seek some alternative type of assistance. There are those who are opposed to giving children medications for this diagnosis. We have heard of schools that will require children to take the meds or they will not be allowed to attend. The faculty and staff feel that the child who is medicated is much easier to handle medicated than without the drugs. Opponents recommend not placing the child on meds; rather help him learn to deal with this limitation without the aid of a prescription. ADHD treatment can also include specialty schools for teens with attention problems. Some schools specialize in helping youth with an attention deficit disorder diagnosis. They will even try to help a child learn to cope with their diagnosis without medications.

Child abuse or parental discipline?

Parents with defiant children sometimes feel their hands are tied when it comes to correcting their children A troubled teen or pre-teen with substance abuse activity is a concern for any parent, how to deal with the defiant child is a major source of controversy today. Parents raised in the late 50's and early 60's remember their parents using corporal punishment to enforce house rules. In today's society such actions could land a parent in jail. This change of events has created the need for places like teen boot camps, military schools, teen evaluation programs, and very strict Christian boarding schools. Some people feel that placing a child in this type of environment is abusive. Others believe that it is the only way to help a child that has developed a life of self entitlement. Which ever side of the fence parents are on most agree that there is a need for teen help programs and more help from local and national governments. In some states if a child does not go to school the parents are held accountable and are punished by the law for being unable to control their child. Some parents will take their child to school only to have them walk out the back door before the parent drives away.