Guest post from AbleChild. Republished with permission at JoeHoft.com
ADHD: A Call for Scrutiny
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has recently found itself at the forefront of national discourse. With the newly appointed Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert Kennedy, Jr., emphasizing the importance of scientific backing for health regulations, ADHD stands out as a prime candidate for reassessment—an area where the scientific foundation is notably shaky.
In a noteworthy development, two prominent publications, the New York Times Magazine and DailyMail.com, have recently highlighted Secretary Kennedy’s initiative to examine the potential dangers of psychiatric medications, including antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and, notably, methylphenidate, the latter being a common treatment for ADHD.
Scientology’s Role in Questioning ADHD Treatment
Interestingly, both articles have paid homage to the Church of Scientology for its early and vocal opposition to the mass prescribing of drugs to children diagnosed with ADHD. The Times article recalls how, two decades ago, the Church organized nationwide protests against the psychiatric establishment and the use of Ritalin, ultimately acknowledging that while one need not be a Scientologist to see merit in the skepticism surrounding ADHD diagnoses, it was, in fact, the Church that led the charge.
A week later, the Daily Mail revisited actor Tom Cruise’s infamous 2005 critique of antidepressants during a Today Show interview. Once derided for his comments, Cruise is now being recognized for his prescient views on the excessive prescription of psychiatric drugs, with the Daily Mail noting, “Cruise’s tirade is being viewed in a new light.” Quite the turn of events, wouldn’t you say?
The Over-Prescribing Crisis
Today, the HHS Secretary has access to data that corroborate the concerns raised by Cruise and the Church of Scientology. It is clear that the nation is grappling with a significant mental health crisis, exacerbated by the rampant over-prescribing of psychiatric medications.
The question, however, lingers: why is the federal government investing in mental health services within schools and communities when the scientific validity of psychiatric disorders remains unproven? Why fund psychiatric treatments that lack evidence of treating any discernible brain abnormality?
The New York Times Magazine article painstakingly chronicles the research surrounding ADHD over the past several decades, yet ultimately concedes that no scientific evidence exists to substantiate the claim of any brain irregularity associated with the disorder. Meanwhile, countless children’s lives have been adversely impacted due to misleading ADHD diagnoses and their corresponding treatments, likened to substances with cocaine-like effects.
Government Spending and Mental Health
Lawmakers appear powerless or unwilling to safeguard children from erroneous diagnoses and the dangers of these medications. For instance, the Biden Administration, despite lacking scientific evidence for any psychiatric abnormalities, allocated $240 million in mental health awards to establish 400 community health centers nationwide.
This staggering investment does not even account for the tens of billions spent by the federal Medicaid program, which remains the largest financier of mental health services in the U.S., with expenditures nearing $28 billion in 2022.
Perhaps most concerning is the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which broadens the scope for schools to utilize Medicaid funding for mental health services, including screenings. Nearly a billion dollars is being funneled into mental health resources and personnel in schools, even allowing nurses to oversee student care.
Taxpayer Accountability and the Future of Mental Health
When did it become acceptable for taxpayers to shoulder the financial burden of unscientific mental health diagnoses? When did it become permissible for federal funds to be allocated towards mind-altering drugs devoid of proven efficacy? And when did we agree to expose our children to dubious mental health interventions within educational institutions?
Such practices are unacceptable, and it is imperative for every American to demand accountability from lawmakers who possess the authority to address this mental health “crisis.” The alarming trend is clear: each year, the number of Americans diagnosed with mental illness and prescribed psychiatric medications rises, paralleling an increase in suicide rates. Given the absence of scientific substantiation for these diagnoses and treatments, one must wonder how much worse the situation can become.
It is high time for regulatory intervention, starting with a moratorium on federal funding until the mental health industry can produce scientific evidence to support its diagnostic criteria.
How You Can Help
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