Can someone answer this please? Is ADD/ADAH hereditary, for instance if your mother had it would you be more likely to have this? Can also alcohol help produce this? I really need an answer if you can help thanks. Sam

I looked at some add sites. Most mention heredity as a cause but none gives numbers on per centage. They also say that enviroment can be a cause but again no numbers. An alchoholic mother would possibly create a bad situation to affect a child but likely would have to be for an extended time frame. Some sites say refined sugars and caffine are a cause while another cited medical studies that show no corrolation with diet and only suggest more fruits. Seems you can find any answer you want but nothing looked authoratative to me. CHADD is a group that may be helpful.

I can't offer an answer to your question, only my opinion. I have seen children that clearly exhibit behavior of ADD. Most of the children are treated with drugs when they actually need discipline instead. I have read studies that show conclusively that any sort of stimulant (including smoking) will increase your test scores.

I was offended when one of my sons teachers suggested he be medicated because he wouldn't do his school work. This was always a perpetual problem with him. He showed no signs of being learning disabled or other behavior disorder at all. He just didn't do his school work. I had him evaluated by a psychiatrist that specializes in children and adolescents. There was no abnormality he could diagnose, but did offer drugs to see if it helped.

These powerful stimulants definitely give a child a competitive edge in school. What are we teaching children today? They have an excuse not to perform because of a disability? Drugs are the answer, not self discipline? I don't like it.

I know all about the drugs have been on and off for years. I want to be drug free of this but, am having some major problems with being off of them. I have a problem working or anything connectedt to living my life as I used to. Any suggestions?

Unfortunately, Wildflower is correct.. lack of discipline is at the root of many of our drugged children and adults. But equally unfortunate, is that SOME PEOPLE really DO need these medications to function.

ADD and ADHD are conditions where outside stimuli is difficult to filter and interferes with functions... there may be deficits in the brains chemistry that causes this, but it is known that some meds DO work at reducing the affects of over-whelming stimulation allowing a person to function more normally. My sons BOTH have ADHD (and at times it is a serious challenge), but we have opted to try a non-drug approach and it is successful .. at this time. We are advocates for our boys and the pediatrician we have is willing to work with us to promote their well-being.

Some people DO need the meds, and to use them does NOT mean you are a failure. People do what they need to do to function. I am on anti-depressants. Most of the time, I forget to even take a Tylenol when I have a splitting head ache, so I am NOT an advocate of the "Easy Fix". I can function with the stresses of raising 2 disabled sons, a husband in college, being a single income household (mine) and mounting college debts because of the meds, and I am NOT ashamed of needing a small helping medical hand. I will get off the meds when I don't need them, it is as simple as that. The resources are there, I use them when I need them and then I leave them when I don't.