why are we medicating so many of our children?

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my word, what an emotive subject!!

In a lot of ways I agree with the OP. There are FAR too many kids out there on needless drugs, though I suspect its far more common in the US (where drug companies make big money) than here in the UK where prescription drugs are free for under 16s. When my daughter received her dx we discussed drug treatment which I flatly refused, and her consultant agreed. However I have not ruled it out completely as I have no idea how she will fare over the next few years as hormones etc kick in, but that bridge will be crossed when, and if, we come to it.
My personal opinion is that parents, myself included at times, believe doctors to know what's best for our children when we're suddenly presented with a dx that we have little or no understanding of, so therefore if they say medicate, then that must be what is needed. Doctors in turn are pressured by the drug companies to hawk the new miracle cure that will make this childs life so much better (and them much richer!). There are a lot of parents who, with a little research and effort, could remove their child from medication but due to lack of time, interest etc they don't. They take the easy option (and I'm not for one minute suggesting that is the case with anyone on here, you wouldn't be on this board if it were ) and leave things as they are. Equally there are children who SHOULD be medicated who aren't because their parents are so anti drugs, and whilst these parents are to be commended for their ideals, sometimes they should step back and look at the bigger picture and whether their child is suffering for their beliefs!
But as someone else has said, never judge someone unless you've walked in their shoes, and what we must remember is that all these parents love their children, and genuinely want what is best for them, and whilst we may not always agree on each others methods, surely that has to be applauded

CNN <-----(CLICK on CNN...Article linked with study stating meds don't help autism)

I haven't the foggiest idea why people medicate just based on diagnosis. The parents I know that have, have done so to appease the school system or the teachers.

people dont get a diagnosis then go out and say hey my kid has autism can you give him the newest drug my god how generalized is that ...

can't speak for the rest but i could care less what the school thinks about meds.. but then i'm lucky the school system we are in does not push the idea of meds.

again i dont think the anti medication people or the medication ones will ever agree it's funny however that people have such strong opinions about other people why not worry about yourselves

Maybe I am just more concerned with developing organs and brains? Did you even read the article?

your not defectvie!! ! but perhaps the diagnosis they assumed was wrong and thus the meds would not help. I became suicidal on antidepressants but then i wasn't depressed my complaint at the time was pain and their insistance was that antidepressants treat pain. Also important is that some meds and some patients respond at different levels i'm surprised at times when you find a doctor who keeps wanting to increase increase increase the simple fact is taht perhaps in some the very lowest is better. i have a cousin who was put on a very very large dose of ativan for stress. now the amt was outrageous it could have tranquilized a horse and that doctor truely should loose his license .

anyway...

to the poster with the article yes i read it but then i never said meds treat autism. and they didn't either if you look closely what their studies showed was that treatment with certain drugs showed some positives... they didnt however show the studies but my guess is that the actual things being treated were not the autism which has no med or cure... would more likely be the co-existing conditions that some have like bi polar for example.

i care too about organs and the brain my life and career are built on medicine but my point to you was simply that if i choose to medicate my child it really isn't anyones business but mine the doctors and my sons. and this whole argument on here is a bit counter productive because neither side will ever agree.

if you choose not to medicate good for you and i'm glad that your having success this way. If i choose too good for me and i'm glad our lives are having success.. see what i mean ..

anyway nobody is defective!!

You obviously haven't read the stories in this thread.

Yes, well, it doesn't matter if the child is so unable to control their own actions and feelings that they may not make it to adulthood.

I don't medicate but the parents here who do mostly have pretty darn compelling reasons for it. READ their stories. You are judging without bothering to gather the information.