Get out and about to defeat ADHD, not overuse of 'chemical cosh' Ritalin

Get out and about to defeat ADHD, not overuse of 'chemical cosh' Ritalin

I have been against the use of Ritalin, nicknamed the chemical cosh, for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ever since it became fashionable in the US for controlling difficult children.

There was no long-term safety data and there still isn’t.

That concerns me and on hearing that prescriptions of Ritalin in the UK have exploded over 10 years from 158,000 per annum to 661,463, I’m extremely worried.

The use of Ritalin, a psychiatric drug, is now widespread and the guidelines state it should not be given to preschool children.

The Association of Educational Psychologists say there’s been a substantial increase in its use in under-sixes and, in some cases, under-threes.

This is shocking, especially as there are alternative approaches to ADHD that work.

Ritalin is a psychostimulant and besides being used to treat ADHD it’s also used to counteract narcolepsy (uncontrollably falling asleep), depression and obesity.

One of the worst aspects of Ritalin use in children is that there’s a popular trend to combine it with antidepressants.

This is despite there being no information about the effect that such a cocktail of drugs could have on a child’s developing brain.

One of the reasons I am against the use of psychostimulant drugs in children is that their beneficial effects on behaviour are not maintained in the long term.

This necessitates stronger and stronger doses being given. It’s becoming common for a child to be given stronger doses than recommended to kick-start them in the morning and last through the day.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Parents of children with ADHD will be wagging their fingers and accusing me of not understanding how ­energy-sapping a child with ADHD can be.

Well, I do, I had one. And there’s another way.

Just getting your child outdoors will help. The park, the playground, anywhere but indoors will improve your childâ €™s symptoms by 30%.

With ADHD affecting around three to five children per 100, we must embrace solutions other than a chemical cosh.

Symptoms of ADHD â€" overactive, impulsive behaviour and difficulty in concentrating â€" are common to most kids from time to time.

And while teachers and parents who are unable to control them call for medical help, resorting to heavy drugs is only storing up trouble in the future.

What is it? Newborn reflexes

All babies have certain automatic movements they’re born with â€" reflexes that help them protect themselves. They usually last until about three months and are then lost.

All these reflexes remain from when we were tree-dwellers.

Step reflex If you hold your baby under her arms and let her feet touch a firm surface, she’ll make stepping movements.

Grasp reflex Your baby’s fingers will tightly grasp anything that’s placed in her palm.

Her grasp is so strong that her whole body weight can be supported if she grabs your fingers with both her hands. The soles of her feet will also curl over if they’re touched or tickled.

Rooting reflex Your baby will search for your breast to feed. Gently stroke her cheek and she’ll turn in that direction and open her mouth.

Moro reflex If your baby’s startled, she will throw out her arms and legs as if to catch hold of something. Her limbs will then slowly curl inwards, and her fists will be clenched.

First aid tips for cuts and grazes

A boy with a grazed knee

 

As long as a cut is superficial and isn’t infected (this is a risk with cuts from fingernails, plants or animals), it shouldn’t require treatment.

A graze is simply a skin abrasion that leaves the surface raw and tender. A cut that bleeds profusely can lead to shock, so treat it as an emergency. A very jagged cut may require stitches and with a deep or dirty cut there’s a risk of tetanus.

Here’s what to do:

? Rinse the wound under running water and pat it dry with a gauze swab. Cover it with sterile gauze.

? If possible, raise the injured area above heart level and support it there to slow the flow of blood. Don’t touch the wound.

? Clean the area around the wound with soap and water. Wipe away from it and use a clean piece of gauze for each wipe. Pat dry, remove the gauze and apply a sterile dressing.

? If the cut is bleeding profusely or if it’s particularly dirty or deep, take the person to hospital .