The Pill Predicament: Should we medicate our kids to change their behavior?
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The result: Our children are vilified and criminalized for behavior that, when exhibited by White children, prompts calls for treatment and support. "While their White counterparts are seen as having mental-health needs, Black children are seen as acting up and labeled bad," says Annelle B. Primm, M.D., M.P.H., an associate professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

Primm says we can't begin to address the problem until we first overcome our own biases. "We need to shift the discussion from concern over our children being drugged to how our children are being treated," she says. "Let's be sure our kids get the attention they need and aren't shunted into the direction of the juvenile justice system, because you know what that means for our community."

MOVING BEYOND THE STIGMA
If your child has behavior issues in school and you're not sure why, take steps to discover the root causes and get help:

• Ask questions. If the teacher complains that your child consistently has trouble focusing and has a hard time sitting still, find out why. Get a complete educational, psychological and neuropsychological evaluation done by a trained mental-health professional, particularly one who understands our culture. Mental-health practitioners are more likely to run the full battery of evaluations to make their assessments. Prices vary, and insurance may not cover the cost, so it's best to shop around. Ask your pediatrician for a referral, or identify a local mental-health-care clinic.
• Know your rights. A teacher can't "diagnose" a child, but she can share her observations with the child's evaluator. Also understand that in most states it's not illegal for a school to require a student to take medication in order to attend; many schools may even say that they are "not equipped" to teach certain children. (If this happens to you, contact the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates [copaa.org] for help.)
• Consider alternative approaches. If your child is diagnosed with ADHD, be aware that you have options. Studies show that a combination of drugs and therapy works better than drugs alone or therapy alone. In behavior therapy, children learn strategies to help them focus, control their behavior, and respond appropriately when they're frustrated or anxious. Many doctors also recommend exercise and changes in diet and lifestyle, as some research has linked food allergies and excessive television watching to the disorder.

 

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