A Special
Investigative Report on Ritalin
A Special
Investigative Report on Ritalin
The Merrow Report is a quarterly PBS documentary series about children and education.
"A.D.D.--A DUBIOUS DIAGNOSIS?" (C) 1995 is one of a series of special reports produced by The Merrow Report. This special investigation explores the diagnosis of A.D.D., the practice of prescribing Ritalin for children with this diagnosis, and potential problems which can arise. The Merrow team revealed that the manufacturer of Ritalin, Ciba-Geigy, was giving significant funding to CHADD, the largest A.D.D. support group in the US.
Commentary and information in the transcript include the following:
"THOUSANDS OF PARENTS TURN TO CHADD FOR INFORMATION ABOUT A.D.D. CHADD'S 650 LOCAL CHAPTERS HOLD REGIONAL CONFERENCES AND MONTHLY MEETINGS, OFTEN IN SCHOOLS, WHERE FREE MEDICAL ADVICE IS GIVEN. CHADD RECOMMENDS A TREATMENT PLAN THAT INCLUDES BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION, COUNSELING, AND MEDICATION. "
"CIBA-GIEGY HAS NO DOUBTS. IT SAYS IT WILL CONTINUE FUNDING CHADD."
"AFTER WE BEGAN ASKING QUESTIONS, CHADD DECIDED TO TELL ITS MEMBERS ABOUT ITS LONGSTANDING FINANCIAL LINKS WITH CIBA-GEIGY. CHADD SAYS IT WILL CONTINUE TO ACCEPT CIBA-GEIGY'S MONEY."
"MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY DOUBTS ABOUT THE COURSE WE'RE ON, BUT PERHAPS WE SHOULD. AT THE RATE WE'RE GOING, BY THE YEAR 2000 WE'LL BE DIAGNOSING AND MEDICATING FIFTEEN PER CENT OF OUR CHILDREN, EIGHT MILLION KIDS."
Read the whole transcript of the hour-long special report by going to The Merrow Report website..