In answer to your personal questions - yes - My research is well acknowledged, cited and respected and I have no intention in engaging that discussion on a facebook thread for home school relationships - see Reed's comment above.

I am glad to see you have highlighted the issue of cholesterol - for which a drug called Statins is used. Over the past decade heavy marketing to medical professionals has increased awareness into getting our cholesterol levels tested to avoid cardio vascular diseaase and statins is appropriate forall. statins is now a $20 billion dollar market worldwide.

The well respected medical journal Lancet reported from clinical trials that 67 individuals would have to be treated for 5 years forthis to have minimal effects and there was no apparent benefit in women.

In addition to ineffectiveness statins are quite dangerous

In 2004 NCEP (expert panel!) recommended previously acceptable levels of cholesterol be lowered. New guidelines were drawn up after recommendations from the panel were accepted. 8 out of 9 members of that panel had financial links to the companies that produce statins.

Each time the guideline levels are reduced new statin prescriptions are written which result in more profits.

Now the American Paediatric Academy have established these guidelines for children. Children from age 8 are subjected to a life long regimen of statins when there is no real evidence to state statins prevents cardiovascular disease.

HOWEVER.... Dr Dean Ornish has shown that by making dietary, exercise, stress reduction and social support improvements we can reduce cholesterol by 40%

And I thank you for highlighting such a good example as cholesterol to illustrate the point.
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The point being here as with statins, is - Is it morally acceptable to addict young children to questionable medication?

And it is doctors who are questioning this - they are in a far better situation to do this than most of us. They are the ones making those comments on youtube --Despite your emotive comments.... I believe that the public are intelligent enough to work that out forthemselves.

Another source that can quote you scientifc chapter and verse on the harmful effects of ritalin et al - is Dr Peter Breggin- 60,000 results on Google


The potential side effects of behvioural medications make the original symptoms worse in some cases. This is listed with the medication!

The side effects of anti depressants are cited as potentially increasing suicidal tendencies.

In truth everyone is individual and I believe should be treated as such and have a right to be treated HOLISTICALLY! as Dr Ornish's work testifies!

I totally note your comment :

"To make a blanket statement that one of the treatments is not effective when, in fact, that is not the case is irresponsible. "

I suggest you pursue that with Professor William Pelham of the University of Buffalo, who made the comment Having been involved in researching the effects of Ritalin since its inception!

However I do applaud your comment from your above post.

Parents should be encouraged to use behavioral techniques before being given prescriptions for medications.

My original point to this thread was that we should all be embracing ways in which that dialogue can be improved between home and school forthe benefit of our children.

COME ON WHAT DO YOU THINK????