Product Description

At Last! A Healthy, Drug-Free Alternative to Ritalin

Nearly one-tenth of all school-aged children in the United States are being coerced into taking mood-altering drugs with side effects that include insomnia, tearfulness, rebound irritability, personality change, nervousness, anorexia, nausea, dizziness, headaches, heart palpitations, and cardiac arrhythmia. These are the children diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit with hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Ritalin Is Not the Answer confronts and challenges what has become common practice and teaches parents and educators a healthy, comprehensive behavioral program that really works as an alternative to the epidemic use of medication-without teaching children to use drugs in order to handle their behavioral and emotional problems.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #245692 in Books
• Published on: 1999-01-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Review
My faith in my profession is almost renewed! Stein not only flies in the face of conventional psychological ''wisdom'' where ADD/ADHD is concerned, but he has written a book that is completely devoid of psychobabble. Even if you don't have a child with attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, buy ''Ritalin Is Not the Answer". Thank you, Dr. Stein, for bringing a thousand rays of sunshine to America's children." (John Rosemond, Family Psychologist and Nationally Syndicated Columnist)

"This book should be read by every physician before prescribing Ritalin and is an absolute must for any parent of a child diagnosed as having ADD and ADHD." (John W. Verheul, diplomate, American Academy of Family Practice)

"Stein has years of experience at successfully treating hyperactive children without the use of drugs. Any parent who thinks his or her child may have an attention disorder (ADD or ADHD) should read this clear and practical book before seeking treatment." (Edward D. Smith, professor of psychology, Longwood College)

"At last! A book that views ADHD children as capable of learning . . . . This book not only debunks the idea that ADHD children are diseased, but it gives parents a practical step-by-step program for helping these children learn to control their own thinking and behavior." (Thomas G. Moeller, professor of psychology, Mary Washington College)

"Stein has presented an excellent guide to parenting skills that EVERY parent needs. All children, with or without ADD/ADHD, their parents and teachers will benefit from the Caregivers Skill Program." (Patty Whitfield, associate professor of special education, Longwood College)

From the Inside Flap
At Last! A Healthy, Drug-Free Alternative to RitalinNearly one-tenth of all school-aged children in the United States are being coerced into taking mood-altering drugs with side effects that include insomnia, tearfulness, rebound irritability, personality change, nervousness, anorexia, nausea, dizziness, headaches, heart palpitations, and cardiac arrhythmia. These are the children diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit with hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Ritalin Is Not the Answer confronts and challenges what has become common practice and teaches parents and educators a healthy, comprehensive behavioral program that really works as an alternative to the epidemic use of medication-without teaching children to use drugs in order to handle their behavioral and emotional problems.

From the Back Cover
At Last! A Healthy, Drug-Free Alternative to Ritalin

Nearly one-tenth of all school-aged children in the United States are being coerced into taking mood-altering drugs with side effects that include insomnia, tearfulness, rebound irritability, personality change, nervousness, anorexia, nausea, dizziness, headaches, heart palpitations, and cardiac arrhythmia. These are the children diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit with hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Ritalin Is Not the Answer confronts and challenges what has become common practice and teaches parents and educators a healthy, comprehensive behavioral program that really works as an alternative to the epidemic use of medication-without teaching children to use drugs in order to handle their behavioral and emotional problems.

Customer Reviews

Somebody's got to say it
The sheer numbers of diagnoses and the sheer numbers of kids on ADD/ADHD meds scares the bejeezus out of me. It just doesn't make rational sense to me that these 'diseases' could appear out of nowhere in such numbers. Somebody has to stand up and question the road that ADD/ADHD adherents are leading our society down before we turn into a nation of pill-popping fools.
My 5 year old was labeled with ADHD. Nothing any of the professionals said could rationally explain to me how it was that my thoughtful, loving, intelligent but energetic kid could suddenly turn into this horror of a wild being the moment he stepped foot into their classroom that they claimed. It made no sense to me.
I am a good parent. Consistent and clear. Patient. Praising, but using consequences. All those things you should do. But Dr. Stein provided guidelines for another whole level of interaction that I could use with my son that brought results! And no, I did not feel invalidated or insulted as some reviewers did. Dr. Stein isn't saying 'you are a bad parent' -- he's saying, 'there's more you can do, and here's how'.

I highly recommend this book to any parent that is seeking an alternative to medications. Give the parenting guidelines an honest and sincere try and see if you don't get good results.

OUTSTANDING !!! Effectively debunks the whole ADD/ADHD myth
I have read over 15 books on ADD/ADHD and Ritalin and this one stands out. ADD/ADHD is mostly an utterly criminal myth perpetuated by pharmaceutical industries who look at your child as nothing more than an annuity stream, social workers looking for a new revenue stream, the educational system who believes the ideal student is the stoned, silent, lethargic student, and parents who swallow this line hook, line and sinker because they are looking to rationalize why little Johnny is driving them nuts and looking for a simple solution ("just a pill a day and all your problems go away...") and the publishing business (An amazon search on "ADD" turned up 6,500+ hits; You tell me this isn't an industry).

Did you know Ritalin is an amphetamine? Does anyone see the irony in pushing amphetamines to 5 year olds while arresting 15 year olds that take them?

Are you aware there has not been a single, FDA approved study on Ritalin and young children?

Are you aware that there are more diagnoses of ADD/ADHD each year than there are cancer, heart attacks, lung cancer, breast cancer, etc. COMBINED !!!! There is medical consensus on what causes all those things yet there is no consensus on exactly what ADD/ADHD is, no consensus on its cause, no consensus on what area of the brain is impacted, in short, no consensus on anything about ADD/ADHD, which should be the biggest red flag. When there is no facts, but plenty of opinions, you need to ask yourself it its even real in the first place. This book's first few chapters explore the facts and myths around ADD/ADHD. You owe it to your children to educate yourself before you become just another pusher.

Probably less than 5% of children diagnosed as ADD/ADHD warrant medication. The other 95% are pawns in a multi-billion dollar game. This book recommends some simple yet efective - and amphetamine free - parenting strategies that address the behavior patterns that cause children to get labelled ADD/ADHD. You owe it to your children to try these before you become just another drug pusher.

Successful use of techniques
I read many of the reviews of this book before I made my purchase. In reading this and many other ADHD books, I agree that for a successful life, one must learn to control one's behavior or be eaten alive by society in one way, shape or form.

The strict disciplinary tact outlined by this book has helped tremendously in curbing my 6 year old's impulsive behaviors. The understanding of the use of affirmative and positive reinforcement as well as "boredom" as a consequence has truly helped our son as well as our parental sanity. This book may not be for everybody - but it is a Godsend for our family.