Increases in medication use amongst children astonishing…
More and more drugs intended for adults are being prescribed by doctors to children. Bloomberg reports that diabetes type II meds, statins for cholesterol, and high blood pressure meds are on the rise. More alarmingly meds for ADHD continue to rise for off-label use. An interesting quote: “There was also a 40 percent rise in drugs for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with the increase for girls, at 63 percent, rising faster than for boys, at 33 percent.
The researchers also saw a boost of ADHD drug use in 15 to 19 year olds, an age group for which use typically declines as teenagers are taken off the medications. That may be a sign that ADHD drugs are being used more as stimulants to help teens keep up with schoolwork or for recreational use, Cox said. There is a sense that they are being used at that age for productivity at school,'’ said Cox.”
Failure to keep our children healthy with so much proven information available makes me shudder. We really have a problem on our hands as a society when we are feeding our kids the wrong foods for health and ignoring what is known about truly healthy lifestyles. As a nurse, it’s my job to counsel parents on what is right and wrong about the foods we eat. Although social-economics comes in as a factor and cultural dietary habits as well, it means that people are more willing to eat what they feel “everyone else” is devouring without the thought of the consequences. It also tells me that we as a society, do not make the right foods available to everyone. If you have the money available for fresh vegetables and fruits, high grade proteins, etc. then you are the privileged few versus the “get whatever” processed, high simple carbohydrate, devoid of vitamins and mineral foods we can afford. The high-fat dollar menu is our budget savior.
Our future depends of clear thinking, healthy minds. We need leaders who have healthy bodies and good stamina to handle the stress of leadership. Always notice the age and health changes of our presidents after 4 or 8 years in office. The stress takes it’s toll. Our future leaders of industry need creative minds, not minds dulled by atherosclerosis or drug use. Do my fellow nurses have an opinion on this?