My son started on ritalin in 9th grade due to self medicating to quell his ADHD symptoms. He has had other problems most of his life, but nobody could put their finger on it. He went from doing well on the meds to stealing them to sell at school, since there is a very big market for ritalin and Aderall. The kids open the capsules and snort the stuff inside. I am in no way implying your sons would do this. I have watched my son go down the tubes since the medication started though. We recently had him switched to Concerta , since there is a lesser chance of abuse with that.
He is Bipolar, ADHD, and OCD but like you said Doctors are all to quick to just write a prescription. I asked ther last doc about taking him off the stimulents, since I read bipolar kids who are on stimulents tend to get violent, he just brushed me off and said he does not have to be one or the other, he can be bipolar AND adhd. I wish I had better insurance, but now we are totally out of benefits for his mental health, so we are stuck going thru the subsidized agency.
My friend, who's son has various disorders, just had him tested at a neuropsychologist. THis guy did every test known to man and pinned what was wrong with this boy. He took 6 hours and it would have cost $3000 for the testing.
My experience with our insurance, is such: They sent me to a psychologist first, then after he analyzed things for a while, we were sent to a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist seem to be there only for medication management. We were only alloted 15 minute visits with him, but 50 minutes with the psychologist.
I sometimes wonder if my son would have been better off without the meds. He is now on 4 meds and he is a mess.I am not sure about his future. He used to want to go to college, but that is not even an option right now. He won't even get up for school, since the meds have messed with his sleep schedule so much. The stimulents tend to make it hard for them to sleep...then they prescribe soemthing to help them sleep...then they can't get out of bed in the am...viscious circle. I am sure there are people out there with great results.....I just wanted to share my story.
Melissa
