I. Straight Talk About Straight Responsible Treatment
ADHD Treatment
The overall treatment plan for ADHD usually includes more than one type of help. The first treatment step focuses on behavior: parents, teachers and healthcare professionals teach patients how to control some of their inappropriate actions. When a doctor believes it is necessary, the next step involves the use of medication that may help improve the symptoms of ADHD. According to some experts, a combination of medicine, behavior therapy and emotional support leads to great improvement in people with ADHD. A 14-month study involving more than 500 children showed that school-aged children diagnosed with ADHD had a marked reduction in core ADHD symptoms when treated with a combination of medication and behavioral treatment.²

Stimulant Medicines
Since your child's doctor has prescribed a medication as part of his or her ADHD treatment, your child is likely to be taking the kind of medicine known as a "stimulant." Stimulant medications help the brain normalize the activity of certain chemicals that are affected by ADHD (these chemicals are known as neurotransmitters). Stimulant medications include both short- and long-acting treatments. If you are not sure whether the medication your child is taking is a stimulant, ask your child's doctor.

When taken appropriately, stimulant medications can improve symptoms in up to 90% of children with ADHD.³ They help calm children who are hyperactive and help children who have trouble concentrating to focus. Stimulants have been used safely and effectively in the treatment of ADHD for over 40 years. However, like other prescription medications, if stimulant medications are misused, abused or given to kids without ADHD, there may be serious health consequences.

What Can I Do to Help Ensure My Child Only Takes His or Her Medication as it is Supposed to be Taken?

• Maintain open lines of communication with your child and his or her teachers.
• Make sure that your child understands that as with all prescription medications, medications for ADHD should only be taken by him or her, as directed by a physician. They should never be given to friends.
• Kids and teens need to know that if they give away or sell prescription medications, not only are they participating in conduct that could cause serious harm to another individual, they are also engaging in illegal activity.⁴

In the past, all medications for ADHD had to be taken periodically during the day. Today, there are options available that do not need to be taken during school hours. New, longer-acting formulations of the original treatments have been developed and are now available. Keeping your child's medication out of his or her school may decrease the likelihood of diversion. Also, children are sometimes reluctant to take their medication at school because of concern about being singled out as "different" or about peers accusing them of "being on drugs." If your child is currently taking a medication that is given in school you may want to talk to his or her doctor about whether a longer-acting treatment may be appropriate. However, if your child does need to take medicine during school hours, be familiar with the school's policies and procedures for dispensing medication. Procedures vary, so in addition to following the policies of your child's school, you may want to consider some of the following precautions.