Dr Oz: Criteria For Diagnosing ADHD
Dr. Oz talked with parents who lost their son because of his deadly addiction to Adderall after being misdiagnosed with ADHD. They shared their story of helplessness as they tried to get help for him, but were turned away by doctors who cited patient/doctor confidentiality. They also discussed the guidelines for prescribing Adderall along with the startling number of college and high school students who are taking Adderall so they can study longer and perform better on tests.
Dr Oz: Is Adderall Safer Than Aspirin?
Dr. Ned Hallowell, an ADHD expert, told Dr. Oz that Adderall is a very safe drug when used appropriately, but when it is not used properly Adderall is extremely dangerous. He added that when prescribing medications, especially a controlled substance, great care has to be taken because you are literally playing with fire. Dr. Hallowell compared Adderall to Aspirin when he said that both are safe when they are taken properly, but when they are not, they can both lead to suicide. Dr. Oz adamantly disagreed with Dr. Hallowell’s comparison saying that a person cannot become addicted to Aspirin like they can with Adderall, especially the young people who are taking it to perform better in school. Dr. Hallowell expressed that Dr. Oz is definitely correct in that fact and he believes that the increased cases of Adderall addiction are deplorable and they need to be fixed.
Dr Oz: Adderall As Addictive As Cocaine
Dr Oz shared the FDA’s recommendation that Adderall be included on the same list as Cocaine because both drugs are equally addictive.
Would it shock you to know that the FDA has placed Adderall on the same list with Cocaine as being highly addictive? Dr. Oz wants everyone to recognize Adderall pills when they see them because kids are literally taking them like candy and sharing them with their friends. Not only is that dangerous, but it is also a felony to share medication, so if you see your child or someone else’s child with those blue pills it should raise a huge red flag of concern. Dr. Oz is deeply concerned that our kids have a dependency on Adderall to help them get through life.
Dr Oz: Faking an ADHD Diagnosis
Dr. Oz looked up the criteria for a patient to be diagnosed with ADHD and he was stunned by how easy it could be for a person to “fake” their way through getting the diagnosis and a prescription of Adderall. Dr. Ned Hallowell said it takes a lot of skill and knowledge to make sure a patient is not faking it, but he said if he ever has a doubt he always requires further testing before he gives a final diagnosis. He also told Dr. Oz that he is clear with patients that he needs their permission to speak with other family members, or even teachers, so he can give them the best care possible.
- Fails to give close attention to details
- Does not seem to listen when spoken to
- Difficulty organizing tasks (Dr. Oz joked that this covers just about every male in America)
Dr Oz: Adderall ADHD Recommendation
Dr. Oz shared his final thoughts about ADHD and Adderall. He believes that his fellow doctors need to do a better job. He feels that they need to be better informed when it comes to diagnosing patients with ADHD and handing out prescriptions for Adderall. He admits he would not personally know how to diagnose a patient and he feels the best person to diagnose ADHD and prescribe Adderall is a trained psychiatrist. Dr. Oz ended by saying that we need to take a hard look at ourselves and the culture that has been created where kids feel they need to be perfect, pushing them to these addictive medications to help them perform better in school. He wants you to talk to your kids right now and tell them it is okay to not be perfect all the time.
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