White Paper: Natural Alternatives for Treating ADHD

Samir Deeb-MDST Briefing

INTRODUCTION
There is a growing problem in todays age involving prescription medication. People of all ages
are abusing them and becoming dependent. There are many prescription drugs that are
addictive, including Adderall and Ritalin. These are predominately prescribed to children, teens,
and college students. The intended use for them is to increase focus, help remember things more
easily, and reduce hyperactivity. These drugs are used specifically for the treatment of Attention
Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Although many people do notice a positive change in school
work and attentiveness, as well as improvements in behavior around the home, the side effects of
these drugs can be very dangerous. The side effects range from loss of appetite, lack of sleep,
depression, and weight loss to seizures, drug dependence, and cardiovascular problems. Having
these drugs prescribed to our children is not safe, and when it is used among high school and
college students it is widely abused, with or without a prescription. In order to prevent any harm
that could possibly happen to children and young adults in the US, and around the world, people
must be aware of the many natural alternatives for treating ADHD.
One major problem contributing to the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD is that it is becoming
globalized. Medication for this drug was not very prevalent among foreign countries before the
past two decades. It has grown tremendously because people are, with access to the internet,
able to browse websites and forums designed specifically to educate the viewer on ADHD and its
treatments. These websites are often funded by pharmaceutical companies that make Adderall,
Ritalin, or any of the many alternatives to these drugs out now. This industry is growing rapidly
and it could have a major negative effect on the health of our children and the society as a whole.
These drugs are usually made up of amphetamines, or similar substances, which is a highly
addictive stimulant. Amphetamines have been known to have negative effects and complications
in pregnant women as well. If these young women in college are being prescribed medications
like these and end up getting pregnant, their child could potentially have health issues. If there
was more awareness of natural treatments for ADHD, we could prevent these possibilities and
the growing spread of these prescription drugs. The graph inserted on the next page displays the
beginning of the globalization trend. During this span of 14 years, there were 39 ADHD
prevalence studies published in medical journals and found that while the U.S. dominated
with 14, the other 25 studies were located in 20 countries throughout the world. (Conrad and
Bergey)

Location of ADHD prevalence studies in medical journals, 1992-2006

14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Location of ADHD prevalence studies in medical journals, 1992-2006

BAC
KGROUND
Medication for ADHD has been around since the late 1930s. Adderall and Ritalin, two of the
more famous drugs used for the treatment of ADHD, were introduced in the 1950s. Slight
alternatives of these specific prescriptions are still around today and are still very popular. One
that was created much more recently is Vyvanse, which is one of the top prescribed brands in this
market. These drugs are prescribed by doctors more often every year and they are seen in many
American households today. The rapidly growing spread of this medication is the problem and it
seems to be perpetual. In recent years, the percentages of children diagnosed with ADHD and
given medication for it has spiked. Trends show that in years to come this problem will keep
growing, and new medications will keep coming out when the patent expires for the ones around
now. This makes it very difficult to promote natural alternatives, but if the parents of these
children being diagnosed learned about the terrible side effects of these prescriptions, they may
be more likely to consider it. This industry also generates extreme amounts of revenue for
medicine and our country as a whole. However, the health of our society should be the first
thought when discussing the need for these medications.
SOLUTIONS
For the most extreme situations, medication can be useful in order to relieve the problem more
quickly, however it is never healthy for one to completely rely on medication. From information
gathered through research and several studies, it has been proven that ADHD is caused by
imbalances in the human body or brain. This includes things like Vitamin and Nutrient
deficiencies, Sugar intolerance, and Food allergies. Testing for these things in children and

consulting with a professional about natural methods of fixing these imbalances is the best
approach to maintaining the health of the children, as well as improving the symptoms of
ADHD.
There is a list of Vitamins and Nutrients that, when insufficient in our body, contribute to the
symptoms of ADHD. A lack of essential fatty acids is one. The American diet does not include
a substantial amount of essential fatty acids; therefore people born with a deficiency are more
prone to having ADHD. Studies show that males are affected more by ADHD then females, and
men require higher amounts of essential fatty acids in their diet. Children with ADHD often
develop allergies or asthma as well; these both have been shown to be relieved by an increase in
EFAs in the diet. Studies also have shown that ADHD and low serotonin levels go hand in
hand. Vitamin B6 was used to treat children with low serotonin levels and it generated great
results. Children with ADHD and normal serotonin levels, however, did not react to Vitamin B6
the same. As one can see in the examples provided above, ADHD can simply be relieved by
changing ones diet. One must keep in mind that getting blood tests to determine exactly what
deficiencies a child may have is essential in pursuing natural treatment for ADHD.
Children are highly affected by sugar intake and this can contribute to ADHD symptoms.
Studies have shown that when children ingest even a small amount of sugar, it affects their
behavior in school drastically. However, one study done provided children, which were part of
the study, with a high protein breakfast and 50g of sugar. These children did not seem to have
any bad side effects during school. A second group of children was provided with a breakfast
high in carbohydrates and 50g of sugar. This group of children showed signs of deviant
behavior while at school. These results show that through a well-balanced diet, that is low in
sugar content, children with ADHD should show signs of behavioral improvement.
Lastly, food allergies have been found to have an effect on children with ADHD. Multiple item
elimination diets resulted extremely positive. According to the article Nutritional and other
natural medical treatments for ADHD, this diet had a 73% success rate. Many parents have
control over their childrens diet while they are at home. As they get older it is more difficult to
continue to control what they eat, but having knowledge of these positive effects on ADHD
symptoms should change the way our society thinks about the treatment for it. Once again, in
order to achieve the best results with natural treatment, the person with ADHD should be tested
for Nutrient levels, vitamin deficiency, and allergies of food or food additives. This will help
determine exactly what needs to be changed in the diet.
CONCLUSION
The growing popularity of using prescription medication to treat ADHD, and the globalization of
these drugs is a problem that needs to be fixed. Many believe the best approach to replace these

medications are natural treatments, such as changes in ones everyday diet. Many studies have
proven, as explained above, that treating ADHD can be done through the intake of vitamins and
nutrients that may be insufficient in ones body, the reduction of sugar intake in children, and the
elimination of foods that one may be allergic to. All of these combined can tremendously help
relieve the symptoms of ADHD, however one must keep in mind that when dealing with very
extreme cases, medication may be necessary for short term use. This is only if there is a need to
immediate relief. My intention is to educate the public of the terrible side effects that may occur
when taking medications such as Ritalin and Adderall, and hopefully lead more people towards
the more natural remedies and treatments.

Works Cited
"ADHD Throughout the Years." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 06 Oct. 2014. Web. 26 Apr. 2015.
Dommisse, J.V. (2000) Nutritional and Other Natural Medical Treatments for AttentionDeficit/Hyperactivity Disorder AD(H)D, Social Science Information 39(3): 489-504.
Fitzgerald, K. T., & Bronstein, A. C. (2013). Adderall? (amphetamine-dextroamphetamine)
toxicity. Topics in Companion Animal Medicine, 28(1), 2-7.
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/j.tcam.2013.03.002
Moore, S. C.,PhD.M.S.N.R.N. (2014, 10). Adderall and ritalin: Potential influence on perinatal
health. International Journal of Childbirth Education, 29, 72-78. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/1609199213?accountid=7122
Peter Conrad, Meredith R. Bergey, The impending globalization of ADHD: Notes on the
expansion and growth of a medicalized disorder, Social Science & Medicine, Volume
122, December 2014, Pages 31-43, ISSN 0277-9536,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.10.019.