Communication Skills Essay: Advocating for ADHD Medication Use

This essay presents a persuasive argument in favor of medication for individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), particularly children and youth in Canada. It establishes ADHD as a neurobiological disorder requiring medical intervention, supported by research and guidelines from organizations like CADDRA. The essay highlights the benefits of stimulant and non-stimulant medications in managing ADHD symptoms such as poor concentration and hyperactivity, while also addressing potential side effects and the importance of proper dosage and specialist consultation. It further emphasizes the socio-economic costs associated with untreated ADHD and concludes that, despite counter-arguments regarding side effects, medication remains a crucial component of comprehensive ADHD management when prescribed and monitored appropriately, complemented by behavioral therapy and lifestyle adjustments. Desklib offers a wealth of similar essays and study resources to aid students in their academic pursuits.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

KEYWORDS: ADHD, Youth, Children, Disorder, Health, Mental, Neurological,
Concentration, Behaviour, Time, Medication, Side Effects, Canada.

Introduction
ADHD stands for Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (HealthLinkBC, 2018). It is a
chronic neurobiological disorder that has covered a large number of the population across the
globe and is generally found in children and teenagers. The mental condition is related to the
problems in concentrating on various activities and because of this disorder, the individual is
impeded from paying proper attention and carrying out regular day to day functions. Adults
who are a victim of this disorder can have issues in managing time, setting goals, being
organized and thus lose the overall focus in emotional functioning, relationships, family life
and physical health (Wiener et al., 2012). The thesis statement of this essay is “ADHD
patients should take medications.” The work is aimed at exploring the various facets of the
ADHD and conclude on the gravity of the same, thereby arguing that medications must be
taken by the patients.
Argument 1
First of all, in order to establish that an issue needs an administration of medication, it
should be established that the issue in question is a medical condition. As stated above,
scientists have agreed to the fact that ADHD is a medical neurobiological disorder
(CADDAC, 2018a). A number of researched on the lines of the genetic research, brain
research and treatment research have accorded the fact that ADHD is a medical condition. In
addition, researches have established that it is a chronic condition and can occur at various
levels of severity (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2018). Further to state and note that
there can arise a number of significant impairments and risk, if the ADHD left untreated.
Another facet of the above issue is that an untreated ADHD can further lead to another forms
of mental illnesses and economic conditions such as depression, drug abuse, anxiety, injuries
and accidents, underemployment, underachievement and others. Thus, the fact that ADHD is
a medical condition backs the usage of the medicine for the patients suffering from the
ADHD.
Argument 2
The management of the ADHD may vary from country to country, depending upon
the medical policies. In the Canadian context, the not-for-profit association namely “The
Canadian Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Resource Alliance (CADDRA)" is known
to be the national, an independent authority that is working towards the provision of ongoing

support and care to the communities across Canada (CADDRA, 2011). According to the
association, ADHD can be treated with the aid of the medications, psychosocial interventions
or a combination of the both. The psychosocial interventions are further divided into five
main categories namely, the Psychoeducation interventions, Behavioural interventions, Social
interventions, Psychotherapy, and Educational/vocational accommodations. Thus, the second
argument in favor of the medications is that the same has been prescribed by the national and
regulatory authority of the country, as part of the “multi modal” treatment for ADHD.
Argument 3
Another considerations that back the medications for the ADHD patients is that a
number of factors are taken into account before the consideration of medicines in Canada.
These factors have been prescribed in the guidelines issued by the CADDRA. Some of the
factors out of the listed 17 factors are age, medical history, family history, attitudes towards
medication use affordability, and the potential for misuse, consideration for other medical
problems and other medications and others. The medications of the ADHD revolve around
two chief chemicals of the brain namely the norepinephrine and dopamine that assist humans
in controlling the mood, behavior and the concentration (Canada.com, 2018). The
medications for ADHD are mainly categorized into two namely, the stimulants and the non-
stimulants. These medications are aimed at improving the prime symptoms of ADHD that are
the poor impulse control, poor concentration, poor attention, and overall hyperactivity. It
must be noted that the treatment by the medications must only be initiated by specialists or
the medical practitioners after due consultation.
The last argument in favor of the use of the medications for the ADHD patients is the
economic and medical costs to the country because of the ADHD. A nation whose children
and youth are suffering from the ADHD are healthcare costs, education cost, justice and
correction cost, and the social costs on account of the unemployment (CADDAC, 2018b).
The CADDAC has recognized the huge socio economic costs to the society and thus has
urged the ministers to consider ADHD as the part of their ministry’s costs. To reduce the
same, proper diagnosis and treatment is necessary in the form of medications. As a result, the
nation can be saved form the societal and economic costs by referring to prescribed
treatments. The medications and treatment also saves a number of colleges and universities
from the risk factors of ADHD in the academic frameworks. Incidental issues such as risk

while driving, sexual activities, drug abuse can also be prevented through the early
medications.
Counter Argument
However, there are a number of side effects as well, that do not support the arguments
for medication in the patients suffering from ADHD. The serious side effects can range from
cardiac warnings, suicidal thoughts, hallucinations and agitation. Common side effects can
range from sleep deprivation, headaches, stomach aches, decreased appetite, moodiness,
irritability, delayed growth among children and chances of rebound of the condition once the
medicine wears off. Another major side effect that is evident in children and the youth of the
nation recently was that the majority of them were taking the anti-psychotic drugs, without
the proper diagnosis (Chai, 2017). This further exposed the children to the problems of
weight gain and the onset of the diabetes.
Thus, the above side effects makes the administration of the medications to be
unfruitful to the ADHD patients. Nevertheless, right dosage is the key to minimizing the side
effects of the medications as listed above. As found in the researches, the right dosage of the
dopamine and norepinephrine, collectively known as the stimulant medicines, can make the
individual pretty focussed. To counter the side effects in the children, it is necessary that
behavioural therapy must be the first line of therapy with small dosages of medicine. In
addition, it must be noted that these medications are referred by CADDRA after due research
of risk and benefits. Thus, drug interactions are well known, accordingly dosage are
prescribed and must be prescribed. Finally, the overall change in lifestyle, cognitive therapies
and other alternative treatments can pace the results faster.
Conclusion
The discussions in the previous parts help us to conclude that ADHD is a serious
medical condition, which is characterized by the problems in paying attention, difficulty in
controlling the impulsive behaviour and excessive activities. The occurrence of the disorder
in children and youth is a major issue in a number of nations, including Canada. The work
presented the arguments in support of the thesis statement that patients with the ADHD must
take the medications. The arguments presented were on the lines were that as ADHD is a
medical condition, and thus the role of medicines cannot be undermined. Further the
arguments was presented that the guidelines issued by the Canadian Attention Deficit

Hyperactivity Disorder Resource Alliance, accord the usage of the certain prescribed
medicine in a prescribed manner and dosage. Though a few side effects occur from the use of
the ADHD medicines, however the same can be counteracted if the medicines are prescribed
as per the guidelines of CADDRA. Further to the support it was stated that if the ADHD is
left untreated, it can lead to further mental illnesses. Thus, it can be concluded that ADHD
patients must take medications.

References
Canada.com (2018). ADHD Medications. Retrieved From:
https://bodyandhealth.canada.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/adhd-medications
Canadian Mental Health Association. (2018). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in
Children and Youth. Retrieved From: https://cmha.bc.ca/documents/attention-
deficithyperactivity-disorder-in-children-and-youth/
Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada (2018a). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Retrieved From: https://caddac.ca/adhd/understanding-adhd/in-general/
Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada (2018b). Paying Attention to the Cost of ADHD.
Retrieved From: http://caddac.ca/adhd/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Socioeconomic-
Policy-Paper-1.pdf
Chai, C. (2017). Too many children with ADHD are taking anti-psychotic drugs: Canadian
study. Retrieved From: https://globalnews.ca/news/3189006/too-many-children-with-
adhd-are-taking-anti-psychotic-drugs-canadian-study/
HealthLinkBC. (2018). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Retrieved From:
https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-topics/hw166083
The Canadian Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Resource Alliance. (2011). Canadian
ADHD Practice Guidelines. (3rd ed.). Retrieved From:
https://caddra.ca/pdfs/caddraGuidelines2011.pdf
Wiener, J., Malone, M., Varma, A., Markel, C., Biondic, D., Tannock, R., & Humphries, T.
(2012). Children’s perceptions of their ADHD symptoms: Positive illusions,
attributions, and stigma. Canadian Journal of School Psychology, 27(3), 217-242.