The Rights of Children Project

Labelling of Children for "Learning Disorders"

Labelling a child for "learning disorders" is the action of assigning a name to a behavioural pattern or phase, which in the opinion of an authority, is a "mental disorder."

The problem that is being "diagnosed" as a "mental disorder" could be as simple as a child whose attention drifts after not understanding concepts of what he is being taught. Attached to this label is usually a dangerous psychiatric drug with dangerous side effects.

A child who has problems with his schooling, whether he cannot concentrate, has a short attention span, is easily distracted, talks excessively, is untidy with his homework, is somewhat disruptive, looks outside the window, interrupts the teacher, fidgets, etc., could be labelled with a "Learning Disorder." These behaviours are now viewed as mental disorders or mental illnesses.

It is the belief of some school authorities, psychologists, GP's and paediatricians that the child needs to be given drugs to remedy these "symptoms."

The procedure often used by those authorities to convince and coax parents (and sometimes even forcing them) into agreeing to drug their children is done on the unfounded idea that the child has a “brain disorder” and a "chemical imbalance" in the brain. The drug is supposed to re-adjust this "imbalance."

Here are some facts as stated by the authorities:

Drug - Methyl-alpha-phenyl-2-piperidene acetate
Trade Name - Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
Street name - Speed
(Drugs and Occult Related Crime, SERVAMUS - a South African Police Services official magazine)
Also visit - http://www.incb.org/documents/Publications/PressRelease/PR1995/e_bn_02.pdf

"Patients have been diagnosed with 'chemical imbalances,' despite the fact that no test exists to support such a claim, and that there is no real conception of what a correct chemical balance would look like." – Dr David Kaiser - Psychiatrist

Psychiatrists argue that ADHD requires “medication” in the same way that diabetes requires insulin treatment. They further argue that to deny children such “medication” would be like denying insulin to a diabetic.

Dr. Mary Ann Block adamantly disagrees: “Let me clear this up right now. ADHD is not like diabetes and [the stimulant used for it] is not like insulin. Diabetes is a real medical condition that can be objectively diagnosed. ADHD is an invented label with no objective, valid means of identification. Insulin is a natural hormone produced by the body and it is essential for life. Diabetes is an insulin deficiency. Attention and behavioural problems are not a [stimulant] deficiency.” – (www.blockcenter.com)

"Research does not confirm the existence of an ADD syndrome - there is no medical, neurological, or psychiatric justification for the ADD diagnosis." - Peter Breggin, MD, Toxic Psychiatry p 281

"There is no biological marker for ADHD," according to a study in the January 1, 2000 edition of the Journal of Learning Disabilities. In simple terms, this means there is no proof; of course, a bogus diagnosis will never provide any proof, regardless of how many billions of dollars are consumed in searching for it.

“There is no objective scientific proof that the disease exists. On the contrary, overwhelming evidence shows that ADD was invented in 1980 by the American Psychiatric Association in order to bolster the position of its failing profession. Politics and economics took over almost immediately, seeing a way to allocate billions of dollars in drugs and professional fees to ‘combat’ the new ‘epidemic.’ When reading anything about ADD, it seems essential to keep one central notion clearly in mind: ADD is not a medical entity; it is economic and political. I soon discovered I was not alone in this sentiment.” - Dr Tim O'Shea - ADD: A Designer Disease (www.thedoctorwithin.com)

Per Dr. Fred A. Baughman (Pediatric Neurologist):

“I wish to make clear that psychiatrists do not deal with actual diseases of the brain.”

“Neurologists, not psychiatrists, are medically trained and legally responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of actual abnormalities/diseases of the brain.”

"In calling ADHD an abnormality/disease, without scientific facts, the psychiatrist knowingly lies, and violates the informed consent rights of both patient and parents. This is de facto* medical malpractice. I urge all physicians to remember, 'No demonstrable physical or chemical abnormality: no disease!'."

"ADHD is a total, 100 percent fraud. The many millions of school children around the world who are being drugged have no disease...”

“Cases of children prescribed these drugs: Stephanie - 11 yrs old - died of cardiac arrest; Matthew, 13, died of heart muscle disease; Macauley, 7, suffered cardiac arrest. Many more similar cases have been reported.”

*de facto - existing or being such in actual fact, though not by official recognition (Webster’s)

- (www.adhdfraud.net)

"We acknowledge that the condition currently known as ADHD has been historically controversial and that as yet no distinct pathophysiology for the disorder has been delineated" - Food & Drug Administration USA (FDA) - 1994

"Stimulant drugs prescribed for ADHD result in 'little improvement in academic achievement or social skills.' " - National Institution of Health USA (NIH)

A 1998 study of Californian adolescents diagnosed ADHD found that, as adults, those treated with the stimulant were 3 times more likely to use cocaine.

Recent studies show that children who take psychiatric stimulants for ADHD are 46% more likely to commit one felony, and 36% more likely to commit two or more felonies. Instead of overcoming supposed learning difficulties, these children are at risk of moving toward a life of crime.

"Children are finally manageable or 'focused' once they took the drug. It doesn't make the drugs any less dangerous or addictive. And they do not solve education, moral and disciplinary failures." - Dr. Fred A Baughman, (Pediatric Neurologist) - (http://www.adhdfraud.net)

Between 1992 and 1996 production of the main "ADHD" stimulant tripled for psychiatric use; at the same time cocaine use among teenagers increased by 166%. - Report by Dr. Mary Ann Block, author of the book, NO MORE ADHD. – (www.blockcenter.com)

According to the United States Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), the estimated drug related emergency room cases for 10 – 14 year olds has multiplied tenfold since 1990, and in 1995, reached the level of cocaine-related emergencies for the same age group. - ( http://www.incb.org/documents/Publications/PressRelease/PR1996/e_bn_04.pdf)

ADHD Drug Emergencies Quadrupled in 6 Years – Dr Mercola

According to recently released data, ADHD drugs were responsible for nearly 23,000 emergency room visits in 2011—a more than 400% increase in ER visits due to adverse reactions to such drugs in a mere six years. - (http://articles.mercola.com)

Website – United Nations warning on Ritalin

www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/medicating/backlash/un.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/medicating/drugs/stats.html

Website links:

Child drugging
http://www.cchr.org/cchr-reports/child-drugging/introduction.html 
www.fightforkids.org

WARNING: No one should stop taking any psychiatric drug without advice and assistance of a competent non-psychiatric medical practitioner, who can wean the person off the drug safely. These drugs are extremely dangerous and very adverse reactions could occur in trying to come off these drugs, which must be handled by a competent medical practitioner.