[Chris3]

In my research I have come across a frighteningly high percentage of special needs kids who have some mild to moderate behavior issues. It is understandable considering what a difficult time these kids have had. The thing that worries me is that most of them are medicated in some way. I am not a fan of medication unless there is an actual physical need. If the child had asthma, or diabetes, or a diagnosed chemical imbalance then I have no problem with meds. Where I do have a problem is when the behavior is caused by their situation. There are better ways to help them through their problems, especialy when they've been adopted and are finally in a permanent situation, than to throw pills at the kid and hope they do the trick. Caring about the child, setting rules and consequences and being consistent, and most of all listening to the child and helping him or her past their fear, or help them deal with their anger in a non destructive way are what actually seem to do the most good. In these cases, it seems to me that pills treat a symptom or two, but do nothing to help resolve the actual cause of the problems.

So, has anyone who has already adopted found a way, through a different counselor, in order to get the kids off the meds if they don't need them for a medical reason?

[mckenna]

i too am not a huge fan of medication, but i have been reading many of the posts from parents of older adopted children and often times the outbursts and behaviors are so extreme that even the most loving structured permanent home is not enough. i feel since i have not nor do i feel i will ever have the capability of parenting a child similar to this, that i cannot judge a parents need for their child to be medicated in order to function on a day to day basis. many of these children have behaviors that they typical person cannot fathum. i am in complete awe of parents who adopt older chidren that have such issues and can not begin to comment on one's choice to use medication if it helps the child and family function on a day to day basis.

[JuliannaTeresa]

I work in Childrens' Services and have Adopted Daughters.

The problem that I see with not mentioning Medication is that perspective Foster/ Adoptive Parents then see a child who has no emotional issues.

I think that your Philosophy of Parenting is very workable! I have used the same Philosophy with my own Daughters. It's a question of how do you Market it Clinically?

[Dianna]

Hi Chris, Most people I have met on these boards use all the methods you mention, and for a long time before medication is tried as a last resort. Most people I know are anti med and then modify their methods due to education and experience. Use of medication is a big issue and controversial topic among parents of children with multiple issues. I have yet to meet a parent who does not try any and every opportunity to reach out and love their children to the best of their ability.

Many children have multiple challenges and often a "pure" diagnosis is impossible. Some things may be helped with theraputic parenting (consistency, boundaries, listening, therapy {play, talk, attachment}, redirection, Love and Logic), other things do not respond because they are a result of some sort of insult to the brain during key developmental stages. Working through layers of causes for behaviors that do not work well, is a huge task and complex. It isn't as simple as "to throw pills at the kid and hope they do the trick". I sincerely doubt that anyone who has gone through the rigors of adopting and parenting a special needs child, is someone who would do that.

[Chris3]

my issues here are with therapists who push medication when what the kid really needs is real help in getting past their issues. I can only guess that this might in some cases be a cost effective attempt at genuine therapy. Unfortunatly though, I think the kids pay the price by not recieving the proper treatment.

Yes, just so you know. I am one of those people who does think that the medical profession as a whole has become to dependant on prescribing meds. I have thought that ever since a car accident I was in a decade ago. I had pain in my back and shoulder and restricted movement in one of my arms. The pills my doctor gave me really didn't help me, even after a month. so I managed to get myself into physical therapy. It worked wonders in the same amount of time. After two months I was back to almost where I was before the accident. So, unless there is proof of a medical need for meds, I'd rather not take them, and I'd rather any child I would adopt not take them either. If that means putting forth a hurculean effort in helping the child I adopt to deal with the issues they have, then so be it. It will be better for them in the long run, and might even make us closer in the process.

[Dianna]

Hi, In our experience, therapists cannot prescribe medication. It takes a psychiatrist (who has a medical degree) to write prescriptions. It is possible for therapists to recommend meds and then a patient needs to go in for a psychiatric evaluation. I have noticed that psychiatrists are the ones who deal in medication and now biofeedback.

[lucyjoy]

Most my kids came to me on high doses of unnecessary meds and all are med free now. I used a psychiatrist with the help of some therapists to get my kids weened off their meds. Things like ritlin that they only took at school I just stopped but other meds like clonodine have to be weened slowly or they can cause serious side effects. Most of the meds the kids were on were widely used on kids but not approved for kids, so I used that and explained what type of treatment my kids would be receiving and the meds were removed. One little boy had a psychiatrist who was really into meds. I called the day he came home with me and told her assistant that by son had hep B and shouldn't be on the meds and the dosages the previous mom wrote down did not match the bottles. It only took her 5 minutes to call me back and give me instructions to ween the meds. Most the kids need attachment treetment and structured theraputic parenting. There is no drug for that.

[Peggy]

My daughter has been weaned off of her medications . She is now not on anything. She may go back on a smaller dosage of medicine for ADHD, if she needs it in school. I am in the process of determining the need for that.