Write your search in the input below and press enter.
Esc to close.

The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich

Peak Performance:
Not Just for Sports, for Life

  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
    • Recent
    • Athletes
    • Coaching
    • Sports Parenting
    • Sports Administrators
    • Life
    • Administrators
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Books
    • Videos
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Hello. Sign In

My Account
  • Login
  • Register
0
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk
Subscribe
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich
  • Recent
  • Athletes
  • Coaching
  • Sports Parenting
  • Life
  • Administrators
Home / Blog / Drugs or Medicine? A Psychological Question of Perception

Drugs or Medicine? A Psychological Question of Perception

By: Dr. Chris Stankovich | @DrStankovich | Aug 16, 2017

No Comments

One kid goes to his pediatrician and reports he sometimes “squirms in his seat” at school, and is promptly prescribed a medicine called Adderall for his ADHD.  His self-reporting of “squirming” is just that, a subjective, impossible-to-validate description that promptly gets him a very sought after “medicine” in Adderall.  In most cases, the prescription will be written indefinitely, specific behavioral markers for progress will never be established, and if the kid sought the prescription for recreational purposes it will never be known.  But, he will be using a medicine, a much more comfortable word to say rather than saying he is using a drug.

Even though Adderall is one of the most sought after and abused recreational drugs for high school and college students nationwide, if it is attained from a pediatrician (in many cases by simply feigning symptoms, or in some cases just asking for it), caution and safeguards go by the wayside — often because of the way the substance is described (drug v. medicine).

Words matter

Using an entirely different example to try and prove the same point, take the following 2 examples:

“You make me mad.”

“I feel upset.”

While the essence of both messages are very similar, the way they are stated presents two entirely different interpretations.  The first statement is direct, and is interpreted as a threat.  The second example is softer, and almost invites you to help.

Now go back to the “drug” vs. “medicine” discussion for a moment — we tend to take an immediate step back when we hear “drug,” but become much more receptive and open to substances presented as “medicine.”  The truth is regardless of what you call a substance, there are still side-, withdrawal-, and interaction-effects to worry about.

Reality

When I meet with clients at my office who ask about getting a prescription for their ADD/ADHD, I turn their request for “medicine” into one for a “drug,” and I also remind them that they will need to be given a mental illness label of ADD/ADHD in order for anyone to fill their prescription request.  My goal in doing this is not to artificially frighten anyone, but instead to remind people in a very direct and factual way that while it does seem like everyone is “ADD” these days (and many on Adderall), the fact of the matter is ADD/ADHD are mental health disorders, and Adderall is a drug with potentially dangerous side-effects.  People should know that information, right?

Words really do matter, and when we soften potentially dangerous drugs to seem like they are nothing more than little harmless “helpers” for kids who don’t focus well, we are not only doing a dis-service to kids, but we are also placing them in potentially dangerous situations.  Being ascribed a mental health label without a thorough and proper diagnosis by a licensed mental health clinician can lead to negative self-fulfilling prophecies, bullying, and of course, the direct dangers of using a drug (especially at a young age).

Become an active, critical thinking parent

It is important to realize kids are kids, and it is normal for them to squirm, lose their attention, and not always do exactly what you want.  What these kids are not is mentally ill, and the vast majority are not in need of a pharmaceutical drug like Adderall to mute their childlike behaviors and turn them into complacent mini-adults.  Don’t fall into the false safety trap of thinking that when a pediatrician doles out “medicine” that it is harmless, or that your child won’t experience potential future issues once he is saddled with a mental illness label (i.e. future health insurance rates may increase as a result).

If you have an active child, talk to your pediatrician about behavioral, non-drug approaches to help with attention and focus.  Get multiple opinions if you need to, and work with your son’s teachers and other school personnel to help improve social interactions, patience, discipline, and learning strategies.  While it may seem like “everyone is ADD and on meds,” the reality is that there are serious dangers when we let our guards down and falsely assume that very young kids are better off using “medicine” and being labelled mentally ill.

www.drstankovich.com 

 

 

 

ADD, ADHD, drugs, health, kids, medicine, psychology

  • Author
  • Comments
  • Details
Get to Know the Author

Dr. Chris Stankovich

Dr. Stankovich has written/co-written five books, including Positive Transitions for Student Athletes, The ParentsPlaybook, Mind of Steel.

Latest Blog Posts

  • May 23, 2023 Breaking Down the Stages of Youth Sports
  • May 16, 2023 Mental Health Tips to Help Kids Avoid Sport Burnout
  • May 10, 2023 Watch for these Issues with Kids Playing Multiple Sports During Same Season
  • May 4, 2023 Understanding the Importance of a Balanced Athletic Identity for Kids
  • April 27, 2023 Turning Hope into Belief: The Psychology of Success

PREVIOUS POST

How to Find Motivation for Anything You Do in Life

NEXT POST

5 of the Best Ways for Sports Parents to Work with Coaches

Category

Focus , health psychology , Leadership , Life , Mental Disorders , Stress , Uncategorized

Tags

ADD, ADHD, drugs, health, kids, medicine, psychology

  • Recent Posts
  • Most Read
  • Breaking Down the Stages of Youth Sports
  • Mental Health Tips to Help Kids Avoid Sport Burnout
  • Watch for these Issues with Kids Playing Multiple Sports During Same Season
  • Understanding the Importance of a Balanced Athletic Identity for Kids
  • Turning Hope into Belief: The Psychology of Success
  • Morning Sports Practice Before School is Becoming the Norm, but is this Healthy for Kids?
  • Nature or Nurture? Exploring the Psychology of Sport Success
  • 3 Important Tips for Today's Multi-Sport, Youth Sport Athlete
  • Understanding Intelligence: Putting Knowledge into ACTION!
  • Breaking Down the Stages of Youth Sports
  • The Sports Doc on TV

    Catch Dr. Stankovich’s tv, radio, and print interviews and columns here!

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Watch Videos
  • Sport Performance Assessment

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Quickly and accurately test your level of mental toughness in just a few minutes using the Sport Performance Assessment.

    (SPA), an easy-to-use sport psychology system specially designed to help you REACH YOUR FULL ATHLETIC POTENTIAL.

    learn more
  • SportsSuccess360

    Life strategies for performance and character development for coaches, parents, and student athletes competing in youth and interscholastic sports.

    Life Strategies learn more
  • Contact Dr. Stankovich

    1395 Grandview Avenue Suite 6, Columbus OH 43212

    (614) 561-4482
    Media & General Inquiries
    information@drstankovich.com
    Sales & Product Support
    sales@drstankovich.com
  • About Dr. Stankovich

    • Media
    • Blog
    • Testimonials
  • Products

    • Toolkits
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Audio
    • iPhone Apps
  • Services

    • Athlete Performance Training
    • Parent Community Forum
    • Coach Education & Development
    • Athletic Crisis Response and Intervention
    • Drug & Alcohol Assessment
    • Life Success Programs
    • Counseling & Consulting Services
  • Blog
  • YouTube
  • twitter
  • facebook

All rights reserved © 2023 Advanced Human Performance Systems™

↓ ↓