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Alana Poole

Connie Douglas

English 112-01

7 February 2017

ADHD Medication: Is it what you want for your child?

Have you ever considered treating your child or young adults ADHD (Attention-

Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) with prescribed medication? If you have, be aware that the

treatment of ADHD in children and young adults with prescribed medication is a highly

controversial issue. Many people argue either prescribed medication is effective in the treatment

of ADHD or that nonmedication is effective in the treatment of ADHD. Caroline Miller the

author of Drugs Are an Effective Treatment for Attention- Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder,

makes a statement about an MTA (Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD) study

That study showed clearly that medication reduced symptoms more effectively than behavioral

therapies. (Miller 2) Nancy Shute the author of Nonmedication Treatments for Attention-

Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Are Effective. argues that behavior therapy is just as if not more

effective than medication. Millers article was published in 2012, and Shutes article was

published in 2009.

Caroline Millers article was filled with lots of facts and supporting evidence from

psychological studies and highly educated doctors. Every point is supported confidently by

reliable and mostly up to date evidence. The majority of the article is the author arguing each

opposition then explaining with facts as to whats been misrepresented then providing evidence

to prove otherwise. Miller explains in her article that the MTA study has proved the medications
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effectiveness in reducing symptoms of ADHD by stating The MTA study showed that

stimulant medication deserves to be the first line treatment based on efficacy, as Dr. James

Swanson, one of the studys authors, puts it. (Miller 2) She explains the misunderstandings of

why there is a need for most doctors to increase the doses given to the child or young adult at

some point. Miller also proves the long-term effectiveness of the medications by using plenty of

reliable facts. A weakness of this article is that the oppositions are brought up almost too often

that it makes it easier for the reader to get stuck on thinking about all the other potential flaws of

treating ADHD with medication. Another weakness of the article is that one of Millers main

points is about data from a study done in the 1990s which could be considered outdated to some.

The number of reliable sources and statistics Miller used throughout her article made it more

convincing and professional.

In Nancy Shutes article about nonmedication treatment of ADHD there seemed to be a

lot of emotion and sincere. Shutes article consisted of four major points, and the format of those

points made the article have a sense of flow. It was easy to read and everything was straight to

the point. Shutes begins by explaining that the parents behavior is extremely important to the

success of the child in treatment and in the future having parents who use effective parenting

techniques is one of the best predictors of success in adulthood.(Shute 2) One opposition is

stated as parent training takes time and effort, because it means not only learning new

techniques but also abandoning old habits. (Shute 3) Shute addressed the opposition

appropriately by gliding over it while still managing to get her point across and be honest with

the readers. A weakness of this article is that there was lack of proof or evidence after certain

claims, and the amount of opinion and bias when some points were being made. Shutes also

used the data from the same 1990s MTA study that Miller used in her article.
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Whether or not to treat children, teens, and young adults ADHD symptoms with

prescription medications will continue to be an argument throughout the U.S. Even though

Nancy Shutes article was more organized Caroline Millers article about the effectiveness of

ADHD medication conveyed a stronger argument with even stronger support than Shutes article.

Miller was able to established instant credibility and the readers trust with all of her facts and

high quality sources. Articles like Miller and Shutes continue the argument on both sides of this

controversial issue alive.

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Works Cited

Miller, Caroline. "Drugs Are an Effective Treatment for Attention- Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder."

Behavioral Disorders, edited by Roman Espejo, Greenhaven Press, 2014. Opposing Viewpoints.

Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Accessed 31 Feb. 2017. Originally published as "The Facts on

ADHD Medications,", 16 Apr. 2012.

Shute, Nancy. "Nonmedication Treatments for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Are

Effective." Behavioral Disorders, edited by Roman Espejo, Greenhaven Press, 2014. Opposing

Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Accessed 31 Jan. 2017. Originally published as

"ADHD Medication: Can Your Child Go Without?" U.S. News & World Report, 14 Jan. 2009.