Are we drugging our children? We always hear “Just Say No” to drugs, but are our actions overruling our words? Look at this scenario: A child has chronic ear infections as a baby/toddler and he is given antibiotics to feel better… As the child becomes an adolescent, he acts out in school or can’t stay still and is given ADHD drugs to act better… This child becomes a teenager and is depressed or sad, so he takes antidepressants to feel better. Now… what happens when this child, now in middle or high school, hears from a classmate, “Hey, feeling blue? Take this and you will feel better.” If that child has been conditioned his entire life to take something to feel better, what is the difference to a teenage mind? I’m not saying that taking medicine as a child always leads to drug abuse. Not at all! This is just something to ponder…
Here are some staggering statistics about prescriptions or refills dispensed to children and teens in the U.S. in 2009:
Asthma drugs: 45.388 million
ADHD drugs: 24.357 million
Antidepressants: 9.614 million
Antipsychotics: 6.546 million
Antihypertensives (high blood pressure treatment): 5.224 million
Non-insulin-dependent (type 2) diabetes: 424,000
Sleep aids: 307,000
Statins (treatment for high cholesterol): 94,000
Most of these conditions are not normally associated with children. Chiropractic, especially if started at an early age, removes interference to the nervous system, allowing the body to function at its maximum potential, reducing the need for medications, especially those that need to be taken long term. It’s safe, effective, and there are no side-effects. Kids need chiropractic too…
