Australian ADHD: What Exactly Is Going On?
ByI was surprised today to read online about the evolving ‘controversy’ about ADD/ADHD in Australia.
There was an article in the Daily Telegraph, which can be read here.
It seems that a committee has been set up to review the funding of ADHD medications by the government. However, because of the ‘ADHD Controversy’, the public and the press (and the oppoisition parties) are demanding to know the identities of the doctors involved to help to prevent a ‘conflict of interest’. The government has refused to release the identities of these doctors, because they were threatening to quit over it.
I am upset to hear that it is in this situation right now. It seems that the misinformation and stigma against ADHD has reached the level of the media and opposition parties.
But, I must admit – that I don’t really have a good sense of what is truly going on.
Is this debate affecting people’s ability to see the doctor that they need to see and to get the help that they need?
Are there any readers of this blog from Australia who can help to shed some light on this situation?
Is there anything that those of us from ‘overseas’ can do to help the situation?
Please add any comments below to share your opinions or views.
Thanks,
Dr. Kenny
Hi,
From my perspective the general feeling in Australia is that this is a non existant disorder & those who seek treatment are chasing the Drugs. After being diagnosed with ADHD at 27 (I am 35 now) I needed to go through an extreamly comprehensive approval process involving the Governments Medical Authorityt to be prescribed Dexamphetamine (I now live in Hong Kong & can go to ANY Family Doctor and they will give me a prescription for Concerta) so general perception is dissapointing. The ironic thing in Australia is that due to the incorrect perception the Government is reluctant to bring new extended release medication’s to the market. Essentially the governemnt will continue to push cheaper drugs that need to be dosed 3 times a day (and lets face it kids are kids and sending them to school with an afternoon dose of ADHD medication leaves the door open for these tablets to fall into the hand of other kids) rather than make Concerta available. As I will be returning to Australia soon I hope to see a change in attitude here and common sence prevail – as I have had a negative experience with Strattera and have no desire to go back to the multi dose rollercoaster available with the multi dose per day Dexamphetamine I will probably continue to purchase my medication from Hong Kong when on business travel – an expensive & uncontroled alternative….
We’ve had a SENATE INQUIRY into Australia’s Mental Health system in 2006. It was stated in that report that Australia had a large ”uneducated mental health workforce”. There’s a vanguard of psychiatry with brain science and then there’s ”psychiatrists/psychologists hanging onto the Freudian theories that used to ‘control’ psychiatry. No wonder thousands with pervasive developmental disorders go undiagnosed, untreated and therefore suffer catastrophic lives when you listen to the MYTHS that abound over allegedly the non existence of ADD, ADHD, ASPERGERS ETC. It’s a HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE to ignore a changed Medical world with brain science in the 21st century.
Cecile Lyons, son with ADD diagnosed by specialist in ADD/ADHD, medicated with Concerta.
The Daily Telegraph is well known to us in the ADHD community in Austtralia for running a consistently anti ADHD medication line in its reporting. Many attempts have been made to get retractions or clarifications published, almost all have been denied or belittled.
Commercial medi organisations are well known for their enthusiasm for “causes”- or editorial policies. These ploys are useful- as they allow the paper to have a pet issue guaranteed to whip their selscted readership into a frenzy and sell more newspapers and advertising space. Even handedness, and admitting you are wrong are bad for business.
As an adult AHD sufferer diagnosed at the age of 46 I find this incredibly frustrating. I know many people whose lives have been damaged badly when access to the right knowledge at the right time would have helped them, and their loved ones so much.
The curent situation suits so many people though. Untreated ADHD is a source of unending profit for many people. We spend carelessly, we suffer greatly and consume lots of medical resources, andin our distress we are a pool of suffering to be milked by any unscrupulous cult in town. Who would want to mess with that?
As a further comment- the issue over the guidelines is that some of the research was done by Dr Biederman, who has received funding from drug companies ( what medical researcher has not?) and was silly enough to say “I am God” to a US Senate enquiry ( not a group of people known for their appreciaton of irony).
The real irony here is that those making the loudest noises about self interest in this debate are concealing their own self interest.