University of Michigan
Nursing and Research Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan
PROFILE
Carol Boyd
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FROM Carol Boyd
To the Point
ADHD and America's Drug Culture The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have rekindled concern about the prevalence of and the treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder . Roughly 6.4 million kids aged 4 through 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD, 11 percent of all American children – and a 53 percent increase in just ten years. Fifteen percent of boys are said to have the disorder and half of them are reportedly on medication. Ritalin, Adderall and other treatments for ADHD are now a $9 billion industry and abuse of those drugs, especially in college, is epidemic. Is ADHD caused by brain disease or early childhood experience? How long does medical treatment last? What are the side effects? Do over-diagnosis and excessive drug prescription create the illusion of easy solutions for complex problems?
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The Mixer
California catastrophe The fires rage on in our own backyard, and in Northern California, encompassing tens of thousands of acres each. In L-A and Ventura Counties, the Woolsey Fire has scorched everything in its path. To the north, in Butte County, the Camp Fire has charred and destroyed even more acreage, of trees, brush and everything else, north of Sacramento, and the town of Paradise is a scene of utter devastation and heartbreak.
Left, Right & Center
The Left, Right & Center Midterms Special The results are in. Who’s happy? Who’s not?