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Children as young as four years old can now be diagnosed and medicated for Attention Deficit Disorder or ADHD based on new guidelines issued by The American Academy of Pediatrics. Ten years ago the diagnosis could only be made for children between the ages of 6 and 12, but now the official age range has been expanded to include children between the ages of 4 and 18. Prescribing drugs to children under six is not a welcome development by some who believe distinguishing between the normal behavior of an active 4 year old and one with ADHD is difficult. The number of all children being diagnosed with ADHD is on the rise. The percentage of children between the ages of 6 and 12 who are on medication for ADHD has increased, from 4.2% in 1996 to 5.1% in 2008. The Center for Disease Control, or CDC, recently found that 1 in 10 children is being diagnosed with attention deficit disorder, equaling 1 million more children labeled with the disorder than in 2003. Boys are diagnosed with ADHD more often than girls, and there has been a rise in diagnosis among lower income children. The drug most commonly prescribed to children is Ritalin or methylphenidate, and it is not without serious side effects. Children can experience insomnia, weight loss, moodiness, and a complete halt to a child’s growth. Dr. Mark Wolraich is the chairman of the American Academy of Pediatrics and head of its subcommittee on ADHD. He is also a paid consultant for four companies which manufacture ADHD drugs. The significant increase in ADHD diagnosis has led to much speculation about its cause, which has been proven to be neither strictly biological nor environmental. However one physician, Dr. Gabor Mate, who has himself been diagnosed with the disorder, points to a broad set of problems in our culture and society which may be leading to higher rates of ADHD. Dr. Mate has gained an international following for his theory that life traumas small and large play an undeniable role in physical health, and that treatment must include respect for each patient’s history.

Dr. Gabor Mate is the best-selling author of 4 books, including In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters With Addiction. Based in Canada, Dr. Maté ran a popular family practice in East Vancouver for two decades. For seven years he also served as Medical Co-ordinator of the Palliative Care Unit at Vancouver Hospital, caring for the terminally ill. More recently he worked for twelve years in Vancouver’s notorious Downtown Eastside neighbourhood with patients suffering from hardcore drug addiction, mental illness and HIV. In 2009 Dr. Maté received an Outstanding Alumnus Award from Simon Fraser University, and has recently been appointed Adjunct Professor in SFU’s School of Criminology. In 2011 he will receive an Honorary Degree from the University of Northern British Columbia.

Gabor Mate will be speaking on Wednesday November 30th at 7 pm at the Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles in an event presented by Uprising Media. All proceeds benefit KPFK.

NOTE: The Metro Red and Purple lines have a stop (Wilshire/Vermont) just blocks from the Immanuel Presbyterian Church.
Tickets are $12.50 each ($25 a pair) for General Admission at 7 pm and $50 each ($100 a pair) for the pre-event reception plus preferred admission at 6 pm.

Purchase tickets here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/206521