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Senator Robert Cannell 1700
W. Washington Fax # (602)-926-3429
Dear Senator Cannell,
I am a parent writing to you representing a large parent organization with members from all across the country. Our organization is AbleChild: Parents for Label and Drug Free Education (www.ablechild.org). Our organization is concerned with your stand on a bill (#1009) that would ensure our parental rights to "choose" not to be forced or threatened into drugging our children. Our parent organization consists of many members in your state that have been coerced to drug their children by the school system (see list below). Sadly schools are calling CPS or other child abuse agencies to make parents fall in line, using these child abuse agencies as whipping sticks, to get an end result- a child compliant, quiet and ultimately easier to teach.
Currently there are 7 states that have LAWS in place similar to the one you openly oppose. There are an additional 12 states that have pending bills or resolutions on this very issue as well. CPS being called on parents (usually initiated by schools) has become such a nationwide problem that the Federal Government has stepped up to the plate and introduced "The Child Medication Safety Act of 2003" in response to this crisis. This Federal bill (HR 1170) passed the House of Rep. by 425-1 and is currently being addressed in the Senate (S. 1390).
As a parent from the state of New York who experienced this issue first-hand, I want to appeal to you to let parents have their parental rights "to choose treatment" restored to them. Currently there are Federal lawsuits underway for violating a child's constitutional rights as well as a parents informed consent rights (www.sskrplaw.com) regarding forced drug “treatment”.
As a Pediatrician you should be well aware that ADHD is a subjective diagnosis. There are absolutely No objective criteria that can be used to determine if a child has it or not. The National Institute of Health stated in 1998 at their Consensus Conference on ADHD: "...We do not have an independent, valid test for ADHD, and there are no data to indicate that ADHD is due to a brain malfunction." With this fact known, it certainly cannot be compared with diabetes or objective diseases, which can be detected in the blood. There is strong evidence supported by many doctors across this country that say that children displaying attentional/behavioral issues can be actually reacting to numerous physical conditions (thyroid, anemia, lead, mercury, allergies), be emotional upset by environmental changes/stressors (divorce, etc.), or have learning issues (not being provided with phonics or have speech or language difficulties).
Furthermore, the Drug Enforcement Administration places "medications" such as Ritalin in a Schedule II category.
"Methylphenidate is a Schedule II central nervous system (CNS) stimulant and shares many of the pharmacological effects of amphetamine, methamphetamine and cocaine."pg. 6 DEA Report on Methylphenidate
"Of particular concern is that most of the ADHD literature prepared for public consumption by CHADD and other groups and available to parents, does not address the abuse potential or actual abuse of methylphenidate. Instead, methylphenidate (usually referred to as Ritalin by these groups) is routinely portrayed as a benign, mild substance that is not associated with abuse or serious side effects. In reality, however, there is an abundance of scientific literature which indicates that methylphenidate shares the same abuse potential as other Schedule II stimulants." pg. 4 DEA Report on Methylphenidate
With this strong evidence presented and the many harmful side effects that can result from using these Schedule II drugs, parents at times will discontinue drug "treatment" to look for more healthful alternatives. This is done out of their concern for the health, safety, and welfare of their children and should not be viewed as abuse. Based on the overwhelming evidence that ADHD/ADD is a subjective diagnosis without objective criteria (no blood test or exact brain scan can objectively prove a diagnosis) and the fact that there can be many harmful side effects that can result (refer to FDA and DEA side effects) for a child taking these drugs, parents should be guaranteed their right to choose and not be coerced. It is evident that one simply cannot compare failing to give medicines such as Insulin, that treat an objective disease like diabetes, with failure to administer Schedule II drugs to children diagnosed with a subjective disorder like ADHD/ADD.
What is even more disturbing is when parents are many times coerced to administer other types of psychiatric drugs to their children, which are not FDA approved for children of their child’s age. Off-label prescribing is becoming widespread practice and parents are not being properly informed that certain drugs have not been tested and proven safe for children in certain age ranges.
Another issue that our parent organization wants to raise with you is that you have been quoted in the AZ Sun Times as saying:
"According to Cannell the issue is being pushed largely by members of the Church of Scientology who 'dislike any kind of psychiatry or psychology'."
To clear up any and all misconception that you have regarding this issue, I would like to assert that our parent organization consists of people from many different walks of life and religious backgrounds. We personally are not Scientologists. We are Roman Catholics, Christians, Hindu's, Baptists, Methodists, etc. The FACT THAT WE ARE PUSHING THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE, as well as other groups not related to Scientology, should blow your narrow minded view that it is only pushed and supported by Scientologists. This rumor is being spread by many groups that profit off of this multi-billion dollar drug industry and who have a lot to lose if the number of children taking these drugs decline.
As a parent, I do not want to criticize your judgment, but want to appeal to you to really look out for parents tragically affected by this nationwide crisis. As a Pediatrician, I strongly urge you to look at Dr. William Carey's (a fellow Pediatrician) research and testimony http://edworkforce.house.gov/hearings/108th/edr/childmedsafety050603/carey.htm) and ask yourself whether you want to play a role in ripping families apart when children are removed from their homes due to a parents concern for their child's health and well-being. I am asking you, on behalf of all parents directly affected by this issue, and on behalf of the many Arizona parents who have contacted us, to please re-evaluate your position.
Arizona parents ask for your help (to see full coercion/pressuring petition please go to http://ablechild.org/data/thelist.asp)
Respectfully,
Patricia Weathers AbleChild: Parents for Label and Drug Free EducationPresident
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