Our guest author is Shane Wong. Mr. Wong is the Editor-in-Chief for Juxtaposition Global Health Magazine, a student-run publication based at the University of Toronto. According to the author: "This article will explore how ADHD medication can empower diagnosed patients, and why fears towards such drugs and the pharmaceutical industry persist across North America."

"Ritalin, Ritalin, seizure drugs, Ritalin." Such is the lunchtime rhyme for a typical school nurse in the U.S. as she trots from class to class, dispensing pills into outstretched hands of young children (01/18/99 - New York Times).

Welcome to the uniquely North American psychotropic environment. A continent featuring a prescription drug market for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) worth over 2-billionUS annually, and where the number of prescriptions have grown four-fold in 20 years and over 90% of prescriptions worldwide originate.

But when patients as young as two-years-old are prescribed drugs that a government puts in the same category as morphine and cocaine, controversy concerning the use of drug treatment for ADHD is bound to arise. This article will explore how ADHD medication can empower diagnosed patients, and why fears towards such drugs and the pharmaceutical industry persist across North America.

By Guest Author: Christine McGogy

How would you like to have a closer relationship with your teen again? Your ability to communicate effectively with your teen is one of the most precious skills you can develop to achieve this goal.

When we think of communication, we tend to think only of the way we can express ourselves. This is certainly important, but listening is the single most crucial of all communication skills.

As a mother of two teenage boys I know that it isn't always easy to communicate well with your teen. It's particularly frustrating when they aren't talking to you. However, when I started applying these techniques to our lives, I found that we started getting along better almost immediately. There was less arguing between us, and our relationship became stronger.

1. Focus, and Give your teen your full attention.

I know that this is a toughie, because we tend to be so busy. It seems like we are always multi-tasking. However, it is important in clear communicating that you make a point of stopping what you are doing and really listen to your teen (rather than just hearing them). When you give your teen your undivided attention they will know that you care, because you took the time to listen, and it will increase the chances that they will listen to you.

On behalf of my family, I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Holidays all!

We have added a new section to the ADHD Library for parents wondering if their child may have a problem with ADHD or not. It is a screening tool that is based on (1) our understanding of the different "types" or "profiles" of ADHD, and (2) screening or assessment tools that we have used in the past that have been very helpful.

We want to make it clear that screening tools, however helpful they may be, are not "do it yourself" home assessment tools. Assessments for ADHD should be thorough, and need to consider other issues that may be causing the problem behaviors. Hours, not minutes, need to be invested in making an accurate diagnosis.

But the screening tool that we've put on the ADHD Library site is a good beginning point to see if what's going on is a big deal or not.

You will find the screening tool at: http://newideas.net/adhd-test-screening