To Drug or Not to Drug: Why One Mother Chose to Medicate her Child

Photo Credit: Sam-Cat

Many parents have strong opinions about medicating their children. It is rare that parents consider medication as a first line of treatment and the majority of parents hope to avoid psychopharmacological treatment entirely. One mother, Kathy Hennessy, shared her experience of choosing to medicate her child  in a recent article in The Washington Post, Why I decided to drug my child .  

“Do your own research, explore all the options and be open-minded. Tune out those with “I’m-not-drugging-my-kid” attitude. Finally, if you ultimately decide that prescription medication is the right option know that you didn’t take the easy way out, act irresponsibly or embark on a haphazard plan.”

Ms.  Hennessy shared her experience, which started with her thinking her son was just "a kid with a lot of energy who was always on the go."  His difficulty managing his behaviors at school lead her to scouring parenting books and meeting with specialist after specialist in search of an explanation. Eventually her son was diagnosed with ADHD and she went through the turmoil of trying to decide if medication was the right course of action.  Ms.  Hennessy described a conversation with a friend about her hesitation to initiate a round of medication. Her friend's question, "If your child had a serious illness, like cancer, would you withhold medication?" helped her overcome her fears. Ultimately she witnessed the positive outcome treatment had upon both her son's on his academic performance and his self-esteem.

I have worked collaboratively with many parents while they are navigating the evidence for and against medication and deciding how to best meet their child's needs. Unfortunately many parents feel alone in the process. Few have friends that have "been there" which makes it an isolating and anxiety ridden decision. Ms. Hennessy's journey is an excellent example of the parental process and overall outcome that I have both witnessed and has been supported by research.

Ms.  Hennessy's ultimate advice to parents is  "Do your own research, explore all the options and be open-minded. Tune out those with "I'm-not-drugging-my-kid" attitude. Finally, if you ultimately decide that prescription medication is the right option know that you didn't take the easy way out, act irresponsibly or embark on a haphazard plan."

Read Why I decided to drug my child at The Washington Post to learn more about Ms. Hennessy's  experience.