GPs ignore guidelines and prescribe 'chemical cosh' drugs for ADHD children.

According to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice), children younger than six should not be given psychoactive drugs. But that doesn't prevent some GPs from prescribing them, even though counselling and family therapy have been shown to be effective in the treatment of so-called Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

The British Psychological Society has expressed concern at the possibility of toddlers being given these drugs as a "quick fix", and supports calls for a review; the Royal College of Psychiatrists, however, maintains that early intervention can help children and it could be cruel not to treat a child of any age if all other options have been tried. It appears that insufficient regard is being paid to the possible effects on a child's developing personality.

The controversy surrounding ADHD is unlikely to diminish significantly when there are such different attitudes within the medical profession. It has been reported that some pre-school infants have been prescribed unsuitable drugs because of parents' pressure on GPs - even when their Behaviour did not merit it.

One expert said that prescribing strong psychotropic drugs to children should be a last resort, but they are being "handed out like sweets".

A number of studies carried out in the USA and UK have shown links between food additives, pesticides, parenting styles etc, and behavioural difficulties (classified as ADHD) in children but their findings are largely ignored when treatment is undertaken. Parents would be well advised to draw attention to this woeful state of affairs before allowing their children to be given these highly controversial drugs.