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CNN Live At Daybreak

The Debate Over Medication to ADD Kids Grows

Aired September 05, 2001 - 08:26   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
VINCE CELLINI, CNN ANCHOR: Giving drugs to children with hyperactivity attention deficit disorder has long been a simmering debate, and now that debate threatens to boil over as the new school year gets under way.

Just last week, the governor of Connecticut signed a law barring school officials from recommending students to use Ritalin and other drugs, while drug makers have launched a media blitz pitching such drugs.

And to talk about this from Washington, Viveca Novak, who wrote an article in "Time" magazine on the new ads, and from Stanford, Connecticut, Shelia Matthews, a parent who lobbied against Ritalin use.

Welcome to both of you.

I am a parent, and I think they are handing this Ritalin out like candy right now. And I'm just wondering why the Ritalin craze?

I'll start with you, Shelia.

SHELIA MATTHEWS, OPPOSES RITALIN USE: Well, because I think that the test itself -- the checklist needs to be targeted. It's very subjective, and there is no evidence to support -- any medical evidence to support such a disorder. There is no proof that it even exists, so you have people using a checklist to determine whether a child has a mental disorder or not.

CELLINI: And, Viveca, is there -- obviously there's a business aspect to this as well.

VIVECA NOVAK, "TIME": That's right. There is really a marketing war right now. It used to be that there was just Ritalin. But now there's more than half a dozen drugs that treat ADHD. And it's a market that last year was three-quarters of a billion dollars -- will soon be $1 billion. There's a lot of competition, and that's why now for the first time, you are seeing actual ads for these substances.

CELLINI: You know, speaking of these ads, I was taking a look at a "Time" magazine article here, and what you're seeing for the ads is, you know, just happy kids. These two kids getting off a bus and, you know, they're smiling and happy, apparently because they have taken their medication. So I wanted to get your reaction to that, Shelia.

MATTHEWS: Well, I think they're very misleading. I think that the side effects are not disclosed like in the "Martha Stewart" issue. They don't even disclose any of the side effects, which are very dangerous. There have been deaths associated with the long-term use of this drug, and there is no accountability. And there is no accountability from the federal government on this issue, and there is no accountability from the drug company or the mental health industry.

CELLINI: We are so pressed for time -- a couple of questions here.

First of all, what -- no longer in your state, Shelia, will a school official be allowed to prescribe or push a child toward the medication. So what should the role of the school official and administrator be in evaluating these children?

MATTHEWS: Well, they clearly should not use a checklist to determine whether a child has a mental disorder. And they should offer educational solutions, which clearly work. So I think that the information -- the selective research that's being given out needs to stop, and the federal government needs to account for the $53 million they are spending on drug research on children. So I am looking for accountability from the federal government.

CELLINI: And, Viveca, it looks like other states may be in line to adopt similar laws, like Utah and New Jersey. Do you think some other states will fall in line?

NOVAK: Well, a lot of legislatures in many states have expressed interest in doing something like what Connecticut or Minnesota have done. And I think, you know, the parents are trying very hard, and they have been very successful lobbying the legislatures. They are really starting to have an impact. But they are up against this marketing war by the drug companies.

CELLINI: No question about that. Thank you, Viveca Novak and Shelia Matthews -- we appreciate your time and talking about this subject -- thanks very much.

MATTHEWS: You're welcome.

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