IT’S the time of year when children might, on a regular basis, demonstrate a “difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities,” a time when they might “lose things necessary for tasks or activities,” a time when they might be “easily distracted by extraneous stimuli,” a time when they might have “difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly,” or a time when they might talk “excessively.”

This sounds like normal childhood behaviour that goes hand-in-hand with the excitement, anticipation and activity of the festive season.

To a psychiatrist its part of the list of diagnostic criteria used to label children with so-called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Normal childhood behaviour has been redefined by the psychiatric profession to the point where dangerous chemical restraints are used to suppress that behaviour.

Psychiatric drugs however are not the answer, and psychiatrists know that.

At this time of year, it’s customary to resolve doing things that make life better.

Therefore, as a society, we should resolve to give up labelling children with so-called ‘disorders’ and to stop chemically restraining them with psychiatric drugs.

Children are not ‘experimental animals’ but human beings who have every youthful right to expect protection, care, love and the chance to reach their full potential in life.

They will only be denied this from within the verbal and chemical straitjackets that are psychiatry’s labels and drugs. 

Brian Daniels
National Spokesperson
Citizens Commission on Human Rights 
United Kingdom