Why Is It Safe To Use Medication For Children

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By 2000, 1 in 8 kids were on Ritalin. That’s a lot of kids. Mental illness is an issue that’s becoming more well known over the years. Not only in adults, but also children. There are many treatments for this, including medication. Using said medication for children can be very controversial. The real question is: Is it safe to use?
On one hand, kids are told not to solve problems using drugs, and to instead seek other solutions for their problems. Using medication as a generic fix for mental illness can send an entirely different message. This could lead to confusion. Also, it wouldn’t be difficult for a child who uses the medication to give it to somebody who isn’t supposed to be taking it, which is also a concern.
One the other hand, children with mental illness can benefit from the correct medication. Sometimes, it’s the only option, or it can be used with other treatments to help a kid have a normal, happy childhood. People will argue that medication can make things worse, or not change anything, but that doesn’t always happen. A lot of the time, it can help the child feel better, and have a happier life. In this case, the benefits outweigh the risks.
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Kids using them could receive negative effects, or it might not work at all. Children’s minds are still developing, and it’s unknown whether the medication could interfere with that. Using the medicine could hurt them more than help.
While critics may say that medication for mental illness is mostly utested in children, there are medications approved for kids. If the normal medication isn’t okay for kids, than they could simply make medication for children. If we could do this, we would be able to more effectively help