The school says my child needs Ritalin; where do I get it?
School personnel do not have the medical training necessary to tell parents to place their children on medication. CHADD and the National Resource Center on AD/HD believe that it is inappropriate for individual professionals to offer advice outside their field of training, expertise, or licensing. While teachers and other school personnel play a critical role in identifying potential education problems, they are not qualified either to diagnose a medical condition or suggest specific treatments for addressing that medical condition.
In general, only a physician (M.D. or D.O.) who is properly licensed may prescribe medications used to treat AD/HD (prescribing privileges are regulated by state law for other professions, including nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and, in two states [New Mexico and Louisiana] Ph.D. psychologists with with advanced training in psychopharmacology). Because AD/HD is a medical condition, it should be diagnosed by a pediatrician, neurologist, psychiatrist, psychologist, clinical social worker, or other properly licensed mental health provider who has experience evaluating and treating individuals with AD/HD. Because some symptoms of AD/HD may be symptoms of other conditions, it is essential that you consult a trained professional and obtain a thorough evaluation and formal diagnosis for your child before beginning any particular course of treatment.
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