ADHD and America's Drug Culture

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have rekindled concern about the prevalence of and the treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Roughly 6.4 million kids aged 4 through 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD, 11 percent of all American children – and a 53 percent increase in just ten years. Fifteen percent of boys are said to have the disorder and half of them are reportedly on medication. Ritalin, Adderall and other treatments for ADHD are now a $9 billion industry and abuse of those drugs, especially in college, is epidemic. Is ADHD caused by brain disease or early childhood experience?  How long does medical treatment last?  What are the side effects? Do over-diagnosis and excessive drug prescription create the illusion of easy solutions for complex problems?