For many years I have been very concerned about the rapidly increasing
frequency of diagnosing psychiatric diseases in our children.
Foremost
among these is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Once confined
to a small percentage of children, ADHD has become epidemic
over
the past 25 years to the point where 6 to 8% of all children
and over 10% of
boys in this country are labeled as having a serious neurodevelopmental
disease.
Worse yet, 2.5 million children are taking psychostimulant
medication
on a long-term basis - medication that may have significant side-effects
and
unknown long-term health consequences.
We need to take a step back and find out what all this means. While
I
don’t deny the reality of ADHD and the need for drug treatment
in some
children, I have serious questions about the epidemic rise
in diagnosis and the
rate of dispensing the drugs. Were we just failing to recognize
all these impaired
children 30 years ago? Are we making the diagnosis too casually?
Or
are factors in the environment to blame for the prevalence
of symptoms of
ADHD?
I do not believe that all of these children need to be treated with
powerful
drugs. My 30 years of experience in integrative medicine
have taught me
that more basic and natural interventions, aimed at improving
general health
rather than targeting symptoms, can have dramatic effects
on behavior and
learning.
I cannot think of a more qualified person to address this problem than
Dr. Sanford (Sandy) Newmark. Sandy and I have been friends
for many
years, since he was a graduate student in anthropology and
I first settled in
the desert outside of Tucson, Arizona. In my book Spontaneous
Healing, first
published in 1995, I told the story of how Sandy introduced
me to Dr. Robert
Fulford, one of the great osteopathic physicians of our time,
who became
my mentor. Later, when my daughter was born, Sandy was her
first pediatrician.
I was delighted when he became a residential fellow in integrative
medicine at the University of Arizona under my supervision
and more so
when he continued as a faculty member and primary pediatric
consultant at
the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine.
In this book, Dr. Newmark addresses my questions about the ADHD epidemic
thoroughly and masterfully. He explains in clear language
what we really know about the disorder and gives logical reasons
for the increasing
frequency of its diagnosis. Most importantly, he outlines specific
and effective
steps to address the problem without immediately resorting
to pharmaceutical
medication.
This book represents a truly integrative approach to ADHD, covering
all
aspects of a child’s life, both as an individual and in the context
of school,
family, and community. Dr. Newmark begins, as I always do,
with nutrition,
emphasizing the fundamental importance of right food choices
for growing
children, especially those with ADHD. Food sensitivities,
minerals, omega-3 fatty acids, herbal treatments, and other
useful alternative therapies are all
covered with clarity and insight.
I especially like Dr. Newmark’s emphasis throughout the book on
the
many positive and valuable aspects of children with ADHD.
Their creativity,
spontaneity, artistic, and interpersonal skills should not
be sacrificed on
the altar of academic success.
I strongly recommend this book to all parents, relatives, and friends
of
children with ADHD, as well as the teachers, doctors, and
other professionals
who work with them. Before going to the pharmacy, we can
use an
integrative approach to help these children succeed and fulfill
their true potential.
Dr. Newmark tells us just how to do that.
Tucson, Arizona
January 2010
Dr. Andrew Weil is a Harvard-trained physician who is a pioneer in the
field of integrative
medicine, a best-selling author, and the founder and director
of The Arizona
Center for Integrative Medicine in Tucson. In 2005 he was
named by ‘Time’
magazine as one of the world’s 100 most influential people.
