Wednesday, March 05, 2003
 

RESEARCHERS BLOW THEMSELVES OUT OF THE WATER

MARCH 5. Reuters reports on a new ADHD study just published in the journal Pediatrics.

The researchers found that some kids who have been diagnosed with ADHD are really suffering from the inability to sleep.

Aha. A whole new ballgame.

After all, caffeine and sugar in sodas, chemicals in junk food, and aspartame could cause insomnia.

But the key to the study is found halfway down in the Reuters piece. The study author, David Gozal, states, “Over the years, we have observed many of those cases who came off their ADHD medications once they were treated for their sleep apnea.”

In other words, the kids didn’t require Ritalin after their sleep disorder was dealt with. However, Gozal lets the cat out of the bag. BECAUSE RITALIN IS FAMOUS FOR CAUSING INSOMNIA.

Hello?

“Let’s see. We’ve got this kid who was diagnosed with ADHD and he has been taking Ritalin. So we ‘treat’ his sleep problem that was caused or greatly exacerbated by the Ritalin, and then we take him off Ritalin, and lo and behold, his sleep problem goes away.”

Man, these guys work hard. Invent the disorder ADHD. Treat it with the drug that causes insomnia. “Treat” the insomnia. Then take the kid off Ritalin and pronounce him cured.

For this they went to school for 20 years, did an internship and a residency.

JON RAPPOPORT www.stratiawire.com