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Ritalin, CHADD & ADHD Part 3
Well, as it happens, in 1996 Ciba-Geigy merged with Sandoz Pharmaceuticals to become the Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.So, I looked on the CHADD website for a reference to ‘Novartis’. I found the name mentioned only once. It was included in the Annual Report (2000-2001), in this statement:
“Another significant challenge and drain on the organization was defending five class action suits brought against CHADD, The American Psychiatric Association and Novartis claiming either that AD/HD does not exist or that it is over diagnosed and alleging a conspiracy to expand AD/HD diagnostic criteria. Thankfully, as a footnote to this annual report, I am able to report that all five class action lawsuits have been dismissed or dropped.”
You’ll have to make up your own mind about CHADD. As it happens, the issue of its character and motivation (and that of Novartis) is not relevant to my understanding of ‘ADHD’.
There is no doubt, however, that ‘ADHD’ is a BIG MONEY industry.
“In the United States in 2001, pharmaceutical companies made more than $600 million in profits just on stimulant drugs used for attention deficit disorders.
"If ADHD doesn't exist, those hundreds of millions of dollars in profits go away."” [said U.S. psychologist Dr. Bob Jacobs at the Youth Affairs Network conference in Brisbane]
Ritalin Debate: Some Experts Doubt Existence of ADHD
by Patrick Goodenough
BUT, it turns out that it’s not just the drug companies and their alleged supporters who are exploiting the commercial possibilities…
Next, alternative treatments for ADHD
ADHD-Report.com: The concerned
parents' guide to childrens' attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD/ADD)