ROCHESTER, N.Y., April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Fear of social stigma, lack of knowledge, and fear of over-diagnosis probably inhibit many African American and Hispanic parents from seeking diagnosis and treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) for their children.

A recent survey by Harris Interactive(R) compared the experiences, attitudes and levels of knowledge of African American and Hispanic parents with other American parents. The survey found significant differences between them. The results strongly suggest that parental fear of social stigma ("being labeled"), fear of over-diagnosis and a general lack of knowledge are more likely to inhibit the diagnosis and treatment of minority children with ADHD than of other children.

"These results indicate the need for educators and health care professionals to make additional efforts to reach out to minority parents, to make sure that those parents of children who may have ADHD know to whom they should turn if they suspect their children may have ADHD and that they have sufficient access to both diagnosis and treatment," stated Humphrey Taylor, chairman of The Harris Poll, Harris Interactive. "They must also insure that the parents of children who do have ADHD are not inhibited from seeking treatment for them because of fears that they or their children will be stigmatized as a result."

Afro Interpretation

Be very careful about this so-called study. What it is essentially doing is attempting to manipulate Black and Hispanic parents into accepting this scientifically unproven disease for their children and to treat them with certain drugs. Just because white children have mysteriously contracted this mythical disease does not mean that Black and Hispanic children have to have it too.

The real situation here is that because white parents do not spend the appropriate amount of time with their children, the children are showing signs of rebelliousness that they cannot handle. They refuse to discipline their children correctly because of neo-liberal laws about spanking so they have resorted to drugging their children to keep them inline. An attention-starved child will act out in many different ways, so instead of admitting that not spanking and proper discipline does not work they would rather have a doctor concoct a new disease that does nothing more than make badness a sickness, which requires a drug to control. Read carefully the doctor's words:

"These results indicate the need for educators and health care professionals to make additional efforts to reach out to minority parents, to make sure that those parents of children who may have ADHD know to whom they should turn if they suspect their children may have ADHD and that they have sufficient access to both diagnosis and treatment," stated Humphrey Taylor, chairman of The Harris Poll, Harris Interactive.

What this means is that physicians would empower state and government agencies to use additional authority to get children diagnosed with ADHD. In other words, if these parents will not come forth for ADHD treatment, we will give teachers and health care professional the right to attach this label to the children regardless of what parents say. This is an attempt to drug more Black and Hispanic kids people, do not allow this type of trickery to be forced on your child.

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Social Stigmatization

African American parents, and to a lesser extent Hispanics, are more likely than other parents to believe that a number of factors prevent children with ADHD from getting treatment. African American parents, in particular, are more likely to believe that their children's race or ethnicity and fears of being "labeled" are important factors preventing the treatment of children with ADHD.

Many more African American parents than Hispanic or non-Hispanic white and other parents believe that African American children are very likely to be misdiagnosed with ADHD when they do not have it. Hispanics also, to a much lesser degree, are more likely than non-Hispanic whites and others (but less likely than African Americans) to think that the misdiagnosis of Hispanic children is an inhibiting factor.

Hispanic parents are also somewhat more likely than African Americans, non-Hispanic whites and others to believe that language is a reason why some children cannot get treatment. Approximately half of all racial groups, but slightly more amongst Hispanics and African Americans, also see the cost of treatment as a major barrier.

Afro Interpretation

Be careful again. This is a psychological form of deception that will make non-thinking people believe that race discrimination is a factor. They are playing the race card to get people to think that their children are being discriminated against if they are not receiving treatment. This is one area of discrimination minorities do want. Do not think that it is discrimination because authorities are not providing special treatment and information about ADHD to you, your child's school, or your child. This is crap.

School systems and health care providers are already misdiagnosing Black and Hispanic children. More Black children have been diagnosed with ADHD (incorrectly) each year in an attempt to use these drugs such as Ritalin and Prozac - drugs that can truly affect a child on throughout their life. Millions of white children are taking these drugs because parents cannot handle the child's behavior. This is not an option for Black and Hispanic families, or even white families who still believe in a good ole fashion butt whipping.

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Lack of knowledge

African American and Hispanic parents are less likely than non-Hispanic whites and others to know anyone who has been diagnosed with ADHD. African American and Hispanic parents are also less likely than this group to have ever received information about ADHD. And they are also significantly less likely to say that they would know where to go for help if they were told that their children might have ADHD.

Afro Interpretation

This means that authorities are going to begin pushing ADHD information if the form of pamphlets and brochures into urban schools so that budget-seeking principals and educators can push this bogus information on parents and frighten them into thinking that ADHD is a real crises.

Fearful parents will then begin to look at their children to look for signs of this disease, which are also bogus signs. The signs are basically everyday signs such as high energy levels, lack of attention span, and difficulty in concentration. But these are normal traits in all children and only require basic parenting skills to control, not a drug.

Take this advice and DO NOT fall for this intrusion on your child's life. In the long run a child diagnosed with this so-called disease have trouble getting jobs, into good colleges, into the military, and they are labeled for life. It also leads to higher chances of your child being diagnosed with some other more dangerous type of disease like schizophrenia and severe depression disorders, which call for more powerful drugs.

The study also suggest that Black and Hispanic parents are afraid their children will be over diagnosed and forced to take drugs regardless of whether they need them. Of course they would be over diagnosed and mislabeled; that is the purpose of this study, to pinpoint more minority children as much as white children. The old saying goes; misery loves company.