For Immediate Release
February 13, 2002

Contact: Peg Nichols
301-306-7070, extension #102:

CHADD CONCERNED ABOUT LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS DESIGNED TO RESTRICT PHYSICIAN & TEACHER ROLE IN TREATMENT OF AD/HD

California Hearing Latest in Series of Hearings Throughout Country

Landover, MD--CHADD, the nation's leading advocacy organization serving those with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD), is deeply concerned about growing legislative efforts designed to restrict the role that physicians and teachers can play in advising families about the use of medication for the treatment of AD/HD. California is the latest of several state legislatures to consider such a proposal.

California SB 119, addressed today in a California State Senate public hearing, would criminalize physicians if statutory procedures were not followed when a physician prescribes a psychiatric medication to a legal minor. The legislation makes it a crime for a physician to prescribe a psychiatric medication to a legal minor until the physician has received a physical exam report from a pediatrician and had all physical conditions treated prior to prescribing the medication; the physician has fully explained all possible side effects to the parents; and has obtained written informed consent from the parents.

"CHADD believes that all families should have access to the best, evidence-based science in the diagnosis and treatment of AD/HD. We are therefore concerned when legislation is proposed which undermines this critical access," said E. Clarke Ross, Chief Executive Officer of CHADD. "While many of these proposals are designed to ensure more appropriate prescribing and dispensing of psychiatric medications, others are designed to discourage the administration of psychotropic medications in schools. Consequently, while some of the proposals are resulting in improved medical-practitioner-educator-family communication, others are replacing the science underlying the diagnosis and treatment of AD/HD with unproven theories and concepts."

The Surgeon General of the United States and the National Institute of Mental Health, as well as leading medical societies such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Psychiatric Association (APA), and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), recognize that medication, under the prescription of a treating medical professional and when taken as prescribed--along with other non-medication interventions--provides an effective foundation for the treatment of AD/HD. This is called multi-modal treatment.

Multi-modal treatment is a long-term management plan that combines medication with a variety of other treatment interventions designed to produce the best results. Such interventions include individualized education plans, special education resources when needed, behavioral therapy, family training and counseling. CHADD endorses a multi-modal approach to the treatment of AD/HD.

CHADD's Position on Legislative Efforts Designed to Restrict Physicians' Roles

CHADD believes that legislation must not limit or undermine the ability of a medical professional, within their scope of practice, from treating AD/HD based on the most widely accepted evidence-based medicine. CHADD encourages all families and physicians to follow best practice assessment and treatment guidelines being uniformly implemented throughout the nation. Using the force of law and agencies of government--particularly criminal penalties--to monitor and enforce best practice treatment guidelines is an ineffective approach at best and disastrous approach at worst. Instead, ongoing training and education in the diagnosis and treatment of AD/HD should be encouraged among all physicians.

CHADD's Position on Teacher Involvement in Recognizing AD/HD

The above principles also apply to teachers, given the critical role they play in assisting children and their families when AD/HD is suspected. Teachers are frequently the first to recognize learning, functioning, and behavioral problems in the school setting and therefore should be able to advise parents of such observations. CHADD believes that professionals should act within their professional scope of practice; thus, school personnel should not recommend the use of medication. Medication assessment and prescription is the role of physician. However, teachers should be able to recommend a comprehensive and complete medical assessment by persons licensed to perform such evaluations. Because students spend a significant portion of their day in the classroom, the vital role teachers play in providing observations to the diagnosing professionals cannot be underestimated. Effective communication between teachers, professionals and parents is essential and strongly encouraged.

For Further Information on this Issue: Members of the media should contact Peg Nichols, Director of Communications and Media Relations, at

301-306-7070, extension 102. Legislative staff should contact Stephen Spector, Director of Public Policy, at 301-306-7070, extension 109.

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