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Exposing Psychology, Exalting Christ |
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| Is ADD/ADHD a True Medical Problem Requiring Psych Drugs?Here are some notable quotes that answer this question, taken from Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa board elder Rob Yardley's letter to Focus on the Family about their 1997 ADD/ADHD and the Christian broadcast: "No medical testing is done to diagnose ADD. The testing that is done merely involves observation and questionnaires." "There is compelling evidence that ADD has no biological basis." "The child cited above is neither obeying nor honoring his father and mother. His 'volcanic reaction' is not without volition, it is a work of the flesh." "Sin is the obvious Biblical explanation for the child’s pyromania, disobedience, rebellion, and anger: hyperactivity or a focusing problem is not." "Dr. Dobson, the 'symptoms' you discuss are not related to a disease. The Bible makes a clear distinction between the works of the flesh and the works of the Spirit. Blurring this distinction cannot be justified either medically or Biblically." "You don’t need to 'sell diabetes' or 'sell cancer' to ministries: the only reason that ADD is 'sold' is that you are asking those ministering to accept what is otherwise unacceptable behavior." "Since ADHD has no proven biological factors, rather is just a description of character traits, it is difficult to eliminate parenting as being a possible factor." "The Bible indicates that parenting can influence behavior, saying, 'Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him,' 'Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die,' and, 'The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.'" "'Professionals' selling ADHD as a disease are doing a disservice both to Christians and to unbelievers. Contrary to your repeated exhortations to seek psychological help, Psalm 1 says, 'Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.'" "The United States Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Agency (hereafter 'the DEA') does not hold such lofty views of drugs used to treat ADHD, stating, 'As with other Schedule II stimulants, the abuse of methylphenidate [Ritalin] may produce the same effects as the abuse of cocaine or the amphetamines.'" "DEA classifies Ritalin in Schedule II. These, along with Schedule I drugs, are the most addictive class of drugs. Schedule II drugs (other than Ritalin) include cocaine, morphine, PCP, and methamphetamine (speed)." "A significant number of children and adolescents are diverting or abusing MPH [Ritalin] medication intended for the treatment of ADHD." "They [CIBA Pharmaceutical] not only say that they don’t know how Ritalin works, but they don’t know what it will do to you either. Can you, in good conscience, recommend a drug that is widely abused on the street that has a presumed effect based on an undetermined mechanism with unknown impact on the patient?" "If, after 30 years of 'intensive and expensive research,' you are 'not sure what it is' and you are 'not sure whether this [research] is going to bear some fruit,' how can you recommend treating a behavior problem with drugs that are being snorted and mainlined across America?" "To say that ADD people can’t help themselves is to deny the clear teaching of the word of God. Psalm 119:9 says, 'Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.' The Bible doesn’t add, '…unless the young man has ADD.'" "Difficulty in keeping rules and our temperamental characteristics are part of our old nature, but as new creatures in Christ, we can have our fleshly minds replaced by the mind of Christ (Romans 8:7, 1 Corinthians 2:16)." "King David was distracted by Bathsheba, but his ultimate response was, 'I have sinned against the LORD,' not, 'I have a chemical imbalance.'" "A child with ADD is not a chemical slave to sin. First and foremost, the child needs to be born again. As a Christian, he is able to walk godly in Christ Jesus through the filling of God’s Holy Spirit, meditation on God’s word, and letting God live the Christian life through him as he reckons himself dead."
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