I must admit, I wasn’t wild about a pharma company sponsoring this awareness campaign. There’s such a “gotcha” mindset about “following the money” with pharma now, much of it deserved. But when it comes to ADHD meds, that is simply not the case. People don’t take these medications just because they read an advertisement. They take them because they make a profound difference in their ability to focus, sleep, take care of themselves with healthy routines, and all the rest.

There’s been a concerted effort of late by Senator Chuck Grassley to go after psychiatric researchers and their alleged underreporting of funds from pharma. Of course, if these researchers failed to show integrity, shame on them. But I think most of us know what this is really about: It’s about insurance companies who don’t want to concede that the brain is an organ and should enjoy the full range of medical options enjoyed by the heart, liver, GI tract, and everything else below the neck. (Is it a coincidence that Blue Cross/Blue Shield is Grassley’s second-biggest campaign donor? I don’t know, but it sure makes me wonder.)

Yes, these ADHD medications can be expensive, but long-term, I’m convinced they PREVENT the chronic killer diseases in this country — diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and more. Trouble is, insurance companies aren’t thinking long-term. But we must.

I was worried that the pharma sponsorship would dilute the message. But where else would the money come from? These co-sponsoring organizations all do a great job, but they don’t have the funds for media buys.

The logic of the ADHD deniers…well, there IS no logic. There is only fear, and ignorance.

Can you imagine if there were such an outcry against the manufacturers of eyeglasses? “They are making up all this stuff about near- and far-sightedness just to sell expensive glasses!” Ridiculous. But it’s the same line of thinking.

But of course, I’d guess that about half the “denier” population are those who have in-denial ADHD themselves. Methinks they doth protest too much.

Blogs like yours are one of best way to reach through these people’s fearful defenses. You write, as an adult with ADHD, with candor, humor, and intelligence. Kudos! (Love your photos, too.)

Gina Pera, author
Is It You, Me, or Adult A.D.D.? Stopping the Roller Coaster When Someone You Love Has Attention Deficit Disorder (2008, 1201 Alarm Press)
http://www.ADHDRollerCoaster.com