Here is a true story of a child named Justin from Dallas.

Justin was not behaving properly in school. His mother was advised by the school to take him to a child psychiatrist who was an "expert" in child hyperactivity.

The doctor labeled Justin as having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Debra (his mother) and Justin left his office with a prescription for Ritalin and an understanding that ADHD was a central nervous disorder, and there was no one simple treatment.

Only 20% of those who have this disorder, they were informed, would outgrow it, therefore, Justin could be on Ritalin -- and possibly antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs, and tranquilizers -- for the rest of his life. The psychiatrist also said he would need to be schooled in a special learning environment for the learning disabled.

Justin's mother was so upset she decided to quit her job and home-school Justin. But after two months on Ritalin, Justin's behavior had not changed. The doctor increased the dose, but there still was no improvement.

Debra became so concerned she got every book she could find on the subject. She learned that Ritalin is not recommended for a child under six years of age. Justin was four. She did more research and finally took Justin to someone who could modify his diet and adjust his spine and brought about a total change in this child. That person may have saved Justin from becoming a drug addict.

As I write this column, hundreds of children are being diagnosed by psychiatrists and M.D.s as having ADHD.

Ritalin, the primary drug prescribed for ADHD, has been reclassified (as reported in the June 1995 issue of General Psychiatry Vol. 52) as a "Schedule 2 Drug" of the Controlled Substances Act -- in the same category as cocaine and methadone.

Should you and I sit back and just watch the drugging of our children?

Approximately five years ago, the U.S. Government (through medical grants) gave out close to one hundred million dollars of taxpayer money to help learning disabilities in our children. During the exact same period the incidence of learning disabilities increased by 500-fold nationwide.

The manufacturer of Ritalin is now making 400 million dollars annually. That is more than double what the drug company made in 1990.

One reason the drug is spreading so quickly is because it's the easiest "solution" for teachers or parents. It is a lot easier for a teacher, who is under pressure from the school system, to label a child not acting properly as having ADHD and drug him or her, than to spend the required time to actually find out what is going on with the child.

There are literally thousands of children in your community who will be labeled as having ADHD.

The most common "symptoms" are: fidgeting, squirming, running and climbing (instead of sitting,) talking incessantly, blurting out statements, being easily distracted or forgetful, losing things, not listening and failing to pay attention.

These are symptoms of central nervous system disorder. This is a neurological problem. This is a chiropractic problem.

The medical community believes ADHD is due to a lack of norepinephrine, a chemical messenger needed by the brain to inhibit muscle activity and impulsive behavior. Ritalin is a chemical that tries to do what the body itself can do naturally. Unfortunately, it can have enormous harmful affects such as anxiety, tension, insomnia, dizziness, headaches and Tourette's syndrome.

Many experts agree the common causes of ADHD are poor diet, nutritional deficiencies, food allergies, spinal subluxation, or environmental factors such as air pollutants and chemicals.

Clients of mine from around the country are reporting that when they give a lecture about ADHD in their community, people show up in droves, compared to lectures on stress or nutrition and other health subjects.

There are many books, studies and documents on the causes and natural treatments for hyperactivity in children.

There is an entire public out there needing our help. If you and I don't help them, who will?

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This column was adapted from a taped lecture by Dr. David Singer from his monthly audio tape newsletter, "The Singer Report." To receive a free sample of the Singer Report call 800-326-1797 and ask for Jane.