ADD/ADHD Online Information

Ms. Sharon Kilday
Oldham, Lancashire

Dear Ms. Kilday:

Thank you for expressing interest in the Clinton Administration's work to ensure that children with emotional and behavioral problems get the diagnosis and treatment they need. I was very concerned when I learned of the recent increase in the prescription of stimulants and antidepressants to preschoolers, despite a lack of information about the safety and efficacy of these drugs for young children. As you know, I recently held a meeting with health and education experts to discuss what more we can do to ensure that children with emotional and behavior conditions are appropriately diagnosed, treated, monitored, and managed by qualified professionals.

One of the most important things we can do is give parents of children with emotional and behavioral problems the information they need to help them make the right decisions about their children's treatment for these conditions. That is why the National Institutes of Mental Health (NlMH) developed an information guide for parents on treating young children with emotional and behavioral problems. I am enclosing a copy and hope you find it helpful.

At this recent meeting, I was pleased to announce a series of steps the Administration will take to address our lack of knowledge about the effects of these drugs on our children. NIMH will conduct a landmark study examining attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Ritalin use among preschoolers. In addition, the Food and Drug Administration announced that they will begin a process to determine what dosages are appropriate for very young children and what they can do to improve drug labeling for very young children. Finally, the Office of the Surgeon General will coordinate a national conference to be held this Fall on the treatment of children with behavioral and mental disorders, which will bring together experts from the Administration, parents, advocates, educators, researchers, healthcare professionals and consumers. It will help us develop long term strategies that each of us can use to help young people get the childhood and chance in life that they all deserve.

Thank you again for your concerns about this issue that is so critical to our nation's children.