If all else fails start at the beginning...it's never too late to get it right!

  For several years now I have been trying to understand why so many people have addiction issues.  This problem crosses all cultural and economic lines.  It haunts so many families, destroys neighborhoods and drains communities.  I believe that part of the problem begins by administering behavior modification medication to our children.  If a child is very active, is headstrong, overly curious or doesn't fit into the "norm" we give them a pill to make things better. Better for who?  Who really benefits by sedating or medicating a child.  To me this is stifling a child.  Kids need constant attention and supervision.  They need firm bounderies and limits, they need love and guidance they need our time.  Now I know there are children who need medications, but only after a considerable amount of testing by trained and knowledgeable medical professionals.  I don't believe that if a child doesn't want to listen or acts out they need a pill. Most of the children I have encountered that are being difficult are just testing the adults.  When you are firm and consistent with them their behavior improves. I don't think that discipline is a bad word.  If you reward a child constantly for inappropriate behavior  or actions than how can you expect the child to act any other way. The same thing applies to medicating unneccessarily isn't this sending a message that if I have a problem or don't want to deal with an issue than I can just take a pill or have a few drinks.  When that no longer works I'll take a few more pills or start trying illegal drugs.  So the addiction cycle begins.  Excusing behavior, problems ect. just get high on something and everything will be alright. The point I'm trying to make is that addiction is a vicious cycle that starts somewhere.  I see it starting with our children.  I see families trying to survive or trying to have the american dream and nothing else matters. I see children raising themselves or raising other children with no guidance from family or neighbors.  I see people afraid to help or be helped for fear  of being involved.  Now where does this leave all of us in the long run.  What happened to family time, going to church, neighbors looking after each other?  Why are children and some adults glued to televisions, game systems and computers?  Maybe it's just me.  I'm living in the old fashioned past of yesteryear.  A time when it was unacceptable to get high, spend endless hours being sedate,  not cook dinner for your children night after night.   It could just be me...but I really don't think so. I think society needs to wake up and reintroduce some of those old fashioned morals and values before it's too late.