As a college student, the number of students taking powerful medications for ADHD and ADHD is shocking. It's a topic seen in every classroom and heard in many dialogues. You can often hear conversations about how easy it is to get drugs and how easy it is to get a diagnosis. However, even though I know that large numbers of students take prescription drugs for ADHD, I don't think I ever realized the extent to which this disorder was affecting America's youth. It wasn't until I spent my time volunteering as a paraprofessional in a fourth grade classroom that I felt I truly understood the toll the number of ADHD diagnoses was having on our nation's children. The supervising teacher I worked with told me that in her class of 22 children, six of them were on some sort of prescription ADHD medication, and many parents I spoke with tended to ignore the risk factors involved, emphasizing that the drugs improved their academic performance. I was shocked by this finding, especially because after working with children, even on days when they forgot to take their medicine, I found that using different instruction methods, many children did not seem to have much less trouble concentrating than children who they didn't have ADHD. So when we were assigned this article, I set out to dispel the myth that children who behave erratically at school must have ADHD and be prescribed medication in order to do well in school. ADHD is a disorder that has been commonplace. on the rise for several years now. It is a disorder that can cause a lot of damage to a child's attention span, making it difficult to concentrate and stay on task, especially in schoolwork. (Graham, 2007) The statistics are growing... middle of paper... Preferences of ADHD information from schools. School Psychology Review, 31(1), 94.Katie, R. (2013, October). Brill Interview, Sarah [Personal Interview].Kelland, Kate. "Children with ADHD say stimulant drugs help them: study." Huffington Post. 10 14 2012: n. page. Network. April 9, 2014. Mercola.com. (2013). What is causing the increase in ADHD? Retrieved March 4, 2014, from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/12/05/adhd-glyphosate.aspxSchwarz, A., and Cohen, S. Retrieved from http://www .nytimes .com/2013/04/01/health/more-diagnoses-of-hyperactivity-causing-concern.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 Sindelar, R. (2004). Withdrawal: is it necessary in the 21st century? Early Education and Parenting Clearinghouse, Vol. 18, Issue 1, 1-6.Tartakovsky, M. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/06/07/12-best-tips-for-coping-with-adhd/