Some college students take drugs like Ritalin and Adderall, which are psycho stimulant drugs. They expect the drug to help them do better in exams and help them get through college. This is quite a shocking state of affairs as these drugs are more meant for children who suffer from hyperactivity or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). The ingestion of this drug gives the collegians an edge over more honest students. These drugs have serious side effects and even giving them to children with ADHD is viewed less positively than other methods of helping a child who is hyperactive.

Untreated hyperactivity in children can continue into childhood and has consequences which are quite disturbing. An adult with ADHD could lose about 22 days of work in a year, his distraction could cause losses in productivity and his extreme impulsive behavior and irritation could cause car accidents.

How can you help a hyperactive child?

ADHD is a physical disorder caused by differences in how the child’s brain works. Anxiety-producing factors, such as family conflicts or disruptions, can aggravate the disorder, but they do not cause it.

What do you need to do if you are the parent of a hyperactive child? Make sure that the child exercises enough and spends as little time as possible watching TV, or surfing the internet, or listening to the radio. An excessive time spent with the media can lead to obesity, diabetes and a far more dangerous condition of experimentation with sex. In Kansas, the ABC for fitness program introduced into a number of schools, showed positive results. Kids in this program who were on ADHD medication were able to reduce their dependence on the drugs by about a third. The program introduced the children to intense activity like biking, hiking and skating. Other kids who did not join this program only showed a nominal reduction in dependence of about 7 %. So what your kid needs is lots of outdoor activity to harness his energy. 
ADHD and diets

Please ensure that your child with ADHD eats healthy and not junk food. Nutritional Deficit Disorder (NDD) is a condition in ADHD children brought on by very poor nutrition. Omega 3 fats, which are found in sizable quantities in mother’s milk, are good for the brain. So feed your ADHD child with fish or fish oil supplements, fruits, nuts and leafy green vegetables or whole grains. Substitute ice cream and lollipops with frozen yoghurt. Refer to the net if you want to find more recipes that will give your child Omega 3 in his diet.

Avoid items containing fructose corn syrup, MSG, and hydrogenated oils. Do not allow them to consume any food or pop that has preservatives and artificial coloring.

Adopt these strategies and help your hyperactive child. Medication with psycho stimulants is definitely not recommended and the risks and danger from these drugs is highlighted by the FDA on its web site. A visit to the site may also give you ideas for alternative therapy for ADHD sufferers and may answer your questions about ADHD.