Culture

THE NEW WAY TO LOOK AT EDUCATION

Marijuana For A.D.D. Instead Of Adderall?

CJ Westerberg, May 23, 2010 11:28 AM

marijuana.jpg

"Andrew, Weed Is Nothing Short Of A Miracle For Me."

A reader with a severe-sounding case of ADD writes in to Andrew Sullivan at his Daily Dish blog on The Atlantic's website:

"I'm a college student (should be writing my final paper right now, in fact), so there isn't any real stigma regarding smoking marijuana, but I do it for a much different reason than most of my friends. I'm 21 and I have rather severe Attention Deficit Disorder, something I've struggled with my entire life.  The only medication that works for me at all is Adderall, which I  think of as meth for rich people.  However, while taking 25mg a day allows me to function normally as a student, it also makes me miserable  . . ."

Check out the rest of his argument for a few tokes instead of "acceptable" prescription drugs: 

". . . .Because of weed, I don't have to choose between being functional and feeling good.  I don't like having to break the law, but as a well-off, clean-cut white college student in a state with relatively relaxed cannabis laws, the risk for me is minuscule, and well worth the reward.  In every other aspect of my life, I am a model citizen - there's not so much as a parking ticket on my record. . . "

One of our main take-aways was how miserable the reader was taking Adderall.   Now just relate that to how many of our younger children may be experiencing these very same symptoms/side effects (even to a lesser degree, is it still worth it?)  when exercise, alternative teaching and learning techniques may better lessen/resolve "the problems", especially when not severe.  Plus, will these young children be reliant on medication of some form most of their lives?   See The Daily Riff's previous story,  "Ritalin Or Recess?"  

Full post from The Atlantic HERE.   What do YOU think?

blog comments powered by Disqus
Now, keeping in mind these fourfold interests - interest in conversation, or communication; in inquiry, or finding out things; in making things or construction; and in artistic expression - we may say they are natural resources, the uninvested capital, upon the exercise of which depends the active growth of the child..
John Dewey, The School and Society, 1900
Follow The Daily Riff on Follow TDR on Twitter

find us on facebook

maui.John-Seely-Brown.JSB.serendipity.jpg

Conversations with John Seely Brown: Shaping Serendipity for Learning

CJ Westerberg, 04.11.2013

photo above: Maui"Conventional wisdom holds that different people learn in different ways.  Something is missing from that idea, however, so we offer a corollary:  Different People, when presented with exactly the same information in exactly the same way, will learn...

Read Post | Comments

Riffing good stories

connected.JSB.John-seely-brown.entrepreneurial learner. jpg.jpg

Cultivating the Entrepreneurial Learner

CJ Westerberg, 04.11.2013

John Seely Brown: Connected and Collective Learning (Part 2)

Read Post | Comments
comics.jpg

Weekend Funnies: "Going through a phase" Video

CJ Westerberg, 04.07.2013

Gabriel Iglesias' smart teenage son doesn't talk to him anymore. 2 Minute Video via Comedy Central

Read Post | Comments
high-school.paul-graham.jpg

High Schoolers: "What You'll Wish You'd Known"

CJ Westerberg, 04.06.2013

It's dangerous to design your life around getting into college

Read Post | Comments
jolt.stanford.car2.vertical.jpg

The Practical University?

CJ Westerberg, 04.06.2013

Musings on college: Visiting with high schoolers, David Brooks and Stanford University's new video series on MOOCs: " . . ."It's the beginning of a wholesale reorganization of teaching and learning in higher education."

Read Post | Comments
harry-potter.jpg

Weekend Light - Daniel Radcliffe Sings the Elements

CJ Westerberg, 04.05.2013

Harry Potter sings the periodic table of elements on the Graham Norton show with Colin Farrell, Rihanna...humor video

Read Post | Comments
HarryPotterBook.jpg

"The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination"

CJ Westerberg, 04.02.2013

JK Rowling, Harry Potter Author, Captivates Crowd With Harvard Commencement Speech

Read Post | Comments
graduation.Kirsten-olson.jpg

High School: Are the Kids Alright?

CJ Westerberg, 04.02.2013

"Long ago my son determined exactly how not to let the institution of school get in the way of his learning, and had explicit plans for choosing courses carefully so that he had ample time to attend local university lectures and participate in arts events."

Read Post | Comments
stop.red.facebook.jpg

"The Little Discussed Dark Side" of Public Education

CJ Westerberg, 04.02.2013

"We've completely distorted learning."

Read Post | Comments

More Featured Posts