Here's a re-post of a comment I made on Mental Floss about this issue:

That article about Adderall breaks my heart. As someone who works in public education in a low income area and also personally has ADD, I can say that drugging children to make up for issues caused by their surrounding environment is horrific. Yes, these kids NEED, desperately need, SOMETHING to help, but pharmaceuticals are not the answer.

Giving these children and their parents access to things like community child care, prenatal care, and early childhood development programs should be the goal. These children need stability. They need things like a proper diet and a good night's sleep. Their schools need to be a safe place for them to go. Schools should be a place with adequate funding for access to a well rounded education. Bankrolling the cash cow that has become the American health industry at the cost of side effects, potential drug addiction, and life long dependency is not a solution, it's a profit grab. It also creates another drug issue in communities where there are, historically, already drug problems and crime as a result. The many issues of educating low income children need to be addressed as what they are: a socioeconomic problem.

Adderall is a drug meant to help people with an actual mental difference/disorder that can cause learning difficulties. The drug does have its place, in an appropriate use for the disorder it was created to help people overcome. It is a valuable tool in the treatment of AD(H)D and can mean a world of difference and better opportunities for children and adults with the disorder. I can personally attest to that. AD(H)D is badly understood in our society currently. The potential for the disorder to be further misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and even dismissed as a result of doctors using the diagnoses to treat children without the disorder is troubling. Even more troubling is the fact that there already are problems with Adderall shortages because of the manufacturing quotas set by the Drug Enforcement Agency. If more prescriptions are written for children who do not have the disorder it creates the potential for someone who really needs the drug being unable to obtain it.

These drugs have side-effects that can be difficult for adults to cope with; I cannot imagine what children who truly need these drugs go through. Typically, drugs that alter brain chemistry and activity require close monitoring at the onset of usage because of these side effects, as well as continued monitoring for any issues that may come after prolonged usage. There has to be a clear understanding of what is an acceptable side effect versus the side effects that can be detrimental and even life threatening. Handing this out to children who an unstable home life and parents with poor parenting skills sounds like a recipe for disaster on many levels.

" And what's this thing coming toward me very fast? So big and flat and round, it needs a big wide sounding name like 'Ow', 'Ownge', 'Round', 'Ground'! That's it! Ground! Ha! I wonder if it'll be friends with me? Hello, Ground!"

I like the new design and huge thanks to Alex and Rommel for getting me back in the comment system! Was having a heck of a technologically frustrating morning earlier (multiple systems I was trying to get into weren't working and none of it was MY fault!) Really surprised at the very fast response!

Sounds to me that their ghost is probably a masked furry bandit. aka a raccoon.

Vonskippy: if it keepsy bat crap crazy mother inaw from calling every day I'm all for rented companions or renting her out.

I really hope Jill works from home otherwise if I were her office cleaning staff and I read that demeaning comment I would make sure no one ever cleaned her office ever again. Custodians and janitors do a VERY important job. If you've ever worked in a place with a "clean your own" mess policy then you probably know how important paying someone to clean can be.

I know the video the the dry ice is labeled 'magnesium' on the start of the clip but I think the gentleman is saying MANGAnese.

Low flow shower = shower twice as long to wash soap off self because of crappy water pressure.

Low flow toilet (bad ones) = flushing twice occasionally (also because of crappy water.) ;)

First thing I do when I get a new shower head is remove the removable flow restrict piece of plastic and throw it away. That's right I'm a horrible, evil, no good, very bad bad person.

I wonder how much water you waste if you eat delicious delicious bacon with your environmentally damaging eggs.

Although, anything that advocates the drinking of beer I wholeheartedly agree with.