This was pretty predictable. In fact, people who understand ADHD have been waiting (not eagerly but assuredly) for this shoe to drop.
Take a person with significant ADHD deficits out of a highly regimented routine, largely overseen by coaches, mom, and the like.
Then watch come to the fore ADHD traits such as impulsivity, not thinking about consequences, being overoptimistic (that he'll never get caught) and "self-medicating" with substances legal and illegal.
The fact that Michael Phelps would risk millions in endorsements by doing something so reckless is a good demonstration of how untreated ADHD symptoms can sabotage even the most "gifted" person.
Moreover, he won't take ADHD medication -- bragging that he learned to "channel his passion" -- but he'll ingest a substance so concentrated with unstudied chemicals that he risks losing even more working memory, not to mention tilting the balance in other genetic expression such as with schizophrenia.
Today's marijuana is nothing to mess around with, researchers will tell you. Most has been genetically engineered to contain highly dangerous concentrations of chemicals. These chemicals can affect not only current brain (and body) health but also sperm and eggs, thus putting at risk future offspring.
Gina Pera, author
Is It You, Me, or Adult A.D.D.?
Posted by: Gina Pera | February 03, 2009 at 09:33 AM
To Gina Pera: You really need to do your research on medical grade marijuana. The only reason you feel its not studied is because the pharmaceutical companies aren't the ones doing the research. The prozac, zoloft, gardasil, etc that our medical system is prescribing is so harmful to our bodies! The research if very skewed because it is a multi billion dollar industry. Where are you getting your facts about marijuana chemicals? If you buy ditch weed out of mexico, then yes you are probably ingesting everything from feces to urine. But when its regulated it is highly natural. The pesticides in our food is more harmful then the chemicals in marijuana. Why would a person be so against something that grows natural and for synthetic heroin our medical system prescribes. Wow. I guess I didnt realize how uneducated and brainwashed some people have become. As soon as you open your mind to the medical benefits, you will realize that marijuana is in fact a successful medication for ADHD, ADD, anorexia, pain, nausea associated with cancer, and so much more. Show me just one study where marijuana is proven to kill someone. Google death by prescription medication just once and see what comes up.
Posted by: colorado sunshine | February 08, 2009 at 12:25 PM
Rick,
The better question to be asking right now is, "How much has Michael Phelps' untreated ADHD contributed to his not thinking of consequences (losing millions in endorsements, not to mention being a poor role model for children -- a part of those endorsements) and being impulsive when he put his lips around that bong?"
So so paraphrase Coakley, just because you can win Olympic medals doesn't mean you don't have ADHD -- and that it's not sabotaging your success out of the pool.
Gina Pera, author
Is It You, Me, or Adult A.D.D.?