Replies to '01/15 Internet Mistakes'

 The mother's response worried me.  If that young girl has been drinking as much as she reports, that drinking may be the real issue.  Frequent abuse of alchohol effects one's ability to concentrate, especially in young drinkers.  I have worked with several youths that had been diagnosed with ADHD and were acting out despite taking medications.  Several of those youths had drinking and or drug issues.  In many of those cases, dealing with abuse issues resolved the issues that were attributed to ADHD.  It is not always correctly diagnosed.  Often, well meaning general physicians make the diagnosis and prescribe medications based on what they are being told by parents and youths.  Alcohol is definately not a good idea even in a properly diagnosed case.  Judging from what I have seen from the past, I am assuming that the Dr. Phil show provided the mother with additional information after the show.  What information he did provide was spot on, but the show was not about ADHD or drinking per se.  I found it sad to see once again how our youths are not receiving proper guidance and supervision from their parents. I have a 15 1/2 year old girl and she is not allowed to have a MySpace/Facebook page because I value her safety above her favor.  She is also not placed in situations where she must make the decision to drink or not at this age.  That should come later when she is more mature and can fathom the consequences.  She has friends and is very social, but a parent can and should direct the nature of the socialization.  We are suposed to stand by them and guide them through this really exciting, but challenging time of their lives.