Attention Deficit Disorder(ADD)
Michael Knutson
USA
Thank you for responding to my letter about how marihuana has been
useful in the treatment of my ADD/ADHD [attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder]. I'm happy to participate in your efforts to share information with
other individuals about how marihuana is useful as a medicine, so I am
sending you this account to explain how marihuana has been beneficial to
me.
I've experienced problem with ADD/ADHD as far back in childhood as I
can remember- My disorder was first noticed in elementary school when I
began to show continuous disruptive, boisterous, and hyperactive behavior.
I remember having trouble sitting still and concentrating in class. My first
visit to see a pediatrician about this abnormal and disruptive behavior was
at the age of seven. Until then, my behavior was an enigma to my teachers
and parents.
My diagnosis by Dr. Pat McGuire at the Marshfield Clinic in Chippewa
Falls was ADD/ADHD. Dr. McGuire prescribed Ritalin for the first time.
. The Riltalin seemed to drastically change my personality, but for the worse.
Even though I had trouble sitting still and concentrating in school, I
was never really a serious threat to other children and adults- So was it
necessary to prescribe for me a man-made, mind-altering substance that
was going to give me side effects such as dizziness, paranoia, weight loss,
insomnia, multiple personalities, etc.? as it really acceptable to exchange
my disruptive behavior and having trouble sitting in my chair for all of these
adverse side effects?
My doctors, physiologists, and pediatricians prescribed Ritalin, Lithium,
Prozac, Zanax, Busbar, Proxil,Valium and Dexedrine. Their diagnoses were
ADD/ADHD, manic-depression, and even anxiety disorder. These
medications and diagnoses were given to me at the ages of seven through
sixteen. But none of the medications helped me with my hyperactivity, lack
of concentration, disruptive behavior, and depression. Each and every doctor
I saw seemed to have a diagnosis diagnosis. Which one of them was right?
So finally, at the age of seventeen, I gave up on all the doctors and started
to self-medicate myself with alcohol. I eventually became an alcoholic. It
seemed to be the oy thing at the time to help me escape om my problems
and feel good. But the alcohol and my disorder did not mix very well. When
I drank I ended up in trouble with the law quite regularly. I felt there was
no hope for me, and I was even suicidal. I spent many lonely days fighting
the battles within myself, but I was simply going nowhere. That is, until the
day I was introduced to the wonderful natural herb that God's green earth
produced for me to use as a medicine (marihuana).hat a prodigy! hat a
beautiful organic plant!
After that day, I began to use marihuana consistently in acceptable doses to
medicate myself. It has been the most therapeutically active drug for me. I've
been accomplishing things I could never have done before such as: keep a
job, relax, have long conversations, feel good about myself, find inner peace,
etc. I could go on and on about all the positive energy that marihuana gives
me, as well as the absolute inner cam that I know is necessary to my well-
being. I only have one side effect, a dry mouth and throat sometimes. There's
nothing that a nice cold glass of water can't take care of. I'm still not sure
what my real diagnosis is. But I sure know what the cure is! That's all that
matters.
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