Doc. 8727
17 April 2000

Ending the misdiagnosing of children

Motion for an order

presented by Mr. Gustafsson and others

The Assembly,

1.        Considering that, in accordance with article 15 of the United Nations Conference to consider Amendments to the Single Convention on Narcotic drugs, 1961, all practical measures should be taken to assist persons whose work requires that they gain an understanding of the problems of the abuse of drugs and of its prevention, and also to promote such understanding among the general public if there is a risk that abuse of drugs will become widespread;

2.        Convinced of the fact that drugs need to be combated as they are enslaving many individuals in our society today, and that the abuse thereof results in untimely deaths of the victims and untold sorrow in their families;

3.        Observing that there is an increasing number of children and young adults in Europe taking legally prescribed drugs which are addictive, and that there is a growing problem with these drugs now being sold illegally as "street drugs";

4.        Observing that underpinning this wave of drug abuse is the psychiatric diagnosis Attention Deficit, Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) which has no known cause, no scientific basis, and was literally voted into existence by the American Psychiatric Association in 1987, leading to millions of children the world over being erroneously prescribed powerful mind-altering and potentially addictive drugs like Ritalin;

5.        Noting that in 1996, the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) asked Governments to "exercise utmost vigilance to prevent the over-diagnosing of ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and its possible medically-unjustified treatment with Methylphenidate (Ritalin)";

6.        Noting that according to the INCB report Ritalin has "properties essentially the same as amphetamines" and a 1971 United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances lists Ritalin (or Methylphenidate) as having "high abuse potential";

7.        Observing that, since 1997, there have been at least 10 highly publicised killings or attempted murders committed by American teenagers taking psychiatric drugs known to cause violent reactions, resulting in 55 wounded and 25 dead, and that similar violent incidents are now being recorded in Europe;

8.        Urges the Assembly Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights to undertake a study and investigation into this subject so that possible legal measures can be taken to curtail the abuse of psychiatric drugs by children.

Signed : 1

Gustafsson, Sweden, EPP/CD

Begaj, Albania, SOC

Biga-Friganovic, Croatia, SOC

Billing, Sweden, EDG

Nigmatulin, Russia, NR

Ninoshvili, Georgia, SOC

Pinggera, Italy, EPP/CD

Ponsonby, United Kingdom, SOC

Poptodorova, Bulgaria, SOC

Solonari, Moldova, SOC

Taylor, United Kingdom, EPP/CD

1        SOC: Socialist Group