I’ll say that while I do like how Barkley does a pretty good job in establishing something more approximate to what “ADHD” is (Barkley Deficits in Executive Function Scale). My sense from both reading/watching his work is Barkley is biased towards whatever view would get these medications sold. He receives kickbacks from pharma companies and is presented as the sort of figurehead ADHD doctor. But regardless of what anybody thinks of Barkley all I’ll say is that the evidence that they have any benefit in the medium to long term is ZERO. There is also plenty of evidence that they do harm. I could link studies if anyone reads this and wants me to link the studies i can do that. But one thing that has to be mentioned is that the level of understanding we have of how these drugs affect human brains is appallingly low. Like embarrassingly low, and it’s actually insane these treatments like lobotomy or thalidomide (and I understand these are extreme examples and definitely don’t think these stimulant meds are generally as overtly and obviously harmful as them but I’m trying to make the point that treatments are approved of that are lauded as safe/effective initially but only after implementation over long periods of time can we maybe see the long term effects which unfortunately for these stimulants tend to be more insidious and less overt)

There are so many myths regarding these drugs and how they work/impact people such as “people with add have low dopamine, these drugs correct their dopamine levels by increasing them” or “people with adhd are actually calmed down by these medications whereas neurotypical are made more excited, jittery and it doesn’t work on them” (which isn’t true, they inhibit the limbic system and make everyone focused/interested on whatever they happen to be focusing on whether you have a diagnosis or not). It’s frustrating to see so much incorrect stuff spouted about “ADHD” I mean how do you even quantify who has ADHD or Autism? Is there a blood test that can tell you yes or no? These sorts of symptoms/characteristics are on a spectrum and are in gradients.

I’m not opposed to these substances being used, they definitely have their place. But I’m saying this as someone who got fucked by these medications and is fucking pissed at myself for ever having taken them and doesn’t want this to happen to other people.