New Ritalin Ad Blitz Makes Parents Jumpy

Certainly Sheila Matthews (who uses her maiden name to protect her son's privacy) does not believe medication is the answer--or even in ADHD's validity. Two years ago, school officials said her son fit an ADHD profile and warned that "if I didn't medicate him, he would self-medicate later"--meaning he would use drugs illegally. Instead, speech and language tutoring solved the problem.

That's why she's so pleased by the new law. But in case she had forgotten what she was up against, she was reminded at last Thursday's signing. A researcher lobbying for funding to test his new ADHD treatment technique was also there--as well as a representative from Novartis, the maker of Ritalin.