Do You Know Of Any Examples Of Provincial Or State Official ADHD Strategies?

Post from: Adult ADD Strengths

Do you know of any official ADHD strategy by any Canadian Province or US State?

8-10% of children and 5% of adults have ADHD, I hope at least a few provinces or states have an official ADHD strategy, especially for the many undiagnosed and untreated Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Please let me know of any by posting a comment with a link to the strategy.

Some provinces or states have an official strategy paper on depression or other mental health conditions.

Unfortunately the BC Government doesn’t consider ADHD important enough to have a strategy on ADHD despite it’s very heavy social and economic costs.

16 to 31% of adults with ADHD also have major depressive disorder. Dysthymia, a milder form of depression, has been reported to occur in 19 to 37% of clinic-referred ADHD adults, ADHD in Adults What The Science Says p 207. Yet backwards BC’s government doesn’t even mention ADHD anywhere in their depression strategy.

Here’s an outline of what BCs Provincial Depression strategy looks like as an example of what kinds of things might be covered in an ADHD strategy.

Executive summary

I. Purpose

II. Background

I. Rationale for the proposed strategy

a. High burden of disease and cost to society
b. Impact of depression on british columbians
c. Current obstacles and gaps

IV. Environmental scan

a. Prevention and early intervention strategies
b. Collaborative care models
c. Stepped-care approaches
d. Chronic disease management models
e. System-wide initiatives
f. Innovations in treatment
g. Expert search symposia findings

1. Depression in the workplace
2. Postpartum depression
3. Depression in children and adolescents
4. Depression in the elderly
5. Concurrent substance use disorder and depression
6. Cultural expressions of depression

V. A strategy for British Columbia

a. Principles underlying the strategy
b. Goals of the strategy
c. Key provincial depression strategy initiatives

1. Strategies addressing individuals at-risk
2. Self-management, family & community support
3. Strategies to enhance primary care services
4. Optimizing the use of specialist mental health services

VI. Gauging success

References
Appendices

We need an inquiry into the BC Children and Adults ADHD Clinic Donation Scandal My Story in the Georgia Straight

Post from: Adult ADD Strengths

I’m in this weeks Georgia Straight a Vancouver based weekly newspaper along with Dr. Margaret Weiss ex BC ADHD clinic chief commenting on the $3 million dollar BC children and adult ADHD clinic donation scandal. Matt Burrows wrote the story. We need an inquiry into this scandal.

See my previous post medical bureaucrats at BC Children’s Hospital & PHSA botch multimillion dollar donation for desperately needed BC Adult & Children’s ADHD clinic. Vancouver Sun health reporter Pamela Fayerman broke this story, her follow up story here.

It’s scandalous that desperate ADHD adults and parents of children with ADHD can’t find people properly trained in diagnosing ADHD in BC. Of the few who are trained in diagnosing and medically treating ADHD,  many do not even have wait lists, and those who do often have very long wait lists.

Don James, the Harley Davidson CEO who has a family member with ADHD,  for 3 years generously tried to give a $3 million donation for an BC adult and childrens lifecycle ADHD clinic to the medical bureaucrats at:

BC Children’s Hospital

The Provincial Health Services Authority PHSA

BC Mental Health Foundation

Although there was initial interest, no one got back to him with a plan or promise to use the money, he said

For 3 YEARS!!! How often in the health system is someone offering you a $3 million donation for a badly needed service? He tries to do the right thing, and that’s how he was treated?

I have people email me every DAY asking for a some name of people who can diagnose ADHD in the Vancouver area, and outside that? Even worse. BC is very backwards on ADHD. I’ve lost track of how many horror stories that have been told to me by adults with ADHD who couldn’t get diagnosed or their doctor didn’t bother to do so or dismissed the possibility of them having ADHD.

And they had access to the money all the time to HELP those people for 3 YEARS but never used it? Disgraceful. Shameful.

I’ve called for an inquiry into this scandal. Dr. Margaret Weiss has agreed.

“I definitely think that there should be an inquiry, because this is not the only instance in which a major donation has not been accepted by the health authority,” Weiss claimed in a phone interview. “And so, given the extreme budgetary constraints on provision of medical services, the fact that they are turning down much-needed money in areas of care that are particular gaps in our system needs to be investigated.”

Matt Burrows of the Georgia Straight for Health minister Mike De Jong comment on the scandal and was told Mike de Jong was “out of the country” and would not be able to respond. Really? No phone or email available in 2012? Where was he? On an arctic ice floe?

The BC Liberal govt closed down the only public adult ADHD clinic in BC 5 years ago after having a politically embarrassing 12-14 month wait list for an entire year. Still closed. I asked then NDP health critic Adrian Dix‘s (now BC NDP leader) office if they’d do something about it, but just got a lot of empty promises and nothing in the end.

There needs to be more than one public clinic for adults and children with ADHD in BC, but we can at least start with one.

The proposed BC adult and children’s lifecycle ADHD clinic seems to be in limbo now. I’ve been told Lion’s Gate Hospital in North Vancouver has been given the money it but it’s not clear if it’s going ahead.

Why hasn’t health minister Mike De Jong done something about this? What will he do about this badly botched multimillion dollar donation?

If you think this is wrong and there should be an inquiry about this, please contact these people and ask for one.

Also ask when they will reopen the much need BC adult ADHD clinic.

Contact BC Health Minister Mike De Jong Email email hidden; JavaScript is required Phone: 250 953-3547

Contact BC NDP health critic Mike Farnsworth email hidden; JavaScript is required 250 387-3655

Contact the BC Conservative party email hidden; JavaScript is required Toll Free:1+866-800-9025

Medical Bureaucrats at BC Children’s Hospital & PHSA Botch Multimillion Dollar Donation For Desperately Needed BC Adult & Children ADHD Clinic

Post from: Adult ADD Strengths

The CEO of Deeley Harley Davidson Canada, Don James has been trying to give a 3 million dollar donation for a desperately needed children and adult BC ADHD clinic. For 3 years. Incompetent BC medical bureaucrats have ignored him. Repeatedly.

This is disgraceful.

Pamela Fayerman, the Vancouver Sun’s medical reporter wrote an excellent investigative story on this. Check out her Blog Medicine Matters, Twitter  Facebook. But unfortunately, her 1675 word investigative story complete with a staff photographer photograph that looks like it’s written for the print edition is posted instead in her blog, not the print edition.

Why? Was it spiked? Blog spiked? It’s a great story. Did it offend the powers that be at the Vancouver Sun? Their connected friends or organizations? Vancouver Sun managing editor Harold Munro apparently made the decision. Please ask Harold why an excellent story like this is not in the print edition? Here’s his email address email hidden; JavaScript is required ADHD gets ignored or stigmatized in BC far too much.

Don James, CEO of Deeley Harley Davidson Canada explains why he offered the generous donation for a much needed BC adult and children’s ADHD clinic.

We’ve had some experience with ADHD in our family,” he said. “My wife Ruth, and I, wanted to ensure that children treated there aren’t suddenly dropped as patients when they transition to adulthood,” he said, noting that in 2009, a B.C. Medical Association report drew attention to the need for more services for ADHD patients of all ages.

I wish there were more people like Don James in BC.

James approached various mental health experts at the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), the BC Mental Health Foundation as well as experts at BC Children’s Hospital. Although there was initial interest, no one got back to him with a plan or promise to use the money, he said.

This is disgraceful.

As an Adult ADHD coach who runs the Vancouver Adult ADD Support group, I get people emailing me on a daily basis, asking for people who can diagnose ADHD in children and especially in adults. I’ve heard far too many horror stories by people who suffered because they didn’t get diagnosed and treated for ADHD.

Many BCers wait months on wait lists to get diagnosed for ADHD IF they can find someone who is actually knows ADHD well enough to give a proper diagnosis. Most medical professionals in BC have no training in ADHD. UBC medical students only get one hour of training on ADHD.

Don James says

If they weren’t interested in our donation, they should have had more respect by referring us elsewhere because we weren’t talking about an insignificant amount of money. We weren’t given the straight goods.

People were protecting their turf and not thinking about all the patients out there who aren’t getting proper treatment. We were handled in an incompetent, unprofessional manner

So adults and children with ADHD in BC who are severely lacking in resources for diagnosis and treatment HAD someone out there willing to fund the services they so desperately needed but didn’t get them because incompetent medical bureaucrats decided fighting ego turf wars was more important than helping ADHD patients?

Or did they just have contempt for people with ADHD? I know people who work in the mental health field who’ve went public at work with their ADHD and experienced discrimination by doctors and psychiatrists because of it.

Dr. Jana Davidson, a psychiatrist and head of mental health at BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital and Health Centre, admitted that, as one of those tasked with handling the pledge, she dropped the ball and left James and his wife dangling for three years.

“I feel badly. These were incredibly generous, well-meaning people, intent on trying to improve services for those living with the negative effects of ADHD. “The responsibility fell on my shoulders. I should have done a better job, especially in the formal communication with them,” Davidson said.

The BC Liberal govt closed down the only public adult ADHD clinic in BC 5 years ago after having a politically embarrassing 12-14 month wait list for an entire year. Still closed. I asked then NDP health critic Adrian Dix‘s (now BC NDP leader) office if they’d do something about it, but just got a lot of empty promises and nothing in the end.

Why hasn’t health minister Mike De Jong done something about this? What will he do about this badly botched multimillion dollar donation? Email email hidden; JavaScript is required Phone: 250 953-3547

I asked BC Premier Christy Clark at her town hall meeting 8 months ago if she would reopen the BC Adult ADHD clinic the BC Liberals closed. Her answer is on my blog post with the audio, she said “I’m Absolutely Committed To Working With You On It”. CKNW and CBC did a story on it. But nothing’s happened.

“James said he made several overtures to experts, including Leslie Arnold, president of BC Mental Health and Addictions Services, a PHSA (Provincial Health Services Authority) agency that has a mandate for ADHD services based at Children’s Hospital.

When James first approached BC Children’s in 2008, the hospital was about to stop accepting adult patients because waiting lists were too long. Even after dropping adult patients, waiting lists for pediatric patients — and their parents who may be taught new parenting skills —are still long. At present, new patients must wait five months to be seen. ”

James said he’s incredulous he’s only recently learned more about the dithering on his pledge. And he’s especially disturbed he discovered about it through a Vancouver Sun journalist (this writer), not from hospital officials.

“No one ever told us they couldn’t use our money or why. We offered money and they simply ignored us.”

Dr. Margaret Weiss head of the BC ADHD clinic, and world renowned authority on ADHD resigned in part over this. She’s worked there for 20 years. This is a big loss.

The Don James donation debacle played a role in the resignation from BC Children’s Hospital of Dr. Margaret Weiss, one of the world’s leading authorities on ADHD. Weiss had practised psychiatry at the hospital for 20 years and had led the ADHD program for about the last half of them until she left a few months ago. The McGill and Harvard University-educated psychiatrist is now seeing ADHD patients and conducting research in her North Shore home office.

She’s one of the world’s most prolific authors of ADHD studies published in prestigious medical journals. She also advises health systems around the world how to provide ADHD treatment programs. Weiss said the diversion of the James donation, coupled with the BCCH policy to stop accepting patients after their 19th birthday, was devastating news to her and her patients. It was one of the reasons she resigned, she said

If you ever wanted to do something about getting back an adult ADHD clinic in BC now’s the time.

“Someone else should do it” rarely really happens in real life. Many non ADHD people don’t even think ADHD is real let alone care about us.

People with ADHD don’t get services in part because far too often many in the media, the govt, and the medical bureaucrats don’t think it’s real, or a real problem. If we want services, we need to tell them why we need them.

Here are a few ways you can help:

Please read the story and pass it on to people you know who might be interested in it and facebook/twitter, consider commenting on Pamela’s blog post or writing a letter to the editor, if you do, ask them why the article is not in the print edition of the Vancouver Sun.

Please call your MLA and demand they reopen the BC adult ADHD clinic and ask them to do an inquiry on why a much needed $3 million dollar donation for BC adult and children’s ADHD clinic got ignored for 3 years.

Here’s how to find your MLA’s contact info

Also please consider politely (cursing gets deleted) explaining to these people why adults and children with ADHD need a BC adult and children clinic. If they don’t think we need resources they won’t give us it. Lots of other groups want the limited resources.

If the PHSA Provincial Health Services Authority won’t help adults and children with ADHD, they should give the resources to VCH Vancouver Coastal Health Authority to do so

1. Lynda Cranston, President and CEO of the PHSA. Provincial Health Services Authority email hidden; JavaScript is required

2. Lorna Howes, Director of Mental Health Services for VCH. Vancouver Coastal Health Authority  email hidden; JavaScript is required

3. Mike De Jong. Minister of Health. Email email hidden; JavaScript is required Phone: 250 953-3547

4. Mike Farnworth BC NDP’s Health critic. Email  email hidden; JavaScript is required
Phone: 250 387-3655

Other ideas?

Canadian National Online ADHD Survey by CADDAC. What’s Your Experience With The Medical and Educational System?

Post from: Adult ADD Strengths

CADDAC, The Centre for ADHD Awareness, Canada is launching the first ever Canadian Survey on ADHD asking parents, caregivers, and adults with ADHD about their experiences with ADHD, the medical system, and the educational system. They are encouraging everyone to spend a few minutes filling in this survey online.

The information gathered will assist them to not only better understand the needs of families with ADHD across Canada, it will help them advocate to medical, education, and government systems in the future.

Please help them help those impacted by ADHD by filling out this questionnaire online and passing the link on to anyone else that you think might be interested.

Please complete the adult ADHD or parents of children with ADHD survey here

BC Premier Christy Clark “I’m Absolutely Committed To Working With You On It” Re: Opening BC Adult ADHD Clinic

Post from: Adult ADD Strengths

I went to the town hall meeting that BC Liberal Premier and Point Grey riding by-election MLA candidate Christy Clark had last Friday at St. Mark’s Church in Kitsilano, Vancouver.

I asked Premier Christy Clark a question about re opening the BC adult ADHD clinic at an adult hospital that the BC Liberal govt closed down in 2007 after it had a 12-14 month wait list for an entire year.

8% of kids and 5% of adults have ADHD so there are more adults with ADHD than children, and most don’t know they have it and many doctors have NO training on ADHD. UBC medical students only get 1 hour of training on ADHD. I get emails DAILY asking for names of people who can diagnose ADHD in adults & kids.

I would like to see the BC adult ADHD clinic opened at an adult hospital vs BC Childrens hospital, for obvious reasons plus an Adult Attention Deficit Disorder clinic will be more politically vulnerable to cuts or closure at a Children’s hospital. See this PDF on the Economic Costs of Ignoring ADHD by Dr. Margaret Weiss of the BC Children’s ADHD clinic

Here are my posts on the closure of the BC Adult ADHD clinic.

Adults with ADHD abandoned as clinic closes doors

1 year wait list for a full year for adult ADHD diagnosis embarrassing? Solution? Close down the clinic

Pete’s Global TV interview on “overwhelming popular” BC Adult ADHD Clinic closing doors to new adult patients

I told Christy Clark that 21-45% of criminals in jail have ADHD 15 clinical studies show. The UK screens all prisoners for ADHD, but we don’t.

I mentioned 20-30% of drug addicts have ADHD, but think I forget to mention tobacco is the #1 drug people with ADHD self medicate with. I said that the BC Liberal govt shut down the BC adult ADHD clinic after a 1 year wait list of an entire year. I then asked if she would commit to re opening the BC adult ADHD clinic?

I didn’t capture all of her response but she did say

“I don’t have enough information about the specifics of the program that you’re talking about, but I’m absolutely committed to working with you on it.”

She then talked about having an IEP for every kid in school and more about kids and education not specifically ADHD. I then mentioned that in BC if your child has ADHD and doesn’t have a learning disability or severe behaviour problem they’re not entitled to any accommodations. They might get some; it’s totally at the whim of the teacher but no legislation requiring any.

CKNW radio ran a 48 second clip on my question and Christy Clark’s response on the sat 11am news until the 3pm news including her saying the above quote I’m embedding the audio here, used with permission.

Audio of BC Premier Christy Clark answering my question on re opening the BC adult ADHD clinic on CKNW AM news may 11 2011

BC Premier Christy Clark answering Pete Quily’s ? on re opening the BC adult ADHD clinic May 11 2011 by ADDCoach4U

They also put a story on it on their website.

Calls for Clark to re-open ADHD clinic
VANCOUVER/CKNW(AM980)
Mike Bothwell
5/7/2011

“A B.C. group is lobbying new Premier Christy Clark to re-open a clinic that was closed by Gordon Campbell last year.

Pete Quily told Clark at a public meeting this weekend that more must be done to fight the devastating effects of ADHD.

“20-45% of prisoners have ADHD versus 5% of the population. The same thing with drugs… 20-30% of addicts have ADHD Would you commit to re-opening the B.C. ADHD clinic that your predecessor closed?”

The Premier told Quily she was not aware of the details of the program that diagnoses ADHD in adults.

She did not rule out the possibility of re-opening the clinic.

Also On Sunday morning CBC Radio One News also covered it during their newscast one of the members of my Vancouver adult ADD support group told me. Nothing on their website though, but here’s the copy of the story.

A BC group that supports adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or, has hope that a clinic could be re-opened after a talk with the premier.

Peter Quily, with the Vancouver Adult ADHD support group, confronted Christy Clark at a public meeting and asked her to restore funding the Liberal government cut, forcing the clinic to close.

Quily says the impact of ADHD is devastating, noting 20 to 45 per cent of prisoners have the disorder.

He also told Clark that schools could do a lot more to diagnose the problem earlier, but only those with learning disabilities or behaviour problems are singled out for testing

While I’m glad CBC covered the story, for the record, I didn’t “confront” Christy, just asked her a question during Q and A session at microphones like others, and did so politely. They also misquoted the 2nd part of my piece. I said that in BC if your child has ADHD and doesn’t have a learning disability or severe behaviour problem they’re not entitled to any accommodations. They might get some; it’s totally at the whim of the teacher but no legislation requiring any.

Christy Clark mentioned publicly to another questioner that her family had problems with alcohol, that her Dad was an alcoholic. Good that she had the guts to say that, one reason why people don’t seek treatment is because the shame and stigma is so severe. Seemed half or more of the questions were about mental health or addictions.

Christy Clark said her #1 health priority was brain based disease (ie alzheimers) #2 mental health. “We have to do a lot more for that”. I agree. Re opening the BC adult ADHD clinic at an adult hospital and implementing the BC Medical Association’s 8 policy recommendations on ADHD in their white paper on ADHD would be a good start.

Let your MLA or opposition party candidate know about this, and ask them if they will support reopening the BC adult ADHD clinic at an adult hospital.

Tell they why they should do it. Use your/family members story or tell them about this PDF on the Economic Costs of Ignoring ADHD by Dr. Margaret Weiss of the BC Children’s ADHD clinic

Use the BC MLA finder to contact your MLA

Let Christy Clark know what you feel about this

Contact the NDP

Contact the BC Conservative Party

Alan Beesley Liberal candidate for Delta – Richmond East Supports Screening Prisoners in Federal Jails for ADHD

Post from: Adult ADD Strengths

Monday April 14th I went to see Michael Ignatieff at the Vancouver Alpine Club. I asked Michael a question about ADHD & crime during the Q & A period, I think I was the 3rd questioner “Do you knew that 20-45% of prisoners have ADHD 15 clinical studies show? And only 5% of adults have ADHD? The UK screens prisoners for ADHD in their jails, would you commit to screening prisoners in Federal jails for ADHD?”

I’m asking politicians this question for several reasons but one of them is most people don’t care at all about adults and children with ADHD or think it’s overdiagnosed/space alien/drug company conspiracy/ not beating up your kid enough etc. But they do care about crime.

After the rally was over I decided to ask some of the Liberal politicians there if they would commit to screening prisoners in Federal jails for ADHD.

I asked Liberal candidate for Delta – Richmond East Alan Beesley,

“The UK screens prisoners for ADHD in their jails, would you commit to screening prisoners in Federal jails for ADHD?” Alan Beesley answered “Yes I would”.

I thanked Liberal candidate for Delta – Richmond East Alan Beesley and handed him a copy of my blog post on 15 peer reviewed studies on ADHD and crime Up To 45% 0f Prisoners Have ADHD Studies Show. Crime & Jail Are Costly, Treatment Is Cheap

So thank you Alan Beesley for choosing science and evidence over ideology and theology in regards to ADHD and crime. I hope other Canadian politicians do the same.

20-30% + of drug addicts and alcoholics have ADHD peer reviewed clinical studies show but properly managed ADHD can be a competitive edge. Many entrepreneurs have ADHD. See the top ten advantages of ADHD in a high tech career

Nearly 20 years ago in Seattle, Judge David Admire son got diagnosed for ADHD and he noticed many people in his 2-3 year court seemed to have Adult ADHD. He developed a screening program for prisoners with ADHD and learning disabilities. If they screened positive, they got properly diagnosed and had a choice of getting treatment for ADHD and or LD, learning how to properly manage ADHD with skills, pills, how to self advocate etc or going to jail. The ones who got treated for ADHD had their recidivism (return to prison) rates  go down massively compared to controls.

Vancouver’s mental health court last time I asked didn’t bother screening for ADHD. Too bad.

Health is mainly a provincial responsibility in Canada, but the Federal govt is responsible for jails. So if you or someone you know has ADHD why don’t you ask your local candidate or their party leader if they have a chance if they support screening prisoners in Canadian Federal prisons for ADHD?

Maybe also ask them if they’ll properly diagnosing those who screen positive by people who know ADHD and treat them in jail not only with long term medications that can’t be abused like the short term ones but more importantly also therapy so they learn self awareness and skill so they don’t come back to jail at a cost of $101,000 a year to the Canadian taxpayer?

Ideally you want them to screen children and adults for ADHD BEFORE they end up in jail, get medical professionals trained on ADHD in kids and adults and do a national anti stigma/ ADHD facts campaign. But Canadian provincial politicians don’t seem to want to do that.

If you’re Canadian here’s how to find your local candidate to ask them about ADHD & crime:

Find your local Liberal candidate

Find your local NDP candidate

Find your local Conservative candidate

Find your local Green candidate

Follow the Canadian Federal election on Twitter with the hash tag #elxn41 up until the election May 2nd 2011. Vote or you can’t complain until the next election.

Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal MP For Newton North Delta Supports Screening Prisoners in Federal Jails for ADHD

Post from: Adult ADD Strengths

Monday April 14th I went to see Michael Ignatieff at the Vancouver Alpine Club. I asked Michael a question about ADHD & crime during the Q & A period, I think I was the 3rd questioner “Do you knew that 20-45% of prisoners have ADHD 15 clinical studies show? And only 5% of adults have ADHD? The UK screens prisoners for ADHD in their jails, would you commit to screening prisoners in Federal jails for ADHD?”

I’m asking politicians this question for several reasons but one of them is most people don’t care at all about adults and children with ADHD or think it’s overdiagnosed/space alien/drug company conspiracy/ not beating up your kid enough etc. But they do care about crime.

After the rally was over I decided to ask some of the Liberal politicians there if they would commit to screening prisoners in Federal jails for ADHD.

I asked Newton North Delta Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal (who’s @sukhdhaliwal on twitter, here’s his election website )

“The UK screens prisoners for ADHD in their jails, would you commit to screening prisoners in Federal jails for ADHD?” Sukh Dahliwal answered “Yes I would”.

I thanked Newton North Delta Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal and handed him a copy of my blog post on 15 peer reviewed studies on ADHD and crime Up To 45% 0f Prisoners Have ADHD Studies Show. Crime & Jail Are Costly, Treatment Is Cheap

So thank you Sukh Dhaliwal for choosing science and evidence over ideology and theology in regards to ADHD and crime. I hope other Canadian politicians do the same.

20-30% + of drug addicts and alcoholics have ADHD peer reviewed clinical studies show but properly managed ADHD can be a competitive edge. Many entrepreneurs have ADHD. See the top ten advantages of ADHD in a high tech career

Nearly 20 years ago in Seattle, Judge David Admire son got diagnosed for ADHD and he noticed many people in his 2-3 year court seemed to have Adult ADHD. He developed a screening program for prisoners with ADHD and learning disabilities. If they screened positive, they got properly diagnosed and had a choice of getting treatment for ADHD and or LD, learning how to properly manage ADHD with skills, pills, how to self advocate etc or going to jail. The ones who got treated for ADHD had their recidivism (return to prison) rates  go down massively compared to controls.

Vancouver’s mental health court last time I asked didn’t bother screening for ADHD. Too bad.

Health is mainly a provincial responsibility in Canada, but the Federal govt is responsible for jails. So if you or someone you know has ADHD why don’t you ask your local candidate or their party leader if they have a chance if they support screening prisoners in Canadian Federal prisons for ADHD?

Maybe also ask them if they’ll properly diagnosing those who screen positive by people who know ADHD and treat them in jail not only with long term medications that can’t be abused like the short term ones but more importantly also therapy so they learn self awareness and skill so they don’t come back to jail at a cost of $101,000 a year to the Canadian taxpayer?

Ideally you want them to screen children and adults for ADHD BEFORE they end up in jail, get medical professionals trained on ADHD in kids and adults and do a national anti stigma/ ADHD facts campaign. But Canadian provincial politicians don’t seem to want to do that.

If you’re Canadian here’s how to find your local candidate to ask them about ADHD & crime:

Find your local Liberal candidate

Find your local NDP candidate

Find your local Conservative candidate

Find your local Green candidate

Follow the Canadian Federal election on Twitter with the hash tag #elxn41 up until the election May 2nd 2011. Vote or you can’t complain until the next election.

Wendy Yuan Liberal Candidate Vancouver Kingsway Supports Screening Prisoners in Federal Jails for ADHD

Post from: Adult ADD Strengths

Monday April 14th I went to see Michael Ignatieff at the Vancouver Alpine Club. I asked Michael a question about ADHD & crime during the Q & A period, I think I was the 3rd questioner “Do you knew that 20-45% of prisoners have ADHD 15 clinical studies show? And only 5% of adults have ADHD? The UK screens prisoners for ADHD in their jails, would you commit to screening prisoners in Federal jails for ADHD?”

I’m asking politicians this question for several reasons but one of them is most people don’t care at all about people with ADHD or think it’s overdiagnosed/space alien/drug company conspiracy/ not beating up your kid enough etc. But they do care about crime.

After the rally was over I decided to ask some of the Liberal politicians there if they would commit to screening prisoners in Federal jails for ADHD.

I asked Vancouver Kingsway Liberal Candidate Wendy Yuan ” The UK screens prisoners for ADHD in their jails, would you commit to screening prisoners in Federal jails for ADHD?” Wendy Yuan answered “Yes I would”.

I thanked Liberal candidate Wendy Yuan and handed her a copy of my blog post on 15 peer reviewed studies on ADHD and crime Up To 45% 0f Prisoners Have ADHD Studies Show. Crime & Jail Are Costly, Treatment Is Cheap

So thank you Wendy Yuan for choosing science and evidence over ideology and theology in regards to ADHD and crime. I hope other Canadian politicians do the same.

20-30% + of drug addicts and alcoholics have ADHD peer reviewed clinical studies show but properly managed ADHD can be a competitive edge. Many entrepreneurs have ADHD. See the top ten advantages of ADHD in a high tech career

Nearly 20 years ago in Seattle, Judge David Admire son got diagnosed for ADHD and he noticed many people in his 2-3 year court seemed to have ADHD. He developed a screening program for prisoners with ADHD and learning disabilities. If they screened positive, they got properly diagnosed and had a choice of getting treatment for ADHD and or LD, learning how to properly manage ADHD with skills, pills, how to self advocate etc or going to jail. The ones who got treated for ADHD had their recidivism (return to prison) rates  go down massively compared to controls.

Vancouver’s mental health court last time I asked didn’t bother screening for ADHD. Too bad.

Health is mainly a provincial responsibility in Canada, but the Federal govt is responsible for jails. So if you or someone you know has ADHD why don’t you ask your local candidate or their party leader if they have a chance if they support screening prisoners in Canadian Federal prisons for ADHD?

Maybe also ask them if they’ll properly diagnosing those who screen positive by people who know ADHD and treat them in jail not only with long term medications that can’t be abused like the short term ones but more importantly also therapy so they learn self awareness and skill so they don’t come back to jail at a cost of $101,000 a year to the Canadian taxpayer?

Ideally you want them to screen children and adults for ADHD BEFORE they end up in jail, get medical professionals trained on ADHD in kids and adults and do a national anti stigma/ ADHD facts campaign. But Canadian provincial politicians don’t seem to want to do that.

If you’re Canadian here’s how to find your local candidate to ask them about ADHD & crime:

Find your local Liberal candidate

Find your local NDP candidate

Find your local Conservative candidate

Find your local Green candidate

Follow the Canadian Federal election on Twitter with the hash tag #elxn41 up until the election May 2nd 2011. Vote or you can’t complain until the next election.

Hedy Fry Liberal MP For Vancouver Centre Supports Screening Prisoners in Federal Jails for ADHD

Post from: Adult ADD Strengths

Monday April 14th I went to see Michael Ignatieff at the Vancouver Alpine Club. I asked Michael a question about ADHD & crime during the Q & A period, I think I was the 3rd questioner “Do you knew that 20-45% of prisoners have ADHD 15 clinical studies show? And only 5% of adults have ADHD? The UK screens prisoners for ADHD in their jails, would you commit to screening prisoners in Federal jails for ADHD?”

I’m asking politicians this question for several reasons but one of them is most people don’t care at all about people with ADHD or think it’s overdiagnosed/space alien/drug company conspiracy/ not beating up your kid enough etc. But they do care about crime.

After the rally was over I decided to ask some of the Liberal politicians there if they would commit to screening prisoners in Federal jails for ADHD.

I asked Vancouver Center Liberal MP Hedy Fry (on Twitter @HedyFry Election website TeamHedyFry ) ” The UK screens prisoners for ADHD in their jails, would you commit to screening prisoners in Federal jails for ADHD?” Hedy Fry answered “Yes I would”.

She knew about the connection between ADHD and crime. Hedy Fry was a family doctor and president of the Vancouver and British Columbia Medical Associations. But many doctors in BC & Canada have no training on ADHD and currently UBC medical students only get one hour on ADHD during their program.

Also most politicians I talk to about this have no clue about the massive disproportionate number of prisoners in Canadian jails who have ADHD. So it’s nice to talk to someone who knows about ADHD and crime. I thanked her and handed her a copy of my blog post on 15 peer reviewed studies on ADHD and crime Up To 45% 0f Prisoners Have ADHD Studies Show. Crime & Jail Are Costly, Treatment Is Cheap

So thank you Hedy Fry for choosing science and evidence over ideology and theology in regards to ADHD and crime. I hope other Canadian politicians do the same.

20-30% + of drug addicts and alcoholics have ADHD peer reviewed clinical studies show but properly managed ADHD can be a competitive edge. Many entrepreneurs have ADHD. See the top ten advantages of ADHD in a high tech career

Nearly 20 years ago in Seattle, Judge David Admire son got diagnosed for ADHD and he noticed many people in his 2-3 year court seemed to have ADHD. He developed a screening program for prisoners with ADHD and learning disabilities. If they screened positive, they got properly diagnosed and had a choice of getting treatment for ADHD and or LD, learning how to properly manage ADHD with skills, pills, how to self advocate etc or going to jail. The ones who got treated for ADHD had their recidivism (return to prison) rates  go down massively compared to controls.

Vancouver’s mental health court last time I asked didn’t bother screening for ADHD. Too bad.

Health is mainly a provincial responsibility in Canada, but the Federal govt is responsible for jails. So if you or someone you know has ADHD why don’t you ask your local candidate or their party leader if they have a chance if they support screening prisoners in Canadian Federal prisons for ADHD?

Maybe also ask them if they’ll properly diagnosing those who screen positive by people who know ADHD and treat them in jail not only with long term medications that can’t be abused like the short term ones but more importantly also therapy so they learn self awareness and skill so they don’t come back to jail at a cost of $101,000 a year to the Canadian taxpayer?

Ideally you want them to screen children and adults for ADHD BEFORE they end up in jail, get medical professionals trained on ADHD in kids and adults and do a national anti stigma/ ADHD facts campaign. But Canadian provincial politicians don’t seem to want to do that.

If you’re Canadian here’s how to find your local candidate to ask them about ADHD & crime:

Find your local Liberal candidate

Find your local NDP candidate

Find your local Conservative candidate

Find your local Green candidate

Follow the Canadian Federal election on Twitter with the hash tag #elxn41 up until the election May 2nd 2011. Vote or you can’t complain until the next election.

Of Course. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May’s Answer to my ? Would She Support Screening Federal Prisoners For ADHD

Post from: Adult ADD Strengths

Yesterday I went to two leaders rallies in Vancouver, Michael Ignatieff’s in North Vancouver and Elizabeth May’s in Vancouver

At the Green party rally that started at 7.30pm in front of the train station in Vancouver I asked Elizabeth May who’s @elizabethmay on Twitter

“Do you knew that 20-45% of prisoners have ADHD?”  Only 5% of adults have ADHD. She said a lot of prisoners have ADHD and other mental health problems. I then said “The UK screens prisoners for ADHD in their jails, would you commit to screening prisoners in Federal jails for ADHD?” She answered “Of course”

I was very pleasantly surprised since most politicians I talk about this have no clue about the massive disproportionate number of prisoners in Canadian jails who have ADHD. I thanked her and gave her a printed copy of my blog post on 15 peer reviewed studies on ADHD and crime Up To 45% 0f Prisoners Have ADHD Studies Show. Crime & Jail Are Costly, Treatment Is Cheap

So thank you Elizabeth May for choosing science and evidence over ideology and theology in regards to ADHD and crime. I hope other leaders do the same.

I got a chance to give my blog post on 15 peer reviewed studies on ADHD and crime to Michael Ignatieff who’s @m_ignatieff on Twitter, as he passed on the way out but unfortunately didn’t have a chance to ask him if he’d screen prisoners in Federal jails for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Health is mainly a provincial responsibility but the Federal govt is responsible for jails. So if you or someone you know has ADHD why don’t you ask your local candidate or their party leader if they have a chance if they support screening prisoners in Canadian Federal prisons for ADHD and also properly diagnosing those who screen positive by people who know ADHD and treat them in jail not only with long term medications that can’t be abused like the short term ones but also therapy so they learn self awareness and skill so they don’t come back to jail at a cost of $101,000 a year to the Canadian taxpayer?

Ideally you want them to screen children and adults for ADHD BEFORE they end up in jail, get medical professionals trained on ADHD in kids and adults and do a national anti stigma/ ADHD facts campaign.

If you’re Canadian here’s how to find your local candidate to ask them about ADHD & crime:

Find your local Liberal candidate

Find your local NDP candidate

Find your local Conservative candidate

Find your local Green candidate

Follow the Canadian Federal election on Twitter with the hash tag #elxn41