All politicians talk about Substance Use Disorder, homelessness and crime. Almost none talk about the first Pillar in the City Of Vancouver’s Four Pillars official Drug Policy. Prevention.
So I’m asking politicians if they would commit to taking action on prevention of SUD, homelessness and crime, specifically on ADHD.
Why should politicians care about ADHD?
23% of people with substance use disorder have ADHD a meta-analysis showed.
And I’ve seen 55% of crystal meth users had ADHD in one study, 70% in another.
Only 5% of adults have ADHD.
27% of homeless people have ADHD a 33 year old follow up study showed, and we had more instances of homelessness and far longer periods of it.
43% of homeless 12-18 year olds had ADHD
The London Metropolitan police screened arrestees for ADHD.
50% of them screened positive for ADHD. 60% of those arrested for drugs either had ADHD or screened positive for ADHD.
Decades of studies show that Adults and teens with ADHD have massive rates of Substance Use Disorder, homelessness, and incarceration.
But if we’re diagnosed and treated with ADHD medications?
Decades of studies show we have lower rates of all three.
You can’t call yourself a fiscal conservative if you don’t support prevention specifically for people with ADHD. We ADHD people are very costly to ignore.
But the majority of adults with ADHD are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with Depression and Anxiety Disorders, etc.
It’s a nightmare to get a competent diagnosis of ADHD in BC.
British Columbians say they feel stigmatized, ignored when seeking ADHD diagnosis.
The BCNDP has de facto privatized ADHD assessments to US-style online nurse practitioner clinics by their refusal to require ALL BC doctors to have #MandatoryCMECoursesOnADHD.
Breaking their own laws: the BC Medicare Act on ADHD in several sections and the Canada Medicare Act on ADHD in several sections.
If you’re rich enough to spend $600, you can get a diagnosis, although some people report if you have too many coexisting conditions, they won’t diagnose you. Probably because you’re not profitable for them, and with ADHD, coexisting conditions are the norm, not the exception. While there are billionaires with ADHD and 27.4% of entrepreneurs had ADHD in one study , we ADHD people have higher rates of un and underemployment and poverty too.
Please ask your provincial, state and civic politicians if they will do this.
If elected, will you screen people in BC rehabs for ADHD?
Screen people at homeless shelters & rehabs for ADHD?
Ask RCMP & civic cops to screen people arrested for ADHD
Require all BC doctors to have #MandatoryCMECoursesOnADHD?
So they stop un & misdiagnosing us.
BC Green’s Vancouver-Quilchena candidate Douglas Courtemanche supports screening people in BC homeless shelters, rehabs and arrestees by RCMP & civic police for ADHD. Thanks Douglas!
Hi Pete,
I am a physician. I completely understand what you are saying. Not only do we have to sort out the medical side of this but also the social side of things. There is evidence that epigenetic and environmental factors in the first four years of life contribute to ADHD.
We need help those who struggle in society with ADHD (or any other medical problem) and we need to look at the way our society is structured and how we bring children into the world and their early experiences.
One thing I would like to see in government is a much wider scope of consultation. There are lots of people like you with expertise and lived experience that should be helping to shape the way government services are designed so as to be the most supportive they can be.
It’s nice to hear what Pete Fry is going to do in Vancouver.
Thanks for getting in touch.
Douglas Courtemanche
“Dr. Douglas Courtemanche is a semi-retired craniofacial surgeon, clinical professor and health researcher with more than 35 years of experience caring for patients in British Columbia’s healthcare system.
Douglas has been a Clinical Professor in UBC’s Department of Surgery since 2008 and has contributed to more than 80 publications. He also conducts clinical research as an investigator with the BC Children’s Research Institute.”