It is reported that up to 2.5 million American children suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Considering that this includes children for whom it is “difficult to control their behavior and/or pay attention,” it is surprising that the number is not much higher.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR), characteristics include hyperactivity-impulsivity and inattention.

Hyperactivity-impulsivity includes “running, climbing, or leaving a seat in situations where sitting or quiet behavior is expected.”

Inattention includes “failing to pay attention to details and making careless mistakes.”

To treat these symptoms, over 2 million children take Ritalin every day. Now the FDA is warning parents that filling their children full of amphetamines is hurting their kids much worse than the inability to pay attention.

“An FDA review of reports of serious cardiovascular adverse events in patients taking usual doses of ADHD products revealed reports of sudden death in patients with underlying serious heart problems or defects, and reports of stroke and heart attack in adults with certain risk factors.

Another FDA review of ADHD medicines revealed a slight increased risk (about 1 per 1,000) for drug-related psychiatric adverse events, such as hearing voices, becoming suspicious for no reason, or becoming manic, even in patients who did not have previous psychiatric problems.”

Read the press release here.

Yet many parents feel stuck. Living with a feral human that they absolutely cannot control is not an option. Besides, Ritalin works and very few children suffer these nasty side effects.

On Ritalin, there is a chance that their children might suffer hallucinations, heart attacks, or death. But without Ritalin, life will certainly suck.

Dr. Claudia Jensen from the University of Southern California has a suggestion. Her medication is inexpensive, has almost no side effects, and works like a champ. A good number of parents already have it in the house.

Dr. Jensen wants to give your kids marijuana.

And while my gut reaction is to be against giving marijuana to children, I am not a doctor. I would also be apprehensive about giving my kid something that might cause her to see monsters or drop dead.

Here is Dr. Jensen. Decide for yourself.