National Consumers League Helps Parents Better Enjoy the Holidays with New ADHD Resources

Washington, DC - While the holidays are usually a time of cheer, they can be stressful for families, especially for those with children who suffer from a chronic illness, as routines are constantly changing. The National Consumers League (NCL) today announced the availability of a new resource to help parents of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) better understand their child’s condition and treatment options. The holiday season and winter break from school can cause changes in a child’s academic routine that may prove stressful and affect performance during the second half of the school year. The Parent Starter Kit, available for free at www.responsiblerx.org, provides tips on communicating with doctors, understanding Medication Guides and Prescribing Information, creating a medical history, and accurately monitoring symptoms.

“The holidays in particular can be tough on families with children who have ADHD. Our Responsible Rx program provides much-needed support for parents as partners with their child’s physician in the ADHD evaluation and treatment process. The new Parent Starter Kit can help transform the relationship between parent and healthcare professional from passive to informed and proactive,” said NCL Executive Director Sally Greenberg. “Our goal is to pave the way for the most effective, individualized treatment plan for children with ADHD.”

ADHD is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders in school-aged children, affecting more than four million Americans under the age of 18. Its most common symptoms – impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention – can impact many aspects of a child’s life, including academic performance, socialization, peer and family relationships, and the ability to participate in activities outside of school. While there is no cure for ADHD, it can be treated with medication and/or behavioral therapy to lower impulsivity and hyperactivity and increase attention.

The Responsible Rx Parent Starter Kit helps parents work with their child’s physician to navigate the complex treatment process once a child has been diagnosed and a medicine has been prescribed. The Kit is comprehensive and easy to understand and provides a road map for parents, including:

• Questions parents should consider asking their child’s treating physician regarding their child’s ADHD treatment, including side effects, dosing, how to tell whether a treatment is working, and interactions with other medications and foods.
• Help decoding the fine print in the Prescribing Information with easy-to-understand definitions and guidance.
• A how-to for creating a child’s medical history, including a list of various conditions a child’s physician should know about, as well as things for a parent to keep in mind as treatment begins.
• A comprehensive checklist of what to look for when their child is starting a new ADHD medication to help track side effects and behavioral changes.

About Responsible Rx

Responsible Rx is a program of the National Consumers League, launched in 2006 to help parents of children diagnosed with ADHD make successful and appropriate treatment choices.  The program provides factual information about available ADHD medications and practical guidance on working together with physicians to make the best treatment choice for the child. The sponsorship of this program was made possible by McNeil Pediatrics, a Division of McNeil-PPC, Inc.

About the National Consumers League
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America's pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

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