Many studies investigating the misuse of prescription drugs report that teens generally obtain drugs from family and friends.


brain and the body to function properly; the gut and brain are constantly interfacing. Neurofeedback is a type of therapy


that measures brain activity and trains the brain to respond appropriately. It strengthens the brain and provides long-term relief that doesn’t wear off every day like drugs do. Neurofeedback not only provides the same degree of relief as pharmaceuticals, it can also help improve many other issues, including anxiety, obsessiveness, depression, lack of motivation, bedwetting and sleep problems. However, neurofeedback is more expensive than drugs, as it is not oſten a covered benefit with insurance companies. It also requires a commitment over time to conduct therapy sessions. Specific supplements may help build neurotransmitters and can accelerate the outcome of neurofeedback therapy. Neither drugs nor neurofeedback


Pharmaceuticals for


ADD/ADHD Ideally, pharmaceuticals prescribed for ADHD should be seen as band-aid solutions. Tey work fast and are cheaper in the short run. If a teen is in danger of being removed from school or is facing an impending final exam week, then the short-term solution would be a pharmaceutical drug. Tere is no sense in the teen and family suffering unnecessary consequences of mismanaged neurotransmitters until a long-term solution can be applied. Of course, there are side effects to the pharmaceuticals. For example, drugs only temporarily change brain chemistry. Sometimes, when the drugs wear off, a teen “crashes” and becomes irritable and aggressive. Some doctors will prescribe a small dose at the end of the day to avoid the crash, but this dose can interrupt sleep. And interrupted sleep will only exacerbate the issue. You see the vicious cycle that can occur when relying on pharmaceuticals alone. We would also be remiss if we


didn’t address the rampant abuse of psychotherapeutic drugs. According to the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.2 million Americans aged 12 or older misuse prescription psychotherapeutic drugs (pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives).


Te study revealed that an estimated 389,000 adolescents aged 12 to 17 misused prescription psychotherapeutic drugs at least once in the previous month. Stated another way, about 1 in 60 adolescents (1.6%) were current misusers of psychotherapeutic drugs at the time of the study. Many studies investigating the misuse of prescription drugs report that teens generally obtain drugs from family and friends. In one study, 70% of 12th graders said that they were given the drugs by a friend or relative. Finding non-drug alternatives can only help alleviate this problem by increasing the awareness of abuse and making drugs less available overall.


Drug-Free Solutions for ADD/ADHD, Anxiety and


Depression An integrative pediatric office such as ours would review a teen’s entire medical history and run special tests to determine the root cause(s) of a condition in order to formulate the best individualized treatment plan. Neurotransmitter and hormonal imbalances underlie many chronic health problems. Allergies, toxin exposure and emotional stressors may also be found at the root cause level of illness. Any imbalances in the gut must be brought back into harmony for the


constitute a total cure. Sometimes an individual will need a combination of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical interventions in order to thrive most successfully. A comprehensive, individual health program is always the most direct path to both prevention and healing. And at this time of teenage self-


definition and personal growth, isn’t individual mental healthcare the most appropriate and desirable course of action?


Joseph Cannizzaro, MD has been practicing pediatrics in Central Florida for over thirty years. As a classically-trained primary care physician who practices functional medicine, Dr.


Cannizzaro believes that integrative medicine can bring conventional and complementary healing modalities together, creating a highly personalized and high-touch healing environment. For a meet & greet with Dr. Cannizzaro and to learn more about the natural therapies available to his patients, call Cannizzaro Integrative Pediatric Center at 321-280-5867. On Tursday, Aug 16 at 6:00 pm, he will present a Free Seminar: Is it Teen Angst, Anxiety or Depression? Since seating is limited, please call to RSVP. CIPC is located at 357 Wekiva Springs Rd, Longwood 32779.


August 2018 17


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