Adoption statistics...... what about the other contributing factors?

Question

I read that 15% of adopted children develope ADHD opposed to 7% of not adopted....

What are the other contributing factors.

Do they take into consideration that an adopted child is more likely to have been exposed to drugs. or that adoptive/foster parentes (as a whole) tend to get a more through work-up for their children (weather because of government mandate or better ability to pay for care) making them more likely to be dagnosed with anything. how about the amount of time a child spent in foster care.

They suggest that being adopted is the cause.

what do you think

Answer 1

i think your question is flawed.

Besides your (one) personal experience, could you please cite evidence for suggesting adopted kids are pre-natally exposed to drugs?

Are you familiar with Verrier's work?

Answer 2

ADHD is a subjective diagnosis. So you've got to look at a ton of factors here. Are adoptive parents more likely to have a higher education than the general population and therefore more likely to recognize the symptoms of ADHD? Are there more professionals involved in an adoptee's life just because of the fact of their adoptive status? (An unknown medical history and since ADHD is often heriditary, this diagnosis is easier to label a child with.) Are adoptive parents more willing to allow the label of ADHD on an adopted child as compared to a biological child because they feel less responsibile for the "disability"?  Way too many confounding factors in the statistics comparing adopted chldren to nonadopted children.  But life is not a laboratory.

Answer 3

I think you're onto some really excellent ideas here.  Of course you'll face opposition here with this question, but anyway...I think it's a whole combination of environmental and genetic factors.

I myself don't suffer from any form of mental illness, ADHD, etc, etc, but I had a very stable upbringing, and nobody in my bio family (that we know of) have ever suffered or been diagnosed with any such things.

I think you're right, there may be extra vigilance, or (despite what many people think) a lot of adoptive parents may have read up on the extra needs that some adopted children may face, and are more prepared to face them.

Definitely for kids who were in foster care, there were undisputadly issues going on in their bio families, again most people on here won't aknowledge that the grand ol' bio family could be any less than perfect, but kids in foster care are there for a reason.

It's so refreshing to see someone putting some original thought into these issues, great question!

Answer 4

First, just because a child is adopted, it does not mean that they have been exposed to drugs.  The majority of young women who give children up for adoption are not addicts.  

Second, correllation is not causation.  That the researchers SUGGEST that the adoption is the root or primary cause does not mean that it is.  Obviously further testing is needed to rule out what you allude to - other contributing factors.  

Lastly, there IS an effect, often negative, on a child who is given up for adoption REGARDLESS of how decent their adoptive parents are.  This HAS been proven, time and time again.  Adopted children also have more intimacy issues and abandonment problems.  It could very well be that adoption in  cases where the children are pre-disposed to ADHD and ADD, tend to bring that problem out.  Just like children who are predisposed to depression and a whole host of other illnesses that are connected to our emotional status.  

I honestly think that further study is needed.

~Raja

Answer 5

In a lot of cases I'm sure it has to do with the 'relinquishment' rather than the adoption.

Being separated from one's family can mess with your head.

Sadly - I think that too many kids (adopted and non adopted) are labeled and drugged - just so they act how adults want them to act - rather than getting to the bottom of the problem and finding other ways to treat it.

Treating with drugs only masks a problem - it doesn't fix it.

(sorry - off track)

I think adopted children - because of separation from family - have problems with trust - and can be hyper-sensitive to situations that non-adopted kids would normally not be sensitive to  - and I'm sure that symptoms could be worse for kids that remain in foster care for a longer period of time or have been exposed to drugs.

All kids need stability. They need to know that their major care giver is not going to leave at a moments notice. If that caregiver goes away - and complete strangers are put in their place - it will take a lot of time and patience for the child to trust that new relationship again.

I'm sure if I were a child in this century - some of my actions in my youth would have labeled me with ADD or ADHD also!!

Sometimes - I think kids are just kids. They need patience, understanding and time. And time is a precious commodity that many don't have as much of these days as in the past.

Edit:

Yes - I agree with MUCH more researching.

Sadly - so many research projects these days are slanted in particular directions - either from a drug company that wishes to increase it's market or others that wish to profit off the outcome.

Independent studies by universities - with no outside funding that could cause bias on the survey - I say!!!

Answer 6

Funny how all the drug addicts I have had contact with kept their children. Where exactly are you getting your info? I volunteered at an inner city women's shelter and saw countless addicts, prostitutes and alcoholics get pregnant on purpose for the sole reason of being able to access welfare programs and affordable housing. I know of one person who was placed for adoption at birth who was exposed in the womb.

As for your theory that adoptive parents have better access to diagnosis for their children, I have no clue about the states but here everyone has the same access to health care.  So in Canada and other countries that have 'free' health care that can't really be the case. Unless you are insinuating that biological parents are not as diligent in caring for their child's health.

Answer 7

I've read that adopted children are often mis-diagnosed with ADHD and given the improper medications instead of dealing with the core issues steming from separation trauma instead.

Would you please email me any references you can on the amount of adoptees born drug exposed compared to non adopted people.

That insinuates that first mothers of adoptees have a higher percentage of using drugs but I have had read different than that. I have actually read the average first mother these days is in her early to late 20's, pursuing an education and not an addict.

I agree many children in foster care have been exposed to abusive lifestyles w/ drugs or other forms of abuse, but they aren't adopted nearly as much as the infant industry in the US.

Also are you talking about domestic adoptions, international adoptions? all of them combined?