Meds can be tricky to depend on though.* It would need to be in
combination with other coping techniques, additional skill
sets.* Nobody likes feeling that they are wrong or abnormal for
very long and being on medication to assist self-control
sometimes causes someone to feel that they're not in control,
but rather the medication or the rehabilitation program, or the
system they are put into is in control of their lives. I've
never needed medication, outside of some Lorazapam for some
panic attacks in my 20s and the occasional pain reliever.* But
I've known people who were on various "behavioral control"
medicines; for schizophrenia, for ADHD, for depression, for
manic-depression (I don't remember the new term for it)... and
they all seem to reach a point where they say, "NO MORE!" and
ditch the medicine quietly in the belief that doing so will give
them control back. Or the medicine may work well enough where
they don't feel they need it.* "I feel fine, I don't need the
medicine" - not seeing at that moment that it is the very
medicine they're taking that is helping them feel fine. I wasn't
them but finding some commonality, there are many self-control
techniques that are easily learned that allow people to regain
self-control the moment they feel themselves starting to get out
of control.* Perhaps they will not help in all cases or in all
situations, but it's a surprising thing JUST how important a
sense of I am the Master of my Destiny is for most people,
children as well as adults. I believe medication is a valuable
tool as are other rehabilitation methods.* Perhaps it's not
possible to catch the cases before they begin; perhaps society
is not yet reached that point.* But the public attitude needs to
change towards these kids, and policies need to change. In the
USA, the 90s saw a proliferation of these "Tough Love" camps;
rehabilitation camps where army-style training was supposed to
reform troubled kids.* There may have been successes but it's
hard to know because all that ever gets reported are the
failures and abuses.* I have a strongly negative opinion towards
them, yet I have never seen a balanced assessment.* Perhaps
there isn't one or I just haven't seen one - so my negative
opinion has to stay until then. I believe there needs to be an
inbetween;* perhaps something that is inbetween school and
hospital and detention.* Perhaps it already exists. But public
opinion is hard to change.* We're more aware now that, yes,
children beyond the age of 7 often know exactly what they're
doing in criminal cases yet sometimes they shouldn't be
responsible.* They are not supposed to be entirely responsible
for their actions until they are 18 in the eyes of the state.*
They are wards of somebody until then. Are they truly
responsible?* Public opinion leans more and more towards "yes,
they are".* People crave "justice" over fairness.* I don't think
much change will take place until our media and political
presentation of these children changes.* Any rehabilitation
programs that costs more than punitive programs will fall
heavily under public scrutiny for effectiveness or cost. sigh.*
I wish I had the answers, honestly.
