Just something I have anecdotally noticed occuring with more frequency. Several creators I follow have spoken about being diagnosed with ADHD in recent years, and their experiences with medication like adderall. When I was a kid, ADHD was something only kids had, and was famously overdiagnosed in America as an excuse to get a ton of kids on pills.
Is this just a more recent extension of that? Is it just as simple as big pharma looking for more addicts? I have definitely noticed that my own attention span has been eroded by the 24 hour news cycle and too much screen time, but I'd never think to go to the doctor about it.
It's definitely Big Pharma looking for new customers.
And the fact that the prescription meth has euphoric, habit-forming and positive side effects for the patients (weight loss, decrease need for sleep, increased cognitive productivity, etc).
The push to start recognizing Adult ADHD start about two decades ago.
The problem is that diagnosis is completely based on self-reported symptoms, checklists, etc.
The only break is that there is supposed to be documented evidence of ADHD symptoms prior to age 12. But you can imagine how extensive that fact-finding mission is and how closely it is adhered to.
Adult ADHD is also completely linear. You get the diagnosis, then you get prescription meth.
There's no alternatives explored. No non-drug therapy, other than perhaps students and employees asking for accommodations or disability claimants adding it to their file.
There are other non-meth drugs that in theory help with ADHD like atomoxetine and bupropion.
But surprise, surprise. When offered to Adult ADHD sufferers, they will to the last man come back reporting that they weren't effective.
There's also the aspect of diagnostic creep. The diagnosis is essentially made when a prescriber relents and prescribes a trial of meth.
But once given the label, it becomes part of the patient's identity and entitlement. There is essentially no way passed that point that someone can be "undiagnosed" or proven that they don't have it.
Lastly, it's a condition where essentially the patient always comes to the clinician predetermined that they suffer from Adult ADHD. It's very rare that they come with undifferentiated symptoms and let the clinician reach the diagnosis alone by expert assessment without preexisting bias.
Trust me it's not.
I was prescribed various ADHD meds including pure dextroamphetamine for over 10 years in total. I kept switching and coming on and off meds because I would have horrendous side effects.
Everything was fantastic usually for the first two months until the poor quality sleep or sleep deprivation catches up to you. The medication itself inherently masks these issues making you think that you're working optimally. In time though your performance metrics will get so much worse that you will start to notice despite the meds masking the problems.
Since I came off them 4 years ago and started eating liver to improve micronutrients in my diet I have never felt more mentally sharp. You cannot underestimate a full 8 hours of sleep.
any alternatives to liver?
I can't stand the smell of it cooking, much less eat the stuff
You will want calf liver as it has the least amount of vitamin A, overdosing on that will not be fun for you and is a real risk if you eat liver from a mature cow often. In an oven with the door ajar or in a convection oven at 80 degrees Celsius you can dehydrate it.
First you must remove the membrane that surrounds it, use kitchen paper to get a hold of an edge you may need to peel up an edge slightly first with a knife.
Then you put it in the freezer for 3 hours to let it firm up for easier slicing .
Now it's time for slicing, you may want to use a plastic glove on your off hand since it gets bloody cold, slice it in 1 cm chunks.
Use some grease on a mesh rack or use baking paper and put your liver on it, put a pan with some tin foil under it for easier cleaning if using mesh.
When you take them you can dice them up into smaller chunks to swallow like pills.
I don't do this very often but keep an eye one it and you'll see it gets done quite quickly.
Dry weight should be about one quarter of wet weight, calculate your portions based on that so you don't end up with vitamin A poisoning.
VERY IMPORTANT do not freeze liver for storage as the important vitamin B12 and B9 (folate) degrade rapidly. For storage you must use silica gel desiccant packs or it will go mouldy.
I usually eat Swedish style liver patée that I make myself from what we call "young cow liver" which has a much milder flavour this is NOT calf liver just slightly older and half the price. I usually spice it with freshly ground cloves, coriander seeds, allspice, sage, garlic a couple of splashes of Tabasco for acidity and that fermented taste, sometimes I use dill pickles instead.
Mine is heavily inspired by this recipe from a legendary Swedish chef. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjJGeA4Z-kM
Unfortunately I can't tell you precisely how I make it because I do it so often I just know how to make it by feel.
Personally for me there is no substitution for liver, unparalleled in density of nutrients and has an extremely low cost. At first when I started taking liver I was eating about 100grams a day to replenish me body of nutrients and I would get this crazy feeling of satisfaction and calmness through my body.