Introduction: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a “disorder of response inhibition and executive function leading to deficits in self-regulation, impairment in the ability to organize behavior towards present and future goals and difficulty adapting socially and behaviorally to the environment” (Goldstein and Ingersoll, 1993). In order to treat these behaviors there are several methods suggested, and one of these that is focused on particularly included stimulant medication.
To give the reader an idea of what ADHD might look like, the following is considered. These are the general characteristics displayed by ADHD disordered people, and may vary in intensity, depending on each case:
1. Doesn’t seem to listen
2. Fails to finish assigned tasks
3. Often loses things
4. Can’t concentrate
5. Easily distracted
6. Daydreams
7. Requires frequent redirection
8. Can be very quiet in classroom and missed (Messina, 2002)

Out of all irregular behavior patterns, the three major behavior patterns are as follows:

1. Inattention
2. Hyperactivity
3. Impulsivity (Barkley 1990)

Treatment: In addition to several other forms of treatment, the one that is relevant to treating ADHD in this paper is ‘medical stimulation’. This is an important treatment to discuss because of the fact that it is has been debated over at considerable length. However, it has now been proved that stimulant medication can overcome majority of the symptoms mentioned above. Even so, there are still questions raised regarding side-effects and ineffectiveness. Some of these include:

Cons:
Stimulant medications, like methylphenidate, for a long time have been known as an effective measure for children and adolescents suffering with ADHD. However, it is said that around 20-30% of children diagnosed with this disorder do not respond to stimulant medication. It must be asserted that this is in view of the number of individuals being administered this medication, noting particularly that up to 80% of ADHD sufferers use stimulant medication (Spencer et al., 1996).
Amid the range of stimulant medications available, it must be asserted that there is no way of telling which stimulant is the best and will actually benefit an individual. If one is to ascertain which stimulant is most effective, s/he would have to experiment with several of them.
In addition to no clear path being drawn up for which stimulant would suit a particular individual; there is also proper clinical data to aid in predicting what stimulant would act appropriately on a particular child. There is also no way of telling whether a child will respond to a given stimulant or what the response could be like In other words, it is yet early to tell whether stimulants will eventually be more easily administered or not.

Opposing the above statements that are not in favor of stimulant medication being administered to children, are the following:

Pros:
In accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is said that “at least 80% of children will respond to one of the stimulants” (ADHD Medications, 2004). This means that this is a considerable gain over the 20-30 % of individuals that do not respond to stimulant medication. It also means that there is room for more research to be conducted in order to encompass the 20-30% of children that do not respond.
In contrast to views that assert the unpredictability of stimulant medication, it can be said that with the progress demonstrated in as many as 805 of ADHD children, it is encouraging to think that there is more to be discovered. Insofar, one cannot deny that an 80% success is successful. This would obviously mean that one has to go ahead with what armory is available. With the passage of time, administering stimulant medication would be better understood, and this can be reinforced by the fact that one has witnessed considerable progress as compared to the past (Jensen et al, 2001, 60-73).
Also regarding predictability, it is quite logical to think that it is only with mapping out progress with particular stimulant medications that one can ascertain the possible reaction of a child and whether or not a particular case would respond. In order for this to become possible more research into the behavior, the disorder and the treatment for it needs to be conducted. In view of this, one can hardly prohibit administering stimulants that are showing significant success with majority of individuals.
Conclusion: In view of the above arguments, it must be asserted that stimulant medication should be administered to children, as there has been significant progress. In addition to this, it must also be asserted that since a large majority have benefited from stimulant medication, there is scope for further investigation that could encompass the 20-30% of children that do not respond to stimulant medication.