Date of Conferral
2018
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Public Policy and Administration
Advisor
Anne Hacker
Abstract
Even though there are high diagnosis rates of ADHD among young African American
men, policy makers and parents have largely viewed the use of Ritalin as a psychotrop
ic
drug that raises public health concerns. African American parents may be reluctant to
treat their children pharmacologically. Very few studies have fully explored the
perceptions of African American men
about the consequences of their
Ritalin
use
as
chi
ldren. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of African
American men who used Ritalin as children
so that
policy makers
and
parents of children
with ADHD
might
better understand the social and public health implications of
tr
eatment options. The theoretical framework for this study
included
Anderson's cultural
identity theory of drug abuse
and
Brady and O'Conno
r's community organizing theory
.
Data were collected through semistructured interviews with
9
African American men
who
were prescribed Ritalin as children. These data were then inductively coded and
analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis approach. Participants believed that
Ritalin helped them with focus in their academic endeavors and did not lead them to dr
ug
abuse
or addiction
.
By giving voice to the experiences of
this population
, educators
and
policy makers
can better assist
parents
who might be reluctant to give their child Ritalin
as their fears about Ritalin prescriptions leading to drug abuse and addiction later in life
may be less founded than some believe. This
presents
a social change
advantage for all
communities, especially those in low income areas.
Recommended Citation
Ayivor, Divine, "Policy Implications and Perceptions of African American Men who Used Ritalin as Children" (2018). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 5446.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/5446
