Posted on Apr 10, 2020
More Than Two Thirds of American Youth Aren’t Good Enough for the Military, Says the Military
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ADHD - What's with soldiers taking medication pertaining to ADHD after enlisting...?
I keep hearing stories about some Soldiers using ADHD medication Here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/more-two-thirds-american-youth-arent-good-enough-military-says-military-180951926/
And I keep wondering, yes it's true that ADHD is a decline from MEPS; however, what if you're already enlisted and you decide to get tested and find that you do indeed have ADHD.
I keep hearing stories about some Soldiers using ADHD medication Here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/more-two-thirds-american-youth-arent-good-enough-military-says-military-180951926/
And I keep wondering, yes it's true that ADHD is a decline from MEPS; however, what if you're already enlisted and you decide to get tested and find that you do indeed have ADHD.
More Than Two Thirds of American Youth Aren’t Good Enough for the Military, Says the Military
Posted from smithsonianmag.comPosted in these groups: 
Medical
Medical
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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Wait, did you have a diagnosis of ADHD prior to enlisting? If you did, was it disclosed at MEPS? Were you previously taking a medication for ADHD? Your question raises a lot of red flags without proper context.
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LTC (Join to see)
exactly. if this was a pre-existing condition and it was not disclosed at MEPS that opens the SM up to charges of fraudulent enlistment.
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PFC (Join to see)
No, I don't have it, it's more of a "if" question. I tried googling it, but I couldn't find any answers.
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TSgt David Holman
PFC (Join to see) thank you for adding context to the post. This can actually help to guide members in the future with questions. To answer your question, if you have a reason to believe after graduating from training (or during training for that matter) that you have ADD or ADHD, then schedule an appointment with your provider, and they will perform any tests needed to make the diagnosis. I have seen members in with ADHD that were able to serve while on medication, it really just depends on the job and the level of interference that the disease process and medication have. Luckily, medication isn't the only treatment for ADHD, depending on the severity.
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You would go on sick call and go to the medical clinic and speak with either a medical doctor or a psychiatrist or psychologist and get the meds prescribed. Here is the Department of Defense Instruction on Military Medical Entrance Requirements and Disqualifying conditions on ADHD:
5.28. LEARNING, PSYCHIATRIC, AND BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS.
a. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, if with:
(1) A recommended or prescribed Individualized Education Program, 504 Plan, or work
accommodations after the 14th birthday;
(2) A history of comorbid mental disorders;
(3) Prescribed medication in the previous 24 months; or
(4) Documentation of adverse academic, occupational, or work performance.
If this pertains to you....and you didn't disclose the ADHD when you went thru MEPS....then you have bigger issues to worry about other than getting your MEDS. Especially since you just blasted this on social media. And as a former Combat Engineer, I have highly concerned that you train with explosives and have an attention disorder
5.28. LEARNING, PSYCHIATRIC, AND BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS.
a. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, if with:
(1) A recommended or prescribed Individualized Education Program, 504 Plan, or work
accommodations after the 14th birthday;
(2) A history of comorbid mental disorders;
(3) Prescribed medication in the previous 24 months; or
(4) Documentation of adverse academic, occupational, or work performance.
If this pertains to you....and you didn't disclose the ADHD when you went thru MEPS....then you have bigger issues to worry about other than getting your MEDS. Especially since you just blasted this on social media. And as a former Combat Engineer, I have highly concerned that you train with explosives and have an attention disorder
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As others have stated you have the potential for an uphill battle with this. When you need medicine you go to medical and the process carry's on as it always does. The uphill battle is in regards to the fact that ADHD would be a pre-existing condition and the question is whether that was disclosed or not and whether it was presented as a previous condition or ongoing. I know of several service members who were treated for ADHD as a child and had to show that they were off medication for a minimum of 12 months to show it was no longer an existing condition. Good luck
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SSgt Christophe Murphy
TSgt David Holman if the individual is wanting to request ADHD meds that leads one to believe that a pre existing diagnosis is there. With the individual being young and in entry level training it’s not a leap to assume it was a condition identified as a minor.
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LTC (Join to see)
TSgt David Holman - I'd like to see the documentation to backup adult onset ADD/ADHD. Everything I've ever seen says that a person cannot develop ADD/ADHD as an adult. It is possible that they developed it as a child and for whatever reason (lack of medical care etc) they didn't get diagnosed until they were an adult, but nothing I've seen says that it can develop in adulthood. Also there are several other conditions in adults that can mimic the symptoms of ADHD/ADD that often lead to misdiagnosis.
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TSgt David Holman
LTC (Join to see) I stand corrected. I did a little more reading, and what I was calling "adult onset" is more a fact of it not being diagnosed in childhood. Thanks for the opportunity to do some additional research.
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LTC (Join to see)
TSgt David Holman - no problem. My youngest son has ADHD so we've done extensive research into it.
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