To: Prime Minister and Premier Whereas: The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted and proclaimed on December 10, 1948, states in Article 5, no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment Whereas: The above right is also affirmed under Article 37 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) and under Article 33 of that Convention, which states that children have the right to protection from the illicit use of psychotropic substances; Whereas: Medical research indicates considerable controversy and diverse opinion about the validity of childhood behavioral or learning disorders; such as but not limited to, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), and which are not scientifically substantiated; Whereas: In Canada, up to four million children have been administered potentially addictive, psychotropic stimulants and other drugs because of these so-called psychiatric disorders; Whereas: Such psychotropic stimulants have the same abuse liability as cocaine, and are considered more potent than cocaine; and that such drugs can cause other adverse reactions, including, psychosis, agitation, bizarre dreams, loss of appetite, confusion, and depersonalization, and do not improve academic performance; Whereas; educators and schools boards should not stand to receive more funding from recommending children be put on Ritalin; Whereas: Doctors such as Sheila Milne and Elaine Blacklock who willingly and without proper testing prescribe these medications against a child\'s wishes rather than explore any other treatment if any actually is warranted; Whereas: Parents who use their children to obtain these drugs and refuse to consider any other treatment for their children if any actually warranted should be tested for drug abuse themselves; Whereas: Parents and children are being denied adequate information about the lack of science behind childhood psychiatric disorders and the risks associated with drugs prescribed for them; Whereas: Parents and children are being denied information about alternatives to drug treatment for classroom or behavioral problems, such as nutritional, creative and educational solutions and, thereby are being denied the right to informed consent; Be it known that we, the undersigned, sincerely request that the government implement legal safeguards to prevent children from being stigmatized as mentally disordered, especially through Special Education, limit the use of these drugs as a last resort and to protect their inalienable right to be educated drug-free. Sincerely, The Undersigned

Sponsor