Drugs vs. Alternative Therapy in ADHDWhen dealing with adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD can become a challenge for many parents. Knowing the facts about this disorder and how to treat it is key to a healthy lifestyle for both teens and families. Many therapies and medications are available to families with children with ADHD, but many questions parents have with their children with ADHD concern which therapy is best and what would work best with their children and their quality of life. The question of which therapy, alternative to drug therapy, would improve the adolescent's quality of life and behavior modification. One of the biggest concerns when dealing with ADHD is the cost of treatment. A recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control estimated that if improvements were made in promoting the health of individuals, financial savings could reduce costs by $31.6 billion (Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. 2013). The impact of ADHD has been known to have an effect on an individual's social, educational, and health status. It is also vital to understand the nature of ADHD and the effect it has on other family members. ADHD can increase family conflict and stress, as well as limit family activities such as work and community life (Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. 2013). One of the main treatments for ADHD is the use of medications. Mainly the main drugs used are stimulants such as amphetamines. Amphetamines have been used in this treatment due to its effects of reducing ADHD symptoms such as behavior and irritability (Hodgkins, Shaw, McCarthy, Sallee, 2012). However, one of the main concerns regarding amphetamine use is...... half of the article ...... rtz-dorten, A., Breuer, D., Hautmann, C., Rothenberger, A. , & Döpfner, M. (2011). What contributes to patient and parent satisfaction with medications in the treatment of children with ADHD? A report on the development of a new rating scale. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 20, 297-307. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00787-011-0207-zHodgkins, P., Shaw, M., McCarthy, S., & Sallee, F. R. (2012). The pharmacology and clinical outcomes of amphetamines for the treatment of ADHD. Central Nervous System Drugs, 26(3), 245-68. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.2165/11599630-000000000-00000 Sarris, J., Kean, J., Schweitzer, I., & Lake, J. (2011). Complementary medicines (herbal and nutritional products) in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a systematic review of the evidence. Complementary therapies in medicine, 19(4), 216-27. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2011.06.007