THE 4-A’s
1. AUTISM
Autism has increased by at least 1,500 percent, according to most estimates,
over the past 20 years. Its occurrence rocketed from approximately 1 in every
2,500 to 10,000 births to 1 in every 150 births, since the 1980's. Now at least a half
million American children have autism-spectrum disorders, and some experts
believe it to be as high as 1.5 million. Better diagnosis does not fully account for
this alarming increase.
2. ADHD
ADHD has increased by 400% over the same 20 years. Now 3.5 million
children suffer from it. In some high schools and middle schools, as many as
10% of the students have been identified as having symptoms of ADHD. The very
worst symptoms of ADHD are similar to those of children on the autism spectrum.
ADHD is now known to persist into adulthood in approximately 50% of cases.
American kids now consume 90% of the world’s Ritalin, the most popular ADHD
medication.
3. ASTHMA
Asthma has increased by 300% over the same time period, and asthma deaths
have increased by 56%, despite improvements in acute crisis care. In some
highly polluted areas, more than 25% of all children have asthma. Now
approximately 6 million American kids suffer from it, and it often persists
throughout life.
4. ALLERGIES
Allergies have increased by 400% over this period. Now approximately 16 million
kids have at least one food allergy, sensitivity, or intolerance. Allergy has been
accepted as almost a “normal” condition among children and adults. Peanut
allergy, one of the most common fatal food allergies, has more than doubled since
1997. Two hundred people, many of them children, now die from food allergies
every year.
Add together all of the children who have these disorders, and it comes to over 20
million kids, or almost one third of all American children. Of these 20 million,
about 10 million have serious problems: autism spectrum disorders, ADHD,
asthma, or severe allergies.
These conditions limit their lives, define their identities, and haunt their
families.
THE FOUR NEW CHILDHOOD EPIDEMICS ARE CONNECTED.
MAKE THE CONNECTIONS – AND RELIEVE THE SUFFERING.
THE NEW CHILDHOOD EPIDEMICS ARE EVEN WORSE THAN THE OLD.
IT’S TIME TO END THEM, AND GIVE OUR KIDS THE LIVES THEY DESERVE
