In a hypercompetitive world, drugs like Adderall offer students, athletes, coders and others a way to do more -- faster and better. But at what cost?
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Reviews
One of my all time favorites.
Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.
The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.
It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny
I liked most of the documentary. It was poorly edited though. Also, this "documentary" doesn't even try to hide the fact that its shilling for that Optimind crap. And thise dudes were totally on Rx Stimulants.
Thank you Netflix for having the courage to say what needs to be said, and for not wimping out toward the end with some kind of maybe-this-drug-is-OK-after-all cop-out. There are plenty of people in the world who will tell you that your child with ADHD should be medicated. There are very few voices that have the courage to point out that if millions of kids need medication to "succeed" in our education system/society, then maybe it's the system and society that has a problem, not the kids. I appreciated the context and history of how Adderall and Ritalin were developed and how the rates of prescription have grown in recent years. It was also interesting to see the role of social class bias toward prescription methamphetamines, and I would have liked a few more minutes' discussion of this topic, as criminalization of lower social class behaviors is important, and the high socioeconomic status of most of the people in this movie was evident. I would have also liked to have a little more insight into how people with ADHD were treated before high rates of prescription, although that's a little off the topic of the movie.I watched this with my 13-year-old who was diagnosed with ADHD at age 8 and has never been medicated. This movie came at just the right time as she becomes more self-aware and uses introspection to begin taking control of her own self-management. We learned a lot and it was the basis for several conversations. Super-uplifting movie for a kid who believes, deep down, that there is nothing "wrong" with her and galvanized her determination to forge her own path rather than become a medicated zombie (references to The Matrix were quite apropos). We especially liked and identified with the artist kid who has been on Adderall most of his life, wants to quit, and struggles with anger at his mom for having medicated him for so long. Incidentally, the movie does a nice job of empathizing with the mom and other parents who choose to medicate, rather than demonizing them. Who should watch this movie? Parents of kids with ADHD, adults with ADHD, teens with ADHD, teens in general. Note: if you have a competitive teen who is driven to succeed, stay one step ahead of them and have them watch this.My only complaint was that the added graphics, while well done, were too flashy and jittery for my taste; this was a minor aggravation and when I joked to my daughter that they were designed to keep the attention of someone with ADHD, she replied that it worked.
This a terribly discriminatory documentary, signaling out people who suffer from ADHD and ADD. If anything it is about the directors personal experience with the medicine, and her crusade to tie it to words associated with postmodernism like late-capitalism. Also the Lichtenstein reference within the poster just horrifies me. Sadly the solutions the director offers are costly, but maybe not for someone coming from a 'wealthy' social economic background. Healthcare is another topic though and the lack thereof.
This movie does not provide scientific evidence for how medication can support and improve many symptoms for people clinically diagnosed and living with ADHD.The documentary addresses the issue of legalised addiction to speed, which is a completely separate debate, argument and concern. Very separate to the medical purpose these medications serve. Clearly the abuse of these drugs needs addressing yet not under the banner of anti-ADHD with the outcome further stigmatising people with this condition. If your life is touched by ADHD and or you or your child benefit from these life saving medical treatments - then my suggestion NOT to watch this film.