Barbie Rivera's Battle Against Big Pharma in Schools
I feel like this system is stacked against the children and I'm not even talking... You are told when you were little that if you can't focus, you need a drug right.
Imagine being told your bright, bilingual six-year-old needs mind-altering drugs. That’s the reality Barbie Rivera faced nearly three decades ago when a public school teacher insisted her son had a mental disorder and needed Ritalin. In this gripping episode of 'The Addiction Podcast - Point of No Return', Barbie shares her shocking journey from disbelief to action.
She decided to homeschool her son, leading her to establish HELP Miami, a school dedicated to nurturing children without the crutch of unnecessary medication. Barbie’s story takes a darker turn when she reveals that drug companies offered her $5,000 annually for every student she recommended for medication. This horrifying proposition exposes the unsettling influence of pharmaceutical companies on education.
Barbie’s experience isn’t an isolated incident; it highlights a broader issue where children are often hastily labeled with mental disorders and prescribed drugs that can have long-lasting negative effects. The episode doesn’t stop at just telling Barbie’s story. It dives into alternative approaches to detox and withdrawal, showcasing successful methods beyond traditional 12-step programs. Parents and loved ones share their harrowing experiences and the ultimate strategies they’ve used to save lives and support recovery.
Listeners will walk away with valuable insights into the importance of thorough research before making medication decisions. Barbie’s journey underscores the need for stable lifestyle changes and shines a light on the pervasive problem of the drug industry's grip on education. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand the complex relationship between education and medication.