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ADHD & Trump’s Behavior: Military Ironies
A.B.O.U.T. Behavior #12 : Military Ironies
For one year, my weekly blog will address recent utterances or actions of Mr. Trump that highlight his severe, under-treated, hyperactive, adult ADHD. I do not intend to comment on his politics or policies, except as directly shaped by ADHD. My observations and analyses do not imply that all people with ADH behave like Mr. Trump, not that ADHD is Mr. Trump’s only mental health issue. Recently Mr. Trump staged a controversial incursion into the military justice system, pardoning three men convicted of, or charged with, war atrocities. While nobody questioned his authority as commander-in-chief to make such rulings, many, both within and outside of the armed forces, wondered about the wisdom of his decisions. This focus on Mr. Trump’s role as leader of our armed forces led me to write about ironies embedded in how our military treats ADHD and stimulant medications.
Last month, a millennial patient of mine reported that he had been looking into a military career, but found out that his ADHD disqualified him. Military recruits must meet certain physical, educational, and citizenship requirements to join our fighting forces. The thirty plus pages of disqualifying medical conditions specifically include one paragraph on ADHD. While ADHD itself does not automatically disqualify…
