The effects of some stimulants and depressants are reversed in children.
No.
The effects are only "reversed" if the individual actually has a true case of ADD/ADHD, which throws this whole argument out the window.
The new thoughts are welcomed, because we NEED to seriously cut back on the actual stimulants and seek out other treatment approaches. That, and there are a whole host of mostly-reversible variables that typically leads to the physiological symptoms of ADD/ADHD.
A normal person, including a normal child, who takes one of the stimulant prescriptions, will experience the effects of stimulation.
Someone who has a clinical neurotransmitter imbalance will likely NOT be stimulated... rather, they usually calm down a LOT if the dosage and chemical is correct for that individual. If it goes too far (too strong of dose, too strong of stimulant in general, etc), it may even make them dopey and the kids will even complain about how it makes them feel.
Treating ADD/ADHD, properly, is a very lengthy process that must be patiently carried out in full, but rarely is. Doctors are seemingly too happy to prescribe it, and either due to the cost of psychologists or jumping on the first drug that seems to provide positive results, many don't get fine-tuned treatment.
More importantly, the quick and easy road is always chosen over the long-term options.
The reason some doctors are now arguing it is not a true disease, is sort of misguided, but on the right track. It is a real disease, any long-term neurotransmitter imbalance should be viewed and treated as a disease.
The problem? Neurotransmitter imbalances need not be permanent; they are often the product of the environment, or in other words, of diet, upbringing, and some uncontrollable factors like environmental toxins. For instance, Lead in the environment is seeing serious implications on the mental health of past and current generations, likely future generations as well.
What is being pushed by some health professionals these days are avenues of approach that basically fall under "behavior modification."
Change the diet, change the lifestyle, and in general correct everything you can control.
There has been much research pointing to deficiency in the Omega-3s as one route to a host of mental health issues as a body matures. And that's just one easily-correctable nutrient deficiency, an easily-identifiable one as well. It's also why many of these mental health disorders are not perfectly distributed across the globe. The lifestyles and diets of many other cultures, or of people in certain regions, naturally provides the key nutrients that help keep the body and mind in good health.
Stimulants work, but as argued, putting your child on daily doses of amphetamine can not work out well in the long-term, at least not often. And it's the worst route to go if you can EASILY try other, more healthy approaches first.
Yet... how many parents are truly willing to take that kind of time? Especially since changing a kid's diet may be difficult if their diet is inspired by your diet, and you are not willing to adopt anything different. Helping your child reach good health is often best achieved by leading the way as a positive role-model.
It's increasingly becoming better understood that the typical lazy fat American way of life is having profound impacts on our youth. This isn't entirely a direct fault of individuals, but as a culture we have bred it. Our approach to food, medicine, where we live and the work commutes, the entire package has been shaping our way of life for some time now, and we're just now really beginning to understand the hows and whys.
I've never expected positive results in the long-term. I've always been a glass-half-empty kind of guy, one who has seen nothing but the worst and expects our civilization to only further slide toward disaster. Yet, I think we may just be starting to figure out how to get out of this mess... at least, the self-created mental health mess. Those other messes we've created? I am not as inclined to expect improvements elsewhere.