ADD, ADHD, perscription drugs, and a suffering generation?

I have clinically diagnosed ADD. As a kid, whilst in elementary/high school, I was always being pressured by teachers and so called guidance counselors to go on prescription drugs such as Aderall and Ritalin. For my own personal reasons, I've always been vehemently opposed to using these drugs as a means to "straighten out" my personality, and succeeded in refusing treatment despite being constantly at odds with my schools' trigger-happy psychologists.

I graduated high school with a 3.8 GPA and was one of 4 other males out of my class (small class of 120 people) who managed to attend a 4 year university directly after graduating. After a 5 year stint, I'm now scheduled to graduate with a bachelor's degree and a minor this spring... my friend and fellow ADD diagnose-ee wasn't so lucky. He killed himself during a particularly low bout of depression. He was a prescription user.

My question is: what are the life chances for the rest of the Ritalin generation? Was it really worth it?

I've also been diagnosed as ADD. I was on Ritalin and Wellbutrin XL for a few years but now I'm off all Rx meds. I think healthy diet and adequate exercise should be addressed before drugs are prescribed to kids; drugs should be a last resort. I also had a 3.8 GPA and got my B.A. from a 4 year school (I was only on Ritalin for 2 years of college). I think the drugs are over-prescribed and I shudder to think about long-term side-effects that have yet to be uncovered.

That's the common solution now a days. Just fill the prescription, pop the pills and you're all set. Nope, that's not really the solution. I'm not a person who goes to the Dr. for anything really, so I am not a perscription regular like most American's these days. However, I was just introduced to the 'old fashioned' way of healing with essential oils. This is a very interesting topic and very useful - youngliving.us. Let me know if you need more info. There is all sorts of books on natural healing, but my favorite is the Essential Oil Desk Reference by Essential Publishing. I believe all the regular 'pill poppers' in our generation will suffer, but I will not, thanks to Young Living.