Paramount no longer on Cruise Control

I used to like Tom Cruise. I have serious issues with him now. But in all honesty, he started it.

I don't know what possessed him to go on the Today Show and start questioning Matt Lauer about the uses of Adderall and Ritalin. Last I checked, Cruise wasn't a medical doctor, I don't think he's even played one on the big screen. The only thing that made the whole situation worse was the follow up by CBS News asking "Was Tom Cruise Right?"

Was he right? The whole situation made me livid and I still get pretty steamed when I think about it. Not because he questioned how stimulant medication (like Adderall and Ritalin) might be abused and over-prescribed. I understand those are legitimate issues. And although I address them slightly in FAQs about ADD and ADHD, I will address them in greater detail down the road.

What makes me upset is how people use those issues and attach it to the concept that ADHD isn't a "real" disorder. That all ADHDers, like me, are just drug addicts without real problems.

I'm glad that Paramount Pictures came out and said that, "His recent conduct has not been acceptable." In my opinion, it was about a year and a half late, but I'll take what I can get. I know that Cruise won't starve to death from this latest job loss and he will come out with another movie.

I hope he does. I hope that he sticks to acting, because he doesn't appear to know much about medicine. And what's worse that doctors prescribing medication incorrectly, are people trying to prescribe-or prevent medical doctors from prescribing-medication when they are not qualified to do so.

But that's just my opinion on the issue.

Darcy Andries