This paper explores research on use of medication and non-drug interventions to modify the behavior of preschool children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It begins by discussing the symptoms of ADHD, neurological differences between children with ADHD and those without ADHD, and expected adolescent and adult outcomes for children diagnosed with ADHD in elementary school. The three categories of psychotropic medication that are used in treating ADHD are reviewed and include anti-depressants, stimulants, and selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors. The positive effects of Ritalin on academic productivity, associative learning behavior self-control, information processing, sustained attention, task vigilance, and working memory are discussed, along with the negative effects on appetite, falling asleep, growth inhibition, headaches, increased blood pressure and heart rate, stomachaches, stress, and addiction. Research findings on the efficacy of non-drug treatment for preschool children are then reviewed. Findings indicate that parent training programs, home-school notes, token economics, multimodal day treatment programs, social skills training, art therapy, and peer mediation have been effective in treating preschool children with ADHD. The paper closes by urging early intervention at the preschool level to stop the downward spiral of social dysfunction of children with ADHD. (Contains 118 references.) (CR)