I think most ADDer's want a sense of understanding and that would probably explain my recent experience of feeling thrilled over the start of an "Adult ADD" support group so I chose to go.
The group is themed, every week it is an issue related to being an Adult with ADD. I was the lucky one who went on the week that "Managing Medication" was the theme and the experience wasn't pleasant. There were three of us in the group of 30 who are lifelong AD/HD diagnosed and we seemed to have a separate 'clique' from the rest of the group. To add fuel to the fire we were on older medications and beside the three of us there were 4 on strattera and 2 on concerta and the rest were on Adderall XR. Everyone decided to elaborate on their doses and such and one of the three of us is an inattentive woman who only responds to Desoxyn.
This one woman, who I may add is on so much Adderall XR that she wasn't able to blink her eyes during the group was the 'crusader'. I am on Dexedrine and the guy is on immediate release ritalin, so we were in her mind "potentially doctor shopping addicts" and her judgement was so impaired that she excessively commented on her being on Adderall XR and how it's 'non-addictive'. She was going on this "Pressured-speech" tyrade about this girl on Desoxyn and how she might as well be smoking it. The woman on Desoxyn weighs 300+ pounds so she's hardly misusing it. I chose to attempt being a crusader for us minorities in the group but the woman would not stop talking. It was rude and didn't really seem like support for AD/HD to sit around and listen to people describe med schedules.
I wound up giving it to her for what I observed (the dexedrine wore off and my mouth went off too). I told her that there isn't much from her that I'd take seriously because a) she isn't an authority on the medication issue b) she's agitated and cant even blink her eyes because she's on 120 mg of the XR's per day c) people like the three of us are on half of the dose she takes normally and four she's ignorant to the history of Adderall to begin with. It used to be called Obetrol and she thinks it's new age and non addictive.
I am not going back there again without ideas.
Are there people who go to support groups that have feedback on better ways to run the meetings? I think the format and the defensive overmedicated "spokesperson" that thinks she runs it needs to check herself out of there if she's going to dominate the whole group. She wasn't even the one "officially" appointed as leader, she's on too much Adderall and in my opinion may not even need it if she's behaving like that.
I think if it is on the market it is because they work best for some people and discussing med schedules for a whole meeting is boring to boot and Managing medicine must not be too big of an issue if they are on once daily non addictive meds?
I feel like I went to a group for support and understanding and in return was called a 'drug addict' because I wasn't on Adderall XR by someone who was clearly not having a remote resemblance of having AD/HD based on the fact that she was more or less protesting her denial by overdoing the 'non-addictive' delusion of her miracle med.
AD/HD people I know get really nasty when I bash the medicine they take if it comes up in conversation, all of them. I find it funny. But I do it too when it comes to attitudes around what works for me. It seems like I defend my right to choose my treatment and I also feel that unless they aren't on stimulant meds at all then there should be no 'pointing the junkie finger' in any direction.

Who is organizing the group and/or supposed to lead it? Can you contact them in private and ask them about this? Maybe mention first that it isn't what you had hoped and if they are receptive to your concerns then you could mention your thoughts about group time not being used effectively by simply stating med schedules. Also that it is not helpful to have one person take over the group and not let anyone else talk, and that accusations and bad attitudes ruin it for everyone and have no place in a support group of any kind.

If that doesn't work there's not much choice but to find another group. Try going again; maybe another topic won't be the same atmosphere, and maybe that particular person won't be there. Unfortunately having ADD does not mean having an open and accepting mind. You would hope that someone that goes through the same struggles would be more understanding, especially in a support group atmosphere.

Different treatments / medications work for different people, no one's choice should be bashed, no one should be labeled an "addict" simply because they use a specific medication in favor of another. No one has cornered the market on having THE right answer for ADD treatment.

mspen I probably would have done the same thing you did, even if I were medicated. I tend to stand up for what I believe and I do not see any thing wrong with that as long as I leave room to respect others who believe differently. Apparently this woman wasn't willing to accept a difference of opinion which tells me she has little faith in her own therefore is unable to handle a challenge.

If Ms. On too much Adderall isn't in charge I wonder if those who are in charge are aware of what she is doing . . .which is basically running off potential new members by being a jerk.

I do see it for what it is in a way, the woman didn't blink once and she cut everyone off and sort of "pressured speech-lite" ran the group. Her eyes looked like a doll's eye. Large and stuck, she seemed like the description of a normal person on amphetamine drugs, and she was nasty

I'm so sorry to hear what happened. I don't have any advice on how to deal with the situation, but I just wanted to let you know that support groups can be great. I went to one this past fall and I was hesitant, but when I got there (an hour late) I felt as if I was meeting my long lost family for the first time.

Hopefully this experience hasn't put you off from trying again. It could be much better the next time:).

Oh, yes, the old "people who haven't bothered to learn anything about their disorder because it's too much like work and might mean a major paradigm shift" "support" group. Without an informed, intelligent, skilled moderator facillitating the support group, it's probably a waste of time.