How can I convince my parents to allow me to be prescribed ADHD medications?

I'm constantly frustrated and overwhelmed by my inability to focus, and suspect that I may have ADD. Unfortunately, my mom is in the medical industry / is very opposed to drug use (although she considers marijuana to be as dangerous as hard drugs...), and is convinced that ADD medications (eg Adderall) will leave me senile by the time I'm sixty. Since I'm on her insurance plan, she ultimately has control over whether I am prescribed.
How can I seek diagnostic tests for ADD without her refusal getting in the way / how can I convince her that a prescription would benefit me?

Actually depending on how old you are you may be able to do it on your own anyhow. Most medical centers will allow teens to make their own appointments, attend by themselves and provide prescriptions without the parents involvement. Heck with the military hospital I had to go to (military brat) when I was 15 they told my mom that unless it was a surgical procedure or equally important problem (cancer) then she had no business in being at my appointments especially those involving sexual health. I would make a call to the clinic you go to and find out what their policy is and how it works.

You did not mention your age. But if you are an adult, you might want to try this quick screener:

http://www.adhdquestionsandanswers.com/A...

Since your mother is "very opposed to drug use", maybe you want to try a non-drug approach first? It may just work for you. A distant relative of mine used the ADHD Natural Remedy method and he is satisfied with the outcome. But like everything else, what works for one person may not work for another person and vice versa. In case you are interested, the url of the product is here:

http://www.adhdquestionsandanswers.com/A...

Go to your school counselor. Usually they have a program in which you can be tested for such things through the school. Afterward, they would contact your parents and discuss their findings. Perhaps if the information came from a school counselor your mother would be more inclined to listen

If the Doctor said you should have it then tell her to contact the Doctor. If you haven't been tested for ADD how the hell
do you know or think you need it.

your mother will have the ultimate say if you are allowed to go on medication or not, until you are 18 y/o anyway

The hell they won't! Your mom's bought into the Scientology bullcrap that's going around saying pharmaceutical companies are killing our children with drugs. There are a TON more ADD medications out on the market now besides Ritalin and Adderall. I personally take Strattera daily, and it's worked for me for 6 years without any negative long term side affects. Yes, medication isn't the only answer - it works best in conjunction with counseling and talk therapy. I will be honest: you will go through a difficult trial period where you have to try different medications prescribed by your doctor, and some of them will be effing nasty, but once you find the right medication, your life will definitely change for the better because you finally have a healthier brain and are more in control of your own life and actions. Taking a pill that helps your brain make more of certain neurotransmitters you're missing is like taking insulin for diabetes or an inhaler for asthma - it shouldn't have the stigma attached to it that it does, and it's not a sign of personal weakness.
I would look up child psychiatrists in your area and call or email them to explain your situation. They may be willing to have a meeting with you or mail you a questionnaire to fill out, but they probably can't prescribe anything without your mom's consent - although they may be able to explain it to her in ways she can accept. My dad was the same way and my mom and I had to fight him to get me the treatment I needed (my parents are divorced now because of that and a bunch of other unforgivable shite he pulled on his wife and kids). He thinks my psychiatrist is evil because he suspects that my dad is possibly bipolar and has severe Asperger syndrome/ADHD (mine is more mild), and because he pointed out how dysfunctional my dad is. It's YOUR brain, and you deserve to have it function at a basic level. Having a healthy brain could impact your entire body and even reduce your risk for certain mental problems later in life. This is not about supercharging your mental capacities; this is about getting your brain from barely functioning up to basic, healthy functioning. I sometimes tell people I feel stoned when I'm NOT on meds, because my brain feels so sluggish and I'm a lot less coordinated. Keep up the good fight and keep advocating for yourself, and enlist the help of whoever you can.