Stimulant use increases for kids with ADHD

Prescriptions for stimulant medications to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) rose between 1996 and 2008 according to figures released by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

ADHD is one of the most common childhood disorders. Sometimes it endures through adolescence and into adulthood. Usually these kids have a hard time focusing, sitting still, staying on task, controlling behavior and maintaining calm. Frequently stimulants are used to treat it. These include methylphenidate (Ritalin), amphetamines (Adderall) and others. Behavioral therapies and intervention are also useful.

Use of stimulant prescriptions has gone from 0.6 % in 1987 to 2.7% in 1997. In recent years, diagnoses have increased, and so has prescription use. Based on the Health Resources and Services Administration’s National Survey of Children’s Health, the percentage of children diagnosed with ADHD has now increased to 9.7%. About 60% of those children are on stimulant meds.

“Stimulant medications work well to control ADHD symptoms, but they are only one method of treatment for the condition. Experts estimate that about 60% of children with ADHD are treated with medication,” said co-author Benedetto Vitielo, MD of NIH’s national Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Prescriptions among preschoolers remained low. The highest growing segment of youth to take the drugs was among the 13-18 year olds. “This continuous increase among teens likely reflects a recent realization that ADHD often persists as children age. They do not always grow out of their symptoms,” explain Dr. Vitiello.

Still, the numbers indicate that most children are being treated without drugs. “The children with the most severe symptoms are more likely to be taking stimulants. Those with milder symptoms are more likely being treated with psychosocial treatments or other non-stimulant medications,” researchers said.

Source: NIH, ScienceDaily