Almost One in Five High School Age Boys in U.S. Have Received ADHD Diagnosis
Almost one in five boys of high school age, and 11 percent
of school-age children overall, have received a medical diagnosis of
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the United States,
according to new government data.
Many doctors are concerned that ADHD diagnoses and medication are overused in children, The New York Times reports.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found an
estimated 6.4 million children ages 4 to 17 had received an ADHD
diagnosis at some point. This represents a 16 percent increase since
2007, and a 53 percent increase in the past 10 years.
The findings come from a CDC study of children’s health issues, which
included interviews with more than 76,000 parents nationwide.
About two-thirds of those diagnosed with ADHD receive prescriptions
for stimulant drugs such as Adderall or Ritalin. These drugs, while they
can be very effective in treating the disorder, also have the potential
for addiction, anxiety and even psychosis, the article notes.
The American Psychiatric Association is soon expected to change the
definition of ADHD, in order to allow more people to receive the
diagnosis and treatment, according to the newspaper.
A growing number of high school students are using ADHD drugs to help them get better grades.
Teens get them from friends, buy them from student dealers, or pretend
to have ADHD in order to get prescriptions. Abusing these drugs can lead
to mood swings and depression, heart irregularities and extreme
exhaustion or even psychosis during withdrawal, according to medical
experts. There is little evidence about the long-term effects of young
people abusing these stimulants.
CDC Director Dr. Thomas R. Frieden told the newspaper, “We need to
ensure balance. The right medications for ADHD, given to the right
people, can make a huge difference. Unfortunately, misuse appears to be
growing at an alarming rate.”
