What ’ s Driving the Demand for ADHD Drugs Like Adderall

For at least the last six months, Adderall—the stimulant medication commonly used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)—has been in short supply in the U.S. That seems to be in part because demand is growing as more people are diagnosed with ADHD, a condition that can make it difficult to focus, remember details, control impulses, or sit still. About 8% more people in the U.S. filled a stimulant prescription in 2021 versus 2020, according to federal data. Other studies suggest ADHD diagnoses are increasing across age groups. Why? And is that apparent spike in diagnoses cause for concern? [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Some experts fear the uptick reflects lax diagnostic standards during the COVID-19 pandemic and a growing trend of people becoming convinced they have ADHD because of content they see on social media. But at the same time, some experts say the rise may be a long overdue sign that people from groups historically under-treated for ADHD are getting the care they need. “There’s a risk of under-diagnosis, and there’s a risk of over-diagnosis,” says Dr. Lidia Zylowska, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Minnesota Medical School and an adult ADHD specialist. It’s not yet clear which—if either—is happening with ADHD. A perfect storm By federal estimates, about 10% of U.S. children and 8% of U.S. adults ages 18 to 44 have been diagnosed wi...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized healthscienceclimate Mental Health Wellbeing Source Type: news