A noticeable uptick in the number of children newly diagnosed with ADHD has brought about a request for further scrutiny to determine if the rise in numbers is caused by overdiagnosis and overprescription of drugs, or whether the numbers truly reflect the real trend in the disorder.
One in five children is now diagnosed with the disorder, an incredible rise compared to ten years ago. The last tally showed that only 3-7 percent of the population was afflicted by adhd.
The diagnosis is usually followed by a prescription for strong hyperactivity compounds such as Ritalin and Adderall.
The report released on this recent study also shows that as many as 15% of all schoolboys have been diagnosed with the disorder, whereas girls are only diagnosed in about 7% of the school population.
If they isolated the numbers by age however, the percentage actually rose: 14-17 year old boys were found to be ill at a rate of 19%, girls at 10%.
These numbers pose serious questions in light of the fact that the medications used to control the children is subject to abuse and it has some very potent side effects, such as psychosis, anxiety and addiction.
What scientists are asking for is to investigate these findings much more in depth in order to ascertain if misuse of drugs or overdiagnosis is at the root of such high numbers.
They believe that it is nearly impossible that as many as 20% of the child population is afflicted with the disorder, and that there must be another reason for the numbers.
To not do so, they caution, comports risk such as a nation of children who have become addicted to the dugs, and could become dependent on it.
In addition, the report highlighted the fact that the sales of stimulants prescribed to adhd sufferers has more than doubled in less than 5 years. It went from four billion dollars in 2007 to nine billion in 2012.
Source: France 24/ 4.1.13
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