The surge in the use of Ritalin and similar drugs prompts inquiry in Britain

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The British Psychological Society(BPS) has started an investigation into the use of drugs to treat ADHD  because of a substantial increase in the number of prescriptions issued for the ADHD drugs like Ritalin.  According to figures provided by Britain’s National Health Service, prescriptions issued for ADHD increased from 92,100 in 1997 to 786,400 in 2012.

The BPS believes this increase may be due to budget cuts which have impacted on other services, such as counselling, which are used  to treat people with ADHD. Vivian Hill of the BPS commented that psychiatrists sometimes used drugs as the first line treatment for ADHD when it should be a therapeutic approach. 

Guidelines in Britain recommend a multidisciplinary approach for the treatment of ADHD including counselling and educational and behavioural supports. Some commentators think parents are asking doctors to prescribe Ritalin and similar drugs for their children in an effort to increase their children’s academic performance

Another concerned raised by the BPS was children under age six using these drugs against recommendations. Children under age six were prescribed drugs for ADHD according to a study done last year.

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©Mary M Conneely T/A Advocacy in Action

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