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| Credit: Unfolded on Flickr |
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.
For more information, please see:
©Mary M Conneely T/A Advocacy in Action
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