As far as I have followed this issue, this is a US problem. Pharmaceuticals are treated very differently in Europe. For example, there’s no public ads for prescription drugs allowed, meaning that patients usually don’t push doctors to prescribe random stuff they’ve heard about on TV.
Unfortunately, that study was done a couple of hundred years after the UK lost control of North Carolina, so it doesn’t support the claim that ADHD medication is overprescribed in the UK.
While it’s likely true that the condition is overdiagnosed in adolescent populations, it’s also widely acknowledged that ADHD is less commonly diagnosed once in adulthood.
As someone who was medicated as a child, people are right to be suspicious of providing toddlers with stimulants.
Diagnosed at age 4. Prescribed stimulant medication. It had serious negative consequences for both me and my development. I’m not alone in this regard. School systems should be made to accommodate children with ADHD, not forcing stimulants on children to make them compatible with school systems.
This used to be true and perhaps still is in some places, but in some European countries the laws have changed a bit recently which means bad time for pharma companies. They now don’t have enough finances to bribe doctors effectively. (Source: family member in European pharma.)
I had to jump through multiple hoops and complete a nearly perfect CAARS test before I could even get into contact with my psych. And then it was roughly a couple months talking with her before I was diagnosed. All in podunk USA. So it’s not rampant everywhere, especially since it’s nearly impossible to even find a psychiatrist within 150 miles of my house.
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As far as I have followed this issue, this is a US problem. Pharmaceuticals are treated very differently in Europe. For example, there’s no public ads for prescription drugs allowed, meaning that patients usually don’t push doctors to prescribe random stuff they’ve heard about on TV.
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In the UK the NHS uses NICE guidelines for prescriptions. A doctor would be expected to justify prescribing outside of this.
Additionally, ADHD charities report that it is under diagnosed in people in the UK. With many parents suspicious of medicating children.
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Unfortunately, that study was done a couple of hundred years after the UK lost control of North Carolina, so it doesn’t support the claim that ADHD medication is overprescribed in the UK.
This is a little misleading. Like most macro trends, the actual situation is far more complicated. Here’s a study describing under diagnosis of ADHD in adults
While it’s likely true that the condition is overdiagnosed in adolescent populations, it’s also widely acknowledged that ADHD is less commonly diagnosed once in adulthood.
North Carolina is neither in the UK or Europe
As someone who was medicated as a child, people are right to be suspicious of providing toddlers with stimulants.
Diagnosed at age 4. Prescribed stimulant medication. It had serious negative consequences for both me and my development. I’m not alone in this regard. School systems should be made to accommodate children with ADHD, not forcing stimulants on children to make them compatible with school systems.
This used to be true and perhaps still is in some places, but in some European countries the laws have changed a bit recently which means bad time for pharma companies. They now don’t have enough finances to bribe doctors effectively. (Source: family member in European pharma.)
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I had to jump through multiple hoops and complete a nearly perfect CAARS test before I could even get into contact with my psych. And then it was roughly a couple months talking with her before I was diagnosed. All in podunk USA. So it’s not rampant everywhere, especially since it’s nearly impossible to even find a psychiatrist within 150 miles of my house.
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