Promoting ADHD Diagnoses and Stimulant Prescriptions

In a recently published front-page article in the New York Times entitled, “The Selling of Attention Deficit Disorder,” an investigative journalist observed: “Although proper ADHD diagnoses and medication have helped millions of children lead more productive lives, concerns remain that questionable diagnoses carry unappreciated costs.” The article examined reasons for the increasing number of children (and now adults) diagnosed with ADHD and the surging sales of stimulant medications during the past decade — from nearly $US2 billion in 2002 to more than $US8 billion in 2012 (based on data from a private pharmaceutical marketing company). The author concluded that the proliferation of ADHD diagnoses and stimulant prescriptions stem from simi…