Almost 1 in 5 Pediatricians Estimated to Receive Stimulant Marketing Payments

Most were small food and beverage payments, but this study reveals how the pharmaceutical industry tries to influence prescribing for children.

Prescription rates for psychostimulants in the U.S. doubled between 2006 and 2016. This rise is thought to be driven by appropriate treatment of more cases of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but researchers have also been concerned about overuse or diversion.

To understand how prescribing trends might be driven by pharmaceutical company marketing, researchers examined their payments to physicians in a government database. Stimulant marketing payments from 2014 to 2018 were examined, and prevalence denominators were numbers of active physicians in the U.S. during those years.

In all, 591,907 payments were made, totaling over $20 million. Most payments were small (median value, $14), and 98% were food and beverage payments. Con…

Reviewing Author

Jenny Radesky, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMelissa & Doug Toys (Consultant and Board of Directors)

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute for Child Health and Development; National Institutes of Health

Jenny Radesky, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMelissa & Doug Toys (Consultant and Board of Directors)

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute for Child Health and Development; National Institutes of Health

Almost 1 in 5 Pediatricians Estimated to Receive Stimulant Marketing Payments

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Reviewing Author