I agree with all Philip.
But just would like to say that there are many people - children and adults, males uses it a lot - taking Ritalin in Brazil alone.
We have no data whatsoever. I don't know about other countries down here.

It should be noted that it is common, extremely common, practice in the U.S. to have kids on 2 drugs (at least) at once, while this is much less common in Europe.

But why are more American kids on the meds? I think the answer is threefold.

1. Social ills are socialized in Europe, while social ills are medicalized here. (e.g. truancy=ADHD.)
2. Doctors here have no other options except medications-- in fact, their "sessions" are actually called "medication management visits."
3. American adults are taught/conditioned/socialized to think that kids' problems are fundamentally medical, not behavioral, or, to put it another way, parents often lack any resources or knowledge on how to manage behavioral problems of their children. Not a slam against them, just an observation.

Of course an important majority of the parents of these kids are often on meds themselves--their bias is to turn to psychiatry.

2. Doctors here have no other options except medications-- in fact, their "sessions" are actually called "medication management visits."

because they have a gun to their head??

oh yeah, insurance acts like a gun we don't have free will anymore. we can't suggest to a parent that there might be alternatives...

It is certainly unfortunate that so many children are on unnecessary medications when behavioral interventions by the parents would be sufficient. However, just because many -- if not most -- are on medications for the wrong reasons does not imply that many others are on them for the right reason. Better diagnostic assessments and more community resources to help parents manage their children would go a long way towards alleviating this problem.

"American adults are taught/conditioned/socialized to think that kids' problems are fundamentally medical, not behavioral, or, to put it another way, parents often lack any resources or knowledge on how to manage behavioral problems of their children."

ThelastPsychiatrist,
It's not only American parents. It' the same here.
And yes, they are also on drugs.

Just curious: How many parents are on medications who have children on medications? I can't find any data on the subject, and yet everyone here is so sure that only drug-induced parents would agree to medicating their children. So, please cite the evidence.

As you said, the collection base is very limited and I would argue almost unscientific. You're using data based on lower income children living in one state and comparing it to the entire US population? Come on now.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/

As you can see, ADHD is more commonly diagnosed, and treated, in the Mid-Atlantic states. There goes the study.

What grounds did France use to ban stimulant medications from children. Yes, I agree, you should have to have ADHD to be taking Ritalin. Yes, I agree, children with a history of cardiac problems, or those at high risk for developing cardiac problems, probably shouldn't be taking Ritalin. But a kid that clearly has ADHD, benefits from medication therapy and experiences no side effects?

adhd:

Good points.

Thank you.

I agree with dguller and adhd. There was also a study done by, I think, NIMH about the entire issue of ADHD and it being under/over diagnosed. If I remember correctly what if found is that both are true. Doctors (PCP's) overdiagnosed it and only about 1/3 admitted to using the DSM criteria to diagnose it. Where as mental health professionals tended to underdiagnose it. Go figure.

I think the statement about direct to consumer advertising is being underestimated by the study. I personally wish they would ban the practice.