13.08.13
ADHD drugs ‘could be abused’ – CQC
Prescriptions for ADHD drugs should be “monitored carefully”, the CQC has cautioned.
The use of methylpheridate drugs, which are psychostimulants, rose by 420,000 in 2007 to 657,000 last year. The CQC annual review of controlled drugs found the number of prescriptions for the drugs, including Ritalin, increased by 11% between 2011 and 2012.
Students have been reported to use the drug to improve focus with their studies. It is estimated that ADHD affects 2-5% of school children and young people.
The CQC said: “As in previous years, we believe that this reflects increased diagnosis of, and prescribing for, the treatment of ADHD. We are also aware of the possibility that methylphenidate could be diverted and abused, and for this reason we recommend that its use should be monitored carefully.”
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