Record numbers of people in England are taking medication for ADHD, data shows, highlighting a surge in diagnoses.
According to the latest NHS Business Services data, around 278,000 patients in England were prescribed central nervous system stimulants (CNS) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications between April 2023 and March 2024.
That equates to about five in every 1,000 people, an 18 percent increase from the four in every 1,000 recorded last year and the highest figure since records began in 2016. The data shows that the main increase is among women, mainly in the 25-40 age group.
During the same period, almost three million prescriptions for stimulants and medications were issued in communities in England, the highest number since 2016 and a 15% increase on last year.
Experts say greater awareness of the condition has led to more people, especially young women, being diagnosed with ADHD. Discussions about ADHD have taken to social media around the world, with #ADHD getting tens of billions of hits on TikTok.
Dr Heidi Phillips, clinical adviser on neurodiversity to the British Association of General Practitioners, said the increase was due to “greater awareness” and “more healthcare professionals issuing prescriptions”.
She also pointed out that “mental health issues” have increased since COVID-19. The number of people using this type of drug has increased every year, but since 2021, the rate of increase has become even more rapid.
According to NHS England, ADHD was the second most viewed health condition on the NHS website in 2023 after COVID-19, with 4.3 million page views.
ADHD is described by the NHS as a condition that can interfere with concentration and lead to impulsive behaviour.
Mr Phillips said: “When ADHD was first reported it was known as boys’ hyperactivity disorder. Girls were more likely to have inattentive ADHD and so it went unrecognised and undiagnosed. The increase in prescriptions for women is likely, at least in part, a catch-up situation with these women now coming forward.”
She added: “International data consistently shows that the prevalence of ADHD in children is around 5%; currently only around 2% are prescribed medication. The situation is similar in adults; the rise in prescription drugs is nowhere near treating the number of people known or suspected to have ADHD.”
The most commonly prescribed substances are methylphenidate hydrochloride (63%) and lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (19%), although prescriptions for dexamfetamine sulfate have increased by 57% in the last year.
Some of these medications may have been prescribed for conditions other than ADHD, as NHS data does not record what conditions prescriptions were made for.
The data does not include private prescriptions or medicines used in secondary care such as specialist referrals, or medicines prescribed in prisons. The actual number of people being treated with stimulants and ADHD medications is likely to be higher as 11% of items cannot be allocated to a verified NHS number.
The records show that among women, particularly those aged 25 to 40, the number of people taking stimulants and ADHD medications tripled between March 2021 and March 2024.
Last year, doctors in England were told not to prescribe ADHD medication to new patients due to a national shortage of the drugs, which charities said were devastating for people with the condition.
a National Patient Safety Alert A Department of Health and Human Services official said the shortage was due to manufacturing issues and increased global demand.
While the increase in consumption of these substances is occurring at a faster pace among women, men still accounted for two-thirds of cases last year.
These types of drugs used to be more common among younger people, but this has changed in the last year, with more than half of patients using these drugs now over the age of 18 and becoming more diverse.
Henry Shelford, founder of the charity ADHD UK, welcomed the increase in prescriptions saying it meant more people were being seen, but many still faced long waiting times.
“Medication isn’t an option that works for everyone, but it works for about 80 percent of people with ADHD,” he said. “For many, medication can be life-changing, but [not magic] Rather, it is a helping hand that looks at your problems and helps you put in place the structures to change your life.”
