Healthy Skepticism Library item: 11575

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Stobo J.
Do teachers push docs to overprescribe for ADHD?
National Review of Medicine 2007 Sep 15; 4:(15):epub
http://www.nationalreviewofmedicine.com/cgi-bin/hse/HomepageSearchEngine.cgi?url=http://www.nationalreviewofmedicine.com/issue/2007/09_15/4_patients_practice09_15.html;geturl=d+highlightmatches+gotofirstmatch;terms=teachers;enc=teachers;utf8=off;noparts#firstmatch

Abstract:

Drug contracts between kids, schools raise questions about who’s in charge

For kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the return to school often heralds the end of their drug holiday and a return to daily psychostimulants. Use of these drugs in schoolkids has risen sharply – in Canada, methylphenidate prescriptions rose by 500% between 1990 and 1997, according to Health Canada. Some people contend teachers are becoming more and more aggressive in demanding ‘bad’ children go on these meds, or else face suspension, and that doctors are only too willing to go along…