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February 13, 2007
City Children Get More Medications
Children that live in larger cities are five times more likely to be prescribed ADHD stimulants than children living in rural areas.
New studies prove analyzing prescription rates for ADHD medications in large cities have found a huge geographical discrepancy.
The state has historically much higher rates of prescribing psycho-stimulants like Ritalin than the rural areas.
City dwellers about five times more likely to be prescribed Ritalin or another stimulant treatment, dexamphetamine.
This was probably because diagnosis of ADHD in adults remains controversial and possible mainly through private, city-based clinics, the researchers say.
Boys and girls in cities or regional areas were about 2.5 times more likely to be prescribed the drugs, which work by stimulating the brain-messenger chemical dopamine.
The medication has come under fire from several groups who claim many children are being over medicated, putting them in a zombie-like state.
By: Margo Richter
Posted by margo1 at February 13, 2007 07:58 PM
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