Record numbers in England using ADHD medication, NHS data shows
Data shows record numbers of people in England are taking medication to treat ADHD, highlighting the rise in diagnoses.
The latest data from the NHS Business Services Authority shows that almost 278,000 patients in England were prescribed central nervous system (CNS) stimulants and drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) between April 2023 and March 2024.
Thatâs nearly five people per 1,000, up 18% from the four per 1,000 recorded last year, and the highest number since records began in 2016. The biggest increase is among women, the data shows, mainly in the 25- to 40-year-old age group.
Over the same period, almost 3 million stimulants and prescription central nervous system drugs were dispensed in England, a new record since 2016 and a 15% increase on the previous year.
Experts said this was because more people were being diagnosed with ADHD, particularly young women, due to greater awareness of the symptoms. Discussions about ADHD are widespread on social media worldwide, with #ADHD attracting tens of billions of hits on TikTok.
Dr Heidi Phillips, clinical advisor on neurodiversity for the Royal College of GPs, said the rise was due to âincreased awarenessâ and âincreased numbers of healthcare professionals prescribingâ.
She also had more âmental health issuesâ since Covid. While the number of people using these types of medications has been increasing year-on-year, that increase has become steeper since 2021.
According to NHS England, ADHD was the second most viewed 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 where it can be difficult to concentrate and where people can act impulsively.
Phillips said: “When ADHD was originally reported, it was known as hyperactivity disorder in boys. Girls were more likely to have ADHD with an inattentive presentation and as such were unrecognised and underdiagnosed. The increase in prescriptions in women is likely, at least in part, a catch-up effect, with these women now coming forward.”
She added: “International data consistently shows that the prevalence of ADHD is around 5% in children. Only around 2% are currently prescribed medication. A similar situation applies to adults. The increase in prescriptions does not even come close to the number of people known or suspected to have ADHD.”
The most commonly prescribed agents are methylphenidate hydrochloride (63%) and lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (19%), although the number of prescriptions for dexamphetamine sulfate has increased by 57% in the past year.
Some of these medications may have been prescribed for conditions other than ADHD, as the NHS data does not record which condition the prescription is for.
The data exclude private prescriptions and medications used in secondary care, such as referral to a specialist, or prisons. The true number of people treated with CNS stimulants and ADHD medications is likely to be higher, as 11% of items cannot be assigned to a verified NHS number.
Data shows that among women, especially those aged 25-40, the number of women using CNS stimulants and medications for ADHD tripled between March 2021 and March 2024.
Last year, doctors in England were told they could no longer prescribe ADHD drugs to new patients due to a nationwide shortage, with charities saying the supply problems were devastating for people with the condition.
a national patient safety alert Department of Health and Social Care officials attributed the shortages to a combination of production problems and increased global demand.
Although the intake of these substances increased faster in women, men still made up two-thirds of patients last year.
These types of drugs are more common in young people. However, this changed last year and has continued to differ, with more than half of patients taking this drug now over the age of 18.
Henry Shelford, founder of the charity ADHD UK, welcomed the increase in prescriptions, saying it was a sign that more people were seeking assessment, although many still faced long delays.
“Medication is not an option that works for everyone, but it works for about 80 percent of people with ADHD,” he said. “For many people, medication can be life-changing, but it is (not magic) and more of a helping hand that helps you look at your problems and put structures in place to change your life.”