Study: Ritalin Prescriptions Vary Widely

Louisiana Found To Have Highest Prescription Rate

CHICAGO -- New research indicates prescription rates for Ritalin and other attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder drugs vary widely across the country.

A lead researcher for the study said it's possible the drugs are being overused in some areas while underused in others.

The study appearing in this month's issue of Pediatrics found that treatment rates range from 1.6 percent of children's prescriptions in Washington, D.C., to 6.5 percent in Louisiana.

It also found significantly higher rates of stimulant prescriptions in the South and Midwest than in the West.

The prevalence of ADHD isn't thought to vary greatly by region.

Besides Ritalin, some of the drugs included in the study were Concerta, Adderall, Dexedrine, and Cylert.

The study was conducted from January 1999 through December 1999 by the Office of Research and Development at Express Scripts Inc., one of the nation's largest pharmacy benefit management firms.

Critics have worried that the drugs are sometimes promoted by schools and others as a "quick fix" without other appropriate treatment.

Additional Resource:

• Pediatrics

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