Abstract
Objective. To describe trends in medication use for hyperactive/inattentive (HA/I) secondary school students from 1975 through 1993 and to present differences in the treatment of HA/I relative to school grade. Design. A comprehensive survey of the HA/I treatment of public elementary and secondary school students has been conducted biennially by school nurses in Baltimore County, MD since 1975. Results. Although only 11% of all public school students on medication for HA/I were in secondary schools in 1975, the proportion gradually rose such that in the 1990s, 30% of all medicated students were attending secondary schools. Also in secondary schools, the gender ratio for students on medication for HA/I narrowed from a 1:12 female/male ratio in 1981 to a 1:6 female/male ratio in 1993. Conclusions. Many more elementary school students are now remaining on stimulant medication for HA/I into their teens. Compared with a decade ago, relatively more girls are on stimulant treatment for HA/I during their secondary school years.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 462-464 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Pediatrics |
| Volume | 94 |
| Issue number | 4 I |
| State | Published - Jan 1 1994 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- adolescent health services
- attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity
- drug utilization
- methylphenidate
- student health services
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health