Florida State University Economics Professor Farasat Bokhari co-authored a study published in the journal Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety that found wide variations in the distribution of stimulant medication to treat ADHD.
The researchers found that the counties where ADHD drug use was the highest had higher per capita income, lower unemployment rates, greater population density and more access to health care, meaning more HMOs and a higher percentage of people enrolled in them. Given the cost-saving objectives of HMOs, the researchers theorized that HMOs could be authorizing ADHD drug therapy because it is cheaper than counselling.
I don’t think it should be an either or situation. ADD medications by themselves are not enough, although they can be very useful. A pill can help balance your neurobiology, but it can’t teach you a skill. Some people need therapy to deal with issues from the past. Some can’t afford ADHD coaches, which are not covered under medical plans.
Here is another reason why people with ADHD and their families should start demanding politicians require #MandatoryCMECoursesOnADHD for ALL family doctors
These high-use counties also had a higher ratio of younger-to-older doctors, prompting the researchers to question whether younger doctors just happen to locate in more affluent areas or whether younger doctors are more likely than their older counterparts to prescribe ADHD medication.
My guess is the younger doctor aspect might be because many older doctors were not trained about ADD in medical school either
A) At all
or
B) Very much.
This is something I’ve heard too many times in the US AND in Canada from many people, including doctor’s themselves. That being said, some older doctors are very knowledgeable about ADD, while some younger doctors are not.
They also say if you live in California and New York, you’re less likely to be treated with ADD medication than states like Michigan, Georgia and Virginia.
They also found that areas with high use have a higher student-to-teacher ratio. The researchers suggested that the greater burden on teachers may cause them to send more children to the school psychologist for screening, resulting in higher detection rates of ADHD and use of medication to treat the disorder.
Unfortunately people with ADD often get diagnosed not because of the negative effects that undiagnosed and untreated ADD have on their lives or daily functioning at school or at work, but because they’re often causing other people problems.
Consequently, many girls and women who have the inattentive form of ADD don’t get diagnosed, since they don’t cause as many problems to others as those with the hyperactive impulsive type of ADD.
Some people who need medication aren’t getting it and some who don’t need it are,” he said. “You could be playing the lottery whether your child gets the drug or not. It often seems to depend as much on where you live as on medical science.
Sad to say the last paragraph rings especially true. Shouldn’t be the case but…