The use of medication to treat Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has risen sharply in the UK, largely due to growing prescription rates among adults – particularly women.
New research shows the proportion of people taking ADHD drugs has tripled over the past decade, increasing from 0.12% in 2010 to 0.39% in 2023.
The increase was most striking among people over 25, rising from just 0.01% in 2010 to around 0.2% in 2023.
Academics from the University of Oxford said this amounts to more than a 20-fold increase among women and a 15-fold rise among men in this age group.
Researchers analysed ADHD prescription rates in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and the UK – using data from nearly 200,000 people, including more than 31,000 in the UK.
The authors wrote in The Lancet journal: “We observed a dramatic rise in ADHD medication use among adults, especially among females.
“Among adults aged over 18, there was a two to 15-fold increase in prevalence of use during the study period, with the most pronounced increases observed in females, especially in the UK.
“The increase in both prevalence and incidence use among adults reflects the increased awareness of adult ADHD, especially among females.”
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The authors also found that in the UK and Spain, over 70% of people over 25 had previously used antidepressants.
The researchers said the UK recorded the largest relative rise among the countries examined, with growth also seen among children aged three to 11 and teenagers.
Methylphenidate – sold under brand names including Ritalin, Concerta, Delmosart, Equasym and Medikinet – was the most widely prescribed ADHD medication across all five countries.
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The researchers also highlighted a worldwide shortage of ADHD meds since September 2023, noting that better insight into prescribing trends could help forecast demand, enable faster responses, and reduce the risk of shortages.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said last December he had commissioned an independent review into the growing demand for mental health, ADHD and autism services, which will examine diagnosis rates and the support available to patients.
