New research has revealed a sharp rise in the number of prescriptions for ADHD medication in England, with figures showing an average annual increase of 18% since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Published in BMJ Mental Health, the study highlights significant growth in the use of all five UK-licensed ADHD treatments, particularly amid limited access to non-medical therapies.
The most prescribed drug remained methylphenidate, but lisdexamfetamine saw the largest surge - jumping by 55% from 2019 to 2024. Researchers examined data from the English Prescribing Dataset, comparing national, regional, and Integrated Care Board (ICB) levels, and found that prescriptions had risen in every region, although with notable variation.
London experienced the highest annual increase at 28%, while the Northeast and Yorkshire saw the lowest at 13%. Birmingham and Solihull ICB reported a nearly 51.5% rise, in contrast to Norfolk and Waveney ICB, where the increase was just over 4.5%. These trends also correlated with factors such as deprivation, ethnicity, and age.
Experts suggest the pandemic’s disruption to daily life and mental wellbeing likely contributed to the spike in prescriptions. The study’s authors call for urgent action to address inequalities in ADHD diagnosis and treatment, urging tailored regional support and greater access to alternative care options.
