ADHD and Ritalin: The Problem of Unnecessary Diagnosis

By Colin Gilbert

In 2005, the Center for Disease Control released a report stating that 4.4 million children aged 4 to 17 years had been diagnosed with ADHD. Of those cases, 2.5 million (56 percent) were taking medication for the disorder.

With roughly 10 percent of children in the United States estimated to have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), there is growing concern about the label’s credibility and related prevalence of kids being prescribed Ritalin. Due to the debatable criteria for diagnosing the disorder, many are skeptical of the label’s prevalence in society. Naturally, skeptics are also troubled by the high number of children being prescribed Ritalin for ADHD.

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