1 in 8 kids in Australia prescribed damaging drugs.

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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – One in eight Australian children with attention

deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)—as well as many not diagnosed

with the condition—are prescribed stimulant drugs, according to

recent research.

The study also showed most children on stimulants are male and

most have visited a pediatrician.

Australia's National Association of Practising Psychiatrists

reacted to the findings by criticizing the number of prescriptions

for mood-altering drugs that pediatricians give to children.

Dr. Joseph Ray, a professor of child psychiatry at Sydney

University, collaborated with researchers at South Australia's

Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital in examining almost 3,600

children.

The survey results, published in a recent issue of the Medical

Journal of Australia, show a substantial number of children using

stimulants do not meet even broad definitions of ADHD.

" Even among those diagnosed with ADHD, there is debate about the

extent to which treatment should include the use of stimulant

medication, " the researchers noted. " Pediatricians play an important

role in managing children with ADHD, and stimulant medication is

commonly prescribed for attention problems. . . .

" There is a great need to clarify the circumstances under which

stimulant medication should be used as part of ADHD treatment. This

will require additional information about the degree to which

children with different types or severities of ADHD are disadvantaged

as a result of their disorder, and the extent to which stimulant

medication can help them. "

The most common medications for ADHD are stimulants,

antidepressants and the antihypertensive drug clonidine.

Dr. Gil Anaf, president of Australia's National Association of

Practising Psychiatrists, said there has been a 20-fold increase over

the past decade in the prescription of psycho-stimulants for

attention problems in children.

" We know agitated kids exist, but we're still not sure whether

ADHD exists, " Dr. Anaf said.

" There are many other causes of agitation, such as hearing

problems or trauma caused by the death of a parent.

" You need time and funding for proper psychiatric assessment. That

isn't available, and people are resorting to drugs first. "