Warning on Rise in ADHD Medicines - ... Huge Imposition on Children's Rights

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[sSRI-Research] Warning on Rise in ADHD Medicines - " ... Huge

Imposition on Children's Rights "

 

Warning on Rise in ADHD Medicines - " ... Huge Imposition on Children's

Rights "

 

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,11349596%5E2702,00\

..html

 

Warning on rise in ADHD medicines

 

Amanda Banks

 

11nov04

 

AN epidemic of over-prescription and misdiagnosis of attention deficit

hyperactivity disorder may be exposing thousands of children to unknown

long-term side-effects of amphetamine-based drugs.

 

An alarming report into ADHD in Western Australia, released yesterday,

found

the number of prescriptions for dexamphetamines to treat the condition had

increased in Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT between

1999/2000 and 2003.

 

The increase was greatest in Western Australia, and had reached nearly

four

times the national average.

 

Australia-wide, 12.5 prescriptions were written per 1000 people in 2003

compared with 44 prescriptions per 1000 among West Australians.

The bi-partisan report of a lower house West Australian parliamentary

committee pointed to inadequate training of paediatricians as a major

cause

for the over-use of drug therapy to manage ADHD.

 

It called for an urgent overhaul of Western Australia's model for

diagnosing, assessing and treating the condition.

 

It also recommended the federal Government investigate and address the

disproportionate use of dexamphetamines across the states and territories,

and liaise with state governments to ensure a full range of publicly

funded

treatment options were available.

 

The committee estimated 11,500 children in Western Australia - some as

young

as 2 - were prescribed psychostimulant drugs, mainly dexamphetamines, for

ADHD.

 

Some children using drug therapy were hospitalised for detoxification and

reported episodes of psychotic behaviour.

 

The report said there was a paucity of evidence on the long-term

effects of

psychostimulant drugs on children, and a growing body of evidence to

suggest

drugs were being diverted for illicit use.

 

A lack of public health treatment options and multidisciplinary assessment

teams, and inadequate training and support services for teachers were also

criticised.

 

Committee deputy chairman and Liberal MP Mike Board said up to 75 per cent

of cases were being misdiagnosed, based on the small number of children

treated at Perth's Bentley Clinic.

 

Committee member and Labor MP Martin Whitely blamed subjective diagnosis

models and a narrow approach by paediatricians for the disproportionate

levels of drug use in the state. He warned that poor policies and medical

culture indicated South Australia could be the next to face a similar

epidemic.

 

" The fundamental problem in Western Australia is we look at the behaviour,

we categorise them in one group and come up with the same solution, " Mr

Whitley said.

 

" It is a huge imposition on the rights of children. "

 

Australian Medical Association West Australian president Paul Skerritt

defended the paediatric and psychiatric professions, which he said were

highly dedicated to a multidisciplinary approach.

 

" The thing that jumps off the pages is the inadequacy of public mental

health services for children, " he said.

 

© The Australian

 

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See also:

 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200411/s1240127.htm

 

Three-quarters of ADHD diagnoses wrong

 

A Western Australian parliamentary committee investigating attention

deficit

hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has tabled its final report which finds

there

is a high potential for misdiagnosis of the condition.

 

The report says up to 75 per cent of children diagnosed with ADHD are

subsequently found to have been misdiagnosed when further examined by a

specialist assessment team.

 

The children have been found to be suffering from a range of conditions,

including learning and developmental disorders, anxiety or depression.

The report also confirms that Western Australia leads the nation in

the use

of dexamphetamines in the treatment of ADHD.

 

It says the greater use of the drugs in WA is out of step with

practices in

other states.

 

The committee has recommended that the State Government fund a new

method of

comprehensive assessment and diagnosis for ADHD and other behavioural

conditions.

 

See also:

http://www.wannabee.org.au/archives/papers_research/QueenslandChildren.pdf