Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder diagnoses have increased dramatically in the past decade. So much so that 2.5% of adults and 5% of schoolchildren worldwide are diagnosed with ADHD. As a result, pharmaceutical companies are making enormous profits off the over prescription of drugs to patients diagnosed with ADHD. The demand for stimulants has shot through the ceiling, which has led to an epidemic of drug abuse on college campuses and among individuals who don’t really need it.

ADHD has both biological and social origins. As a result, treatment should deal with both. Yet, we are only acknowledging the biological side, treating ADHD with stimulants when a lot of the problem also arises from social issues. One must consider treating these areas while using medication, as relying only on medical treatment leads to high rates of addiction, relapse and continued social problems that were never really treated. Thomasz Szasz, an American academic psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, takes this idea much further and states that mental disorders are “problems in living,” rejecting the biological aspect altogether. This view, while extreme, presents the other side of the argument. In my opinion, both views are harmful. Modern research takes on a more holistic approach in which we must find the middle ground between the two, and treat ADHD as such- a combination of biological and social factors.

Constraining children into settings that certain individuals can’t handle doesn’t automatically associate them with ADHD. But that’s where the problem lies- they usually are. Misdiagnosis and consequent mistreatment then becomes a huge issue. The generalizations and lack of long-term research with ADHD has led to the problems with ADHD we are facing today. In a perfect world, diagnoses would be made correctly, and sparingly and cases would be medically treated only when needed. Unfortunately, people are over-diagnosed and over-medicated much too often, especially in the West. Not everyone has access to resources that provide accurate diagnoses, which is problematic, because there are so many misdiagnoses made in relation to ADHD. We also don’t know the effect of long-term drug use for treating ADHD, so how can we still battle the disorder with these methods? Our absolute reliance on medication to cure/reduce the symptom of mental disorders is hardly beneficial. Social and cognitive therapy that aims to help the individual figure out their place in society and change their ways of thinking will help in the long run, as they will be able to adapt to difficult situations of their own accord, rather than depending on a chemical concoction to help them adapt temporarily.

I live in India, where stimulants and antidepressants are rarely prescribed to treat mental disorders and if prescribed, is done discreetly. So, coming to the United States and witnessing just how easily available these medications are was a bit of a surprise. While I understand its integral role in Western societies, I strongly believe that medication should only be given only when necessary and should be given in limited quantities. Stimulants are often sold as “study drugs” that improve concentration among students, yet at what cost? Possible addiction?

It’s funny how the government criminalizes drugs like marijuana that have no major long-term side effects, while prescription drugs that have severe long-term effects, including addiction, are legal and easily accessible.