Like autism, ADHD has become a prominent children\’s issue, in large part due to rapidly increasing rates of diagnosis. According to a report released by the CDC in 2010, 1 in 10 children between the ages of 4–17 is diagnosed with ADHD, which represents a 22% increase from 2003. The dramatic increase in children diagnosed with ADHD inevitably provokes questions about what is causing this trend. Moreover, with so many children afflicted with this disorder, debate about the best course of treatment, and particularly the safety of psychoactive medications, has also become ubiquitous. Stimulants such as Ritalin and Adderall have helped many children better manage symptoms of ADHD. At the same time, there are concerns that these medications are being overprescribed, may have harmful side effects, and/or may mask symptoms children will eventually need to learn to cope with without medication. In this Discussion, you will consider why rates of ADHD in children have increased, and what the implications of treatment might be. Reflect on the following:
