122,906 Adolescents Prescribed Last Year
More Than 2.6-Fold Increase Over Five Years
Over the past five years, the number of adolescent patients prescribed medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has more than doubled.
According to an analysis by Assemblyman Kim Daesik of the People Power Party, a member of the National Assembly's Education Committee, based on data submitted by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service on October 8, the number of adolescents prescribed ADHD medication increased each year from 47,266 in 2020 to 122,906 last year, marking a surge of more than 2.6 times.
By gender, the number of male students rose from 37,824 in 2020 to 89,258 last year, an increase of approximately 2.4 times. The number of female students grew even more sharply, rising from 9,442 to 33,648 over the same period, an increase of about 3.6 times.
By age group, patients aged 10 to 14 accounted for the largest number, but the growth rate was highest among adolescents aged 15 to 19.
Assemblyman Kim stated, "ADHD medication is essential for patients who need it, but the misconception that it helps improve academic performance is spreading, raising the risk of misuse among adolescents." He emphasized, "It is a serious problem that there is virtually no management system between the education offices and health authorities, even as the number of adolescents being prescribed these medications is rapidly increasing."
He added, "A multifaceted approach is needed, including stricter monitoring of medication use, side effect surveillance, and education for teachers and parents." He continued, "Through legislative activities, I will establish a legal and institutional management system to ensure the safe use of ADHD medication."
Meanwhile, the increase in ADHD patients in Korea has also led to a sharp rise in domestic prescriptions of methylphenidate, an ADHD medication. Last year, the number of prescriptions exceeded 90 million, with more than 337,000 patients, both record highs. According to annual statistics on the handling of medical narcotics released by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on October 2, the number of methylphenidate prescriptions in Korea increased from 37.71 million in 2020 to 90.2 million last year, representing an average annual increase of 24.4% over the past five years.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
