Huge jump in the use of drugs over 6 for children with ADHD.
There has been a 50% rise in England in the use of drugs for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in six years. NHS prescriptions for methylphenidate drugs, including Ritalin, rose from 420,000 in 2007 to 657,000 last year, the Care Quality Commission said. The watchdog warned health workers to "carefully monitor" their use as they have the potential to be "abused". The drugs are one of a number linked to the "smart-drug" craze, where students take medication to help them focus.