ADHD Drug Use Soars

If you've been following this blog or have spent any time on the ADHD Help Center website, you probably have heard me talking about the over-prescribing of ADHD drugs. Here's proof of that fact;

According to figures for the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, the prescribing of ADHD drugs has nearly tripled between the years 1993 and 2003. With such a drastic rise in ADHD drug use, ADHD is on its way to become the leading childhood disorder treated with medications worldwide.

The amount spent on ADHD medication across the OECD increased ninefold, with 83% of that in the US. In 2003 the US spend $2.4 billion on ADHD drugs. The OECD includes the US, Ireland and many European countries.

So here's the question; Do you think that the incidence of ADHD has dramatically increased or do you think ADHD is simply the "in" disorder of this past decade? I am curious as to what all of you readers think. Let me know.