Startling new figures from the NHS have exposed a dramatic and concerning trend: preschool children, some as young as just one year old, are being prescribed powerful ADHD medications at an unprecedented rate.
The data, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, reveals a 40% surge in prescriptions for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder drugs issued to children under five in England over a recent five-year period. This alarming increase has triggered a major debate within the UK's medical community.
The Rising Numbers Behind the Trend
In 2022/23, a staggering 35 prescriptions for ADHD drugs like methylphenidate and dexamfetamine were given to children under five. This marks a significant jump from the 25 prescriptions recorded just five years earlier in 2017/18.
While these numbers might seem small at first glance, medical professionals are sounding the alarm. They warn that prescribing such potent psychotropic medications to developing brains in preschool-aged children carries unknown long-term risks and should be an absolute last resort.
Why Are So Many Young Children Receiving Medication?
Experts point to a perfect storm of contributing factors:
- Severe cases: Some children may exhibit extremely challenging and dangerous behaviours
- Lengthy waiting lists: Overstretched child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) face critical delays in assessments
- Parental pressure: Desperate families sometimes seek medication as a quick solution
- Increased awareness: Better recognition of ADHD symptoms at earlier ages
Dr. Tony Lloyd, chief executive of the ADHD Foundation, emphasised the complexity of the issue: "We have to ask ourselves why we're medicalising four-year-olds. Is this really about the child's best interests, or are we treating the environment around the child?"
The Medical Community's Strong Warning
Current NHS guidelines are clear: medication should not be the first line of treatment for preschool children with ADHD. Instead, parent training and educational programmes should be the primary approach.
Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of GPs, expressed serious concerns: "Prescribing these medications to such young children is highly unusual and goes against established clinical guidance. These are not trivial medications—they can have significant side effects."
Potential side effects of ADHD medications in young children include:
- Suppressed appetite and disrupted growth patterns
- Sleep disturbances and insomnia
- Mood swings and increased irritability
- Potential impact on brain development
A Symptom of a Broader Crisis
Many experts argue this troubling trend points to a much larger problem: the catastrophic state of child mental health services in the UK. With waiting lists for specialist assessments stretching to years rather than months, families and even GPs may feel pressured to consider medication as the only available option.
Dr. Jane Fisher of campaign group Together for Children & Young People notes: "This isn't about blaming parents or clinicians. It's about a system that's failing to provide adequate support and alternatives to medication for our most vulnerable children."
The Department of Health and Social Care maintains that decisions to prescribe ADHD medication to young children should be made by specialist doctors following a comprehensive assessment. However, these latest figures suggest the reality on the ground may be quite different.
As the debate continues, one thing remains clear: the sharp rise in ADHD medications for preschool children represents a significant shift in pediatric care that demands urgent attention and thorough investigation.
