A record number of adults are being prescribed medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with figures revealing a 41,000 increase in patients in just three months. Between April and June, an estimated 395,000 patients received ADHD pills, marking a 12% rise in the quarter and a nearly fivefold increase from a decade ago. The number of patients taking stimulant drugs for ADHD has doubled in three years, underscoring a rapid escalation in demand.
Throughout the first half of the year, 2.4 million ADHD prescriptions were issued, placing the National Health Service (NHS) on track to exceed last year's total of 4.2 million. Experts suggest that this surge is partly fueled by the "medicalization of distress," where behaviors previously considered within the normal range are increasingly being treated as medical conditions.
The rise in diagnoses and prescriptions is particularly pronounced among adults. In the 2025/26 period, 267,000 adults aged 18 and over were prescribed ADHD medications, representing a single-year increase of over 40%. Social media and public discourse, with influencers sharing their experiences with ADHD, have also contributed to greater awareness and encouraged more individuals to seek assessments.
While the increase in patients indicates more people are accessing treatment, the number of prescriptions has risen more steadily, suggesting the growth is driven by new patients initiating treatment rather than existing patients receiving higher doses. Campaigners view this as a positive development, allowing individuals who may have previously been overlooked by services to receive appropriate care.
However, officials have expressed concerns about the rapid expansion. A government-commissioned review into neurodevelopmental conditions, including ADHD and autism, published in March, found that diagnoses were increasingly being used as a pathway to educational support, such as extra time in exams. The review warned that this trend risks making medical diagnosis the default route to support, even when alternative interventions might be more suitable.
Experts have also noted a potential broadening of the diagnostic threshold for ADHD, making it difficult to distinguish between those with the disorder and those without. ADHD is characterized by difficulties with concentration, activity levels, and impulse control, with symptoms including distractibility, forgetfulness, and challenges following instructions.
The escalating demand has also led to a significant increase in healthcare spending. Total expenditure on ADHD medications, such as methylphenidate and dexamfetamine, rose by nearly 12% in the last quarter, reaching £56 million. This financial increase coincides with growing concerns about potential serious side effects associated with these medications.
In July, campaigners highlighted that many patients starting ADHD medication might have undiagnosed heart defects, a condition affecting roughly one in 300 individuals. This could place them at risk of complications triggered by the drugs. The warning followed an inquest that linked the stimulant ADHD medication Elvanse to the sudden cardiac death of a 28-year-old finance worker, Jacob Wooderson, shortly after his dosage was increased. Elvanse was listed as a cause of his death, six months after his ADHD diagnosis.