SHOOT: And it's now more than ever that we need to be paying attention, and it's not a situation where the problem is that we're not paying attention, per se, but that we CAN'T.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) –
Calls to poison control centers for U.S. teenagers who have overdosed on attention deficit drugs rose 76 percent over eight years, researchers reported on Monday.
This is nearly the same as the 80 percent rise in prescriptions for such drugs, Dr. Jennifer Setlik and colleagues at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center reported.
Millions of people take ADHD drugs including Novartis AG's Ritalin, known generically as methylphenidate, and Shire Plc's Adderall and Vyvanse. Annual U.S. sales totaled about $4.8 billion in 2008, according to data from IMS Health.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is marked by restlessness, impulsiveness, inattention and distractibility that can interfere with a child's ability to pay attention in school and maintain social relationships. Amphetamines or methylphenidate drugs can calm and focus the brain.
ADHD affects between 8 percent and 12 percent of children and 4 percent of adults worldwide.
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