For Many Kids on ADHD Pills, It’s the Start of a Drug Cascade

The podcast explores the issue of over-medication in the U.S., particularly focusing on how an ADHD diagnosis in childhood can lead to a cascade of psychiatric prescriptions. It highlights the story of Danielle, who was diagnosed with ADHD at age seven and subsequently put on multiple medications, experiencing significant side effects and ultimately struggling to get off the drugs as an adult. A Wall Street Journal analysis of Medicaid data revealed that children prescribed ADHD medication were five times more likely to be on additional psychiatric drugs four years later. The lack of research on the effects of drug cocktails on developing brains is also discussed, alongside the challenges of accessing behavioral therapy as an alternative to medication for young children.