The number of patients prescribed medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has increased 2.4 times over the past four years, data showed Monday.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety reported that 338,000 people were prescribed methylphenidate in 2023, up from 281,000 the previous year -- a 40.4 percent jump. The figure is up from 143,000 in 2020, when the government first began tracking the use of medical narcotics.
The number of tablets prescribed also rose significantly, reaching 9.1 million last year -- a 2.4 fold increase from 3.7 million tablets in 2020.
By age group, those under 19 accounted for the largest share of prescriptions at 153,031, or 45.3 percent. They were followed by patients in their 20s (25.9 percent), 30s (17.1 percent), 40s (6.3 percent) and 50s (2.3 percent).
Local media reports attribute the sharp rise to increased awareness of ADHD among teenagers, partly driven by popular child care and education entertainment programs as well as greater access to psychiatric care.
The ADHD drugs have gained a reputation in some academic circles as “study enhancers,” particularly in Daechi-ding, an affluent neighborhood in Seoul’s Gangnam District known for its high density of private academies. Rumors that the medication can boost concentration have led to growing demand -- and reported shortages -- in the area.
shinjh@heraldcorp.com
