Prevalence of medication treatment for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder among elementary school children in Johnston county, North Carolina

Objectives. This study estimated the prevalence of medication treatment for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among elementary school children in a North Carolina county. Methods. Parents of 7333 children in grades 1 through 5 in 17 public elementary schools were asked whether their child had ever been given a diagnosis of ADHD by a psychologist or physician and whether their child was currently taking medication to treat ADHD. Parents of 6099 children (83%) responded. Results. By parental report, 607 children (10%) had been given an ADHD diagnosis and 434 (7%) were receiving ADHD medication treatment. Seventy-one % of the diagnosed children were receiving medication. Treatment rates varied by sex, race/ethnicity, and grade. Conclusions. If treatment patterns observed in this study are representative, the public health impact of ADHD may be underestimated. (Am J Public Health. 2002;92:231-234).