Nearly half of ADHD medication scripts are now for adults

Professor Richard Harvey said there was previously 'significant underdiagnosis' of ADHD in adults.

Adults have overtaken children aged 6-12 as the biggest patient cohort treated with ADHD medications, PBS data show.

Nearly 210,000 patients aged over 18 were prescribed ADHD medications — primarily stimulants — on the PBS in 2022-23, compared with about 154,000 patients aged 6-12.

Adults now account for 45% of patients prescribed ADHD medications, while those aged 18 and under make up 55% of the treated population.

According to the PBAC’s Drug Utilisation Sub-Committee (DUSC), this demographic shift began in 2021 after the PBS listing for lisdexamfetamine was expanded to include patients with ADHD diagnosed after the age of 18.

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