Monitoring Attention Deficit Disorder with or Without Hyperactivity (ADHD) in Children and Young Adults in Québec: Medication Use

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Highlights

This report presents data on the prescription of medications for attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity (ADHD) taken from the Québec Integrated Chronic Disease Surveillance System (QICDSS). Estimates were obtained from longitudinal monitoring between April 1, 2000, and March 31, 2020, for all individuals aged 24 years and younger who were eligible for Québec’s public prescription drug insurance plan (PPDIP).
The results show a steady increase in the prescription of ADHD medications over time. In 2019–2020, 56,080 Quebecers (7.7%) aged from 1 to 24 years enrolled in the PPDIP received at least one prescription for ADHD medication.
The percentage of ADHD medication prescribing differs by the sex and age of the person.
The prevalence of ADHD medication prescribing varied considerably across regions, ranging from 3.2% to 14.4%.
People living in highly economically advantaged environments have a lower prevalence of ADHD medication prescribing.
More than half of them received their first prescription from a family physician.
Psychostimulants remain by far the most prescribed class of ADHD medications.