This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in JAMA  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Daniel J. Safer, MD; John M. Krager, MD, MPH

JAMA. 1988;260(15):2256-2258.

Abstract
Since 1971, the Baltimore County Health Department has conducted nine biannual surveys of school nurses in all of the county's public and private schools to determine the prevalence of medication treatment for hyperactivity/inattentiveness among students. The results reveal a consistent doubling of the rate of medication treatment for hyperactive/inattentive students every four to seven years such that in 1987,5.96% of all public elementary school students were receiving such treatment. Related trends from 1971 to 1987 have been that stimulants increased from 76% to 99% of the medication prescribed; methylphenidate hydrochloride rose from 40% to 93% of the total; the male-female ratio dropped from an average of 8:1 to 5:1; the rate of medication treatment for hyperactive/inattentive students rose faster in secondary than in elementary schools; and 25% of students receiving stimulant medication in 1987 were in special education classes or schools.

(JAMA 1988;260:2256-2258)

Author Affiliations
From the Baltimore County Health Department and The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore.

Footnotes
Reprint requests to the Eastern Community Mental Health Center, 9100 Franklin Square Dr, Baltimore, MD 21237 (Dr Safer).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

ADHD Service Use Patterns in Youth
Leslie and Wolraich
J Pediatr Psychol 2007;32:695-710.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Differential Stimulant Response on Attention in Children With Comorbid Anxiety and Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Goez et al.
J Child Neurol 2007;22:538-542.
ABSTRACT  

The CBCL as a screen for psychiatric comorbidity in paediatric patients with ADHD
Biederman et al.
Arch. Dis. Child. 2005;90:1010-1015.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Elementary School Children in Rhode Island: Associated Psychosocial Factors and Medications Used
Harel and Brown
CLIN PEDIATR 2003;42:497-503.
ABSTRACT  

Geographic Variation in the Prevalence of Stimulant Medication Use Among Children 5 to 14 Years Old: Results From a Commercially Insured US Sample
Cox et al.
Pediatrics 2003;111:237-243.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Childhood Behavior Disorders and Injuries Among Children and Youth: A Population-Based Study
Brehaut et al.
Pediatrics 2003;111:262-269.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Does the Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder With Stimulants Contribute to Drug Use/Abuse? A 13-Year Prospective Study
Barkley et al.
Pediatrics 2003;111:97-109.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Psychotropic Medication Use in a Population of Children Who Have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Guevara et al.
Pediatrics 2002;109:733-739.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Prevalence of Medication Treatment for Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder Among Elementary School Children in Johnston County, North Carolina
Rowland et al.
AJPH 2002;92:231-234.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Utilization and Cost of Health Care Services for Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Guevara et al.
Pediatrics 2001;108:71-78.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Pediatric Stimulant and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Prescription Trends: 1992 to 1998
Rushton and Whitmire
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2001;155:560-565.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The extent of drug therapy for ADHD among children in a large public school district
Goldstein and Turner
J Atten Disord 2001;4:212-219.
ABSTRACT  

Stimulant Treatment in Maryland Public Schools
Safer and Malever
Pediatrics 2000;106:533-539.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Math computation, error patterns and stimulant effects in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Benedetto-Nasho and Tannock
J Atten Disord 1999;3:121-134.
ABSTRACT  

National Trends in the Prevalence of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and the Prescribing of Methylphenidate among School-Age Children: 1990-1995
Robison et al.
CLIN PEDIATR 1999;38:209-217.
ABSTRACT  

Assessing the services for children with ADHD: Gaps and opportunities
Sloan et al.
J Atten Disord 1999;3:13-29.
ABSTRACT  

A 55-Year-Old Man With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Biederman
JAMA 1998;280:1086-1092.
FULL TEXT  

Diagnosis and Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents
Goldman et al.
JAMA 1998;279:1100-1107.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Prescribing Trends in Psychotropic Medications: Primary Care, Psychiatry, and Other Medical Specialties
Pincus et al.
JAMA 1998;279:526-531.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

A clinical protocol for determining methylphenidate dosage levels in ADHD
Hoeppner et al.
J Atten Disord 1997;2:19-30.
ABSTRACT  

ERP changes induced by methylphenidate in boys with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Miller et al.
J Atten Disord 1996;1:95-113.
ABSTRACT  

Mouse Model of Hyperkinesis Implicates SNAP-25 in Behavioral Regulation
Hess et al.
J. Neurosci. 1996;16:3104-3111.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

ADHD boys' behavior during structured classroom social activities: Effects of social demands, teacher proximity, and methylphenidate
Granger et al.
J Atten Disord 1996;1:16-30.
ABSTRACT  

A Double-blind, Crossover Comparison of Methylphenidate and Placebo in Adults With Childhood-Onset Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Spencer et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1995;52:434-443.
ABSTRACT  

The Use of Methylphenidate in Michigan
Rappley et al.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 1995;149:675-679.
ABSTRACT  

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Section 504
REID and KATSIYANNIS
Remedial and Special Education 1995;16:44-52.
ABSTRACT  

Tics and Dyskinesias Associated With Stimulant Treatment in Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Lipkin et al.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 1994;148:859-861.
ABSTRACT  

WHO ARE THE CHILDREN WITH ATTENTION DEFICIT-HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER? A SCHOOL-BASED SURVEY
Reid et al.
Journal of Special Education 1994;28:117-137.
ABSTRACT  

Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder and Resistance to Thyroid Hormone -- A New Idea?
Ciaranello
NEJM 1993;328:1038-1039.
FULL TEXT  

Practical Considerations in Conducting School-Based Medication Evaluations for Children with Hyperactivity
Gadow and Nolan
Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders 1993;1:118-126.
ABSTRACT  

The Myth of Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder
Golden
J Child Neurol 1992;7:446-449.
 

Effect of a Media Blitz and a Threatened Lawsuit on Stimulant Treatment
Safer and Krager
JAMA 1992;268:1004-1007.
ABSTRACT  

Social Impact of Stimulant Treatment for Hyperactive Children
Whalen and Henker
J Learn Disabil 1991;24:231-241.
ABSTRACT  

Intravenous Methylphenidate Abuse: Prototype for Prescription Drug Abuse
Parran and Jasinski
Arch Intern Med 1991;151:781-783.
ABSTRACT  

Introduction to the Special Series on Attention Deficit Disorder
Shaywitz and Shaywitz
J Learn Disabil 1991;24:68-71.
 

Comorbidity: A Critical Issue in Attention Deficit Disorder
Shaywitz and Shaywitz
J Child Neurol 1991;6:S13-S22.
ABSTRACT  

Hyperactivity and Inattentiveness: School Assessment of Stimulant Treatment
Safer and Krager
CLIN PEDIATR 1989;28:216-221.
ABSTRACT  

Attention Disorder in Children: Is the Literature Purged? Was It Ever Tainted?
Knoll
JAMA 1989;261:2330-2330.
ABSTRACT  

Attention Disorder in Children: Is the Literature Purged? Was It Ever Tainted?-Reply
Shaywitz and Shaywitz
JAMA 1989;261:2330-2331.
ABSTRACT  

Increased Medication Use in Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Regressive or Appropriate?
Shaywitz and Shaywitz
JAMA 1988;260:2270-2272.
ABSTRACT