Massive variation in Ritalin prescribing
- Published: 17 July 2008 09:00
- Author: Sally Gainsbury
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- Last Updated: 16 July 2008 16:00
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There is a 23-fold difference in the rate at which children in different parts of England are prescribed Ritalin to control their behaviour, figures seen by HSJ reveal.
The highest rate was in the Wirral, where pharmacists dispensed one prescription for methylphenidate hydrochloride - popularly known as Ritalin - for every seven children under 16 in 2007. This is equivalent to 144 prescriptions for every 1,000 children for which Wirral primary care trust is responsible (see below).
Stoke on Trent had the lowest rate, on average one prescription for every 159 children. Across England the average is one prescription for every 23 children under 16.
Methylphenidate is an amphetamine used to treat child attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, but its growing use has led to concern.
"The PCT is aware of high levels of Ritalin prescribing. There is an action programme in place including a current, ongoing review by a consultant paediatrician"
County Durham PCT director of public health Tricia Cresswell
PCT figures for the number of prescriptions dispensed since 2003 placed in the Commons library this week showed 461,000 items of the drug were prescribed to children in 2007, up from 199,000 in 2003.
Wirral PCT acknowledged "the apparent high prescribing rates of ADHD drugs in comparison to other PCTs".
County Durham PCT had the fourth highest rate at one prescription for every 10.3 children. Director of public health Tricia Cresswell said: "The PCT is aware of high levels of Ritalin prescribing. There is an action programme in place including a current, ongoing review by a consultant paediatrician of children and young people who have previously been prescribed Ritalin."
She said she expected the rate to fall in subsequent months.
A spokesman for Isle of Wight PCT, which had the second highest rate (one for every 9.3 children, or 107 for every 1,000 children), said he was not aware of any reason for this but added that the island's small population could skew the figures.
A Department of Health spokesperson said: "It is important to note these figures are dispensing levels, and not the number of children taking the drug [and] could include repeat prescriptions for the same child."
Methylphenidate (Ritalin) prescriptions per 1,000
0-15 year olds 2007
PCT | Prescriptions dispensed per 1,000 children |
Wirral | 144 |
Isle of Wight | 107 |
Great Yarmouth and Waveney | 100 |
County Durham | 97 |
Medway | 85 |
PCT average | 43 |
Source: Commons library/ONS
