Nearly 50 pediatricians and other specialists in Quebec are sounding the alarm over a worrying trend of turning to pills that has led to the over medication of children.
The letter, published in the Journal de Montreal, includes the names of 48 medical experts, including 45 pediatricians.
The group says everyone - family doctors, pediatricians, psychiatrists, parents - needs to examine why it has become standard practice in our society to so quickly turn to pills to treat ADHD (Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder).
The doctors point to a spike in prescribed medications in recent years for Quebecers under 18-years-old. Numbers from the National Institute of Excellence in Health and Social Services (INESSS) show that since 2006-2007 the percentage of children in all age groups being prescribed medication like Ritalin to treat ADHD continues to rise. In the case of 13-17-years old the number of children taking some type of drug nearly tripled, while young adults 18-25-years-old increased from 0.4 per cent to 3.2 per cent between 2006 and 2015.
The INESS numbers show that in 2014-2015, 14 per cent of children 10-12-years-old had been prescribed some type of pill for ADHD and according to the doctors there is no indication that the situation has changed.
The experts add the data is troubling, with Quebec (6.44%) turning to medication nearly three times as often as the rest of Canada (2.39%) for children and young adults 0-25-years-old.
The letter never questions that some children do live with ADHD, but doctors believe there are too many cases and question the patience or tolerance when dealing with unruly kids.
Dr. Guy Falardeau, one of the authors of the letter, told the newspaper there are too many false diagnoses, with many children actually living with an anxiety disorder, which has similar symptoms to ADHD.
Dr. Falardeau said that as a society were are not equipped to deal with children with anxiety, so it is quickly diagnosed as ADHD.
He added that in the public health network, the wait time to see a psychologist can be several months.