National trends in the use of stimulant medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
OBJECTIVE
To document the use of stimulant medication in the different states and territories of Australia in 1993 and trends in use of stimulant medication in Western Australia and New South Wales from 1988 to 1993.


METHODS
Health authorities in the states and territories of Australia were contacted and requested to provided data on total numbers, patient gender, date of birth, postcode and type of stimulant medication prescribed to estimate the prevalence of use of stimulant medication in Australia.


RESULTS
Despite variation in the data obtained from each health authority there is a significant difference in the rates of use of stimulant medication between states and territories in Australia, and a significant increase in use between 1988 and 1993 in Western Australia and New South Wales.


CONCLUSIONS
These trends should continue to be closely monitored and the possibility of establishing national prescription guidelines considered.
Valentine
J
J
Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, Australia.
Zubrick
S
S
Sly
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001315:Australia; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003625:Data Collection; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants