Concern over TikTok’s ADHD influencers as Ritalin scripts double

A near doubling of prescriptions for ADHD in kids has triggered a warning from experts about TikTok influencers glamorising their ADHD ‘superpowers’.

Prescriptions issued to treat ADHD in children have almost doubled in just eight years because of a perfect storm of pushy parents, Tik Tok videos glamorising diagnoses and growing mental health problems in kids during the Covid pandemic.

Data shows the number of prescriptions for ADHD drugs has gone from just 529,102 prescriptions to Aussie kids in 2013 to 926,628 last year.

The biggest drug doled out to under 18s was Methylphenidate, more commonly known as Ritalin, with 840,209 prescriptions issued in 12 months.

That was followed by the powerful Dexamfetamine, with 50,966 prescriptions given out to children last year.

Psychiatrist Tanveer Ah-med said that in the past two years ADHD had become worryingly fashionable thanks to Tik Tok stars creating videos glamorising it but he warned children might just have conditions such as anxiety.

TikTok influencers with ADHD often post about their experiences with the condition.

However there are concerns young viewers are self-diagnosing based on their descriptions.

“In the last couple of years, the pandemic has driven huge interest in ADHD because of all these Tik Tok videos,” he said.

“For whatever reason, during the pandemic and all these videos of people that were coming out and that some of them were really popular, just saying, ‘I’ve just learnt, I’ve got ADHD’.”

On Tik Tok, videos with the hashtag ADHD have been viewed 11.1 billion times and include clips with phrases such as “ADHD superpowers”.

Some share their struggles with ADHD, while others celebrate their unique ‘superpowers’.

One video shows an adolescent mastering tasks including a Rubik's cube and completing stunningly detailed drawings.

“There’s no question the pandemic, partly probably because it’s driven higher rates of mental health problems, especially anxiety disorders, has raised awareness around this issue,” Dr Ahmed said.

He said children and parents generally preferred a diagnosis of ADHD because it abrogated any responsibility for mental health issues with the added benefit of improving academic performance.

“I think anxiety disorders still feel like you’re partly your fault, but whereas ADHD seems both for parents and individuals takes away responsibility because there is a neuro-scientific reason behind it,” he said.

One Sydney principal said the rise of prescription meds had been welcomed by teachers for helping with a lot of mental health and behavioural issues in the classroom.

“As there has been an increased diagnosis and greater acceptance that medication can support students’ greater levels of concentration and reduce anxiety,” he said.

“As they’re getting toward their HSC, a lot of them are so experienced with the meds that some of them regulate their own dosage.”

Originally published as Concern over TikTok’s ADHD influencers as Ritalin scripts double