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The use of attention deficit disorder drugs has been multiplied by 36 over the past 15 years, indicating that the disease has become a major problem in the city, according to a study.
Academics from the University of Hong Kong led an international team of researchers who studied prescription drug rates for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in 15 regions of the world. 13 countries.
About 6.4% of children and adolescents are affected by the disorder in Hong Kong, and 10,438 new cases in 2017, according to figures from the Department of Health.
Children with ADHD have a pattern of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
The research, published in the Lancet Psychiatry Journal, found that the consumption of drugs against ADHD had increased in the 15 locations studied.
"We showed that there was a widespread increase in the use of ADHD medications in different populations over 15 years between 2001 and 2015," said Dr. Patrick Ip, Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Medicine, on Wednesday. teenagers from HKU.
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The use of ADHD medications locally has increased from one in 2,500 children in 2001 to one in 69 in 2015. In adults, there has been a triple, from 1 per 30,000 in 2001 to 1 per 10,000 in 2015.
"In Hong Kong, we have seen a 36-fold increase in the use of ADHD medications in our local population. It is something quite alarming. This means that ADHD has become a major problem in Hong Kong and our prescription [rate] has grown year by year, "said Ip.
He also attributed the "phenomenon" to a more precise diagnosis and a growing awareness of the importance of treatment.
"Our population has also increasingly accepted the use of ADHD medications," Ip said.
There have been concerns, particularly in the United States, about the excessive prescription of such drugs.
"But it's something we did not find in Hong Kong," Ip said, adding that local drug use was at an "acceptable" level.
But Ip said the services provided to people with ADHD were inadequate and he urged the government to invest more to support patient management.
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Professor Ian Wong Chi-kei, co-author of the study and head of the pharmacology and pharmacy department at HKU, said that there should be comprehensive guidance on diagnostic needs, treatment and education of patients with ADHD.
The clinical services provided by the hospital administration were unlikely to meet the growing needs of new patients and the ongoing care of current patients, they added.
Medications regulate brain neurotransmitters that patients with ADHD miss.
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"But it's also a disease that could be modified or affected by the environment. That's why we think we need to be particularly careful that children are fully supported during the critical period of three to six years, "said Ip.
"It's the time when we need to make sure our children are getting enough sleep and are not overexposed to digital devices."
Children with ADHD are more likely to develop other behavioral and mental problems, including learning disabilities, coordination disorders, depression and substance abuse.
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