Are Children with ADHD and ADD Being Overmedicated?
This essay argues that children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the United States are overmedicated. Drawing on CDC data, National Center for Health statistics, and peer-reviewed research, the paper documents sharp increases in psychostimulant, antidepressant, and antipsychotic prescriptions for children over recent decades. It presents and then counters a rebuttal rooted in societal pressures and the demands of modern American family life, ultimately concluding that the statistical evidence supports the overmedication claim. The paper also includes a CRAAP (Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, Purpose) evaluation of its four primary sources.
- Introduction: Thesis and key statistics on child ADHD medication
- Children with ADD and ADHD Are Overmedicated: CDC and national data documenting prescription rate increases
- Rebuttal: Societal Pressures and Medical Necessity: Counterargument linking overmedication to societal conditions
- Conclusion: Synthesis of evidence affirming overmedication thesis
- CRAAP Evaluation of Sources: Detailed source credibility assessment for four references
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What makes this paper effective
- Grounds its central claim in concrete statistical evidence from authoritative sources such as the CDC and the National Center for Health Statistics, giving the argument measurable weight.
- Demonstrates intellectual honesty by presenting a substantive rebuttal — acknowledging societal pressures and the legitimacy of treating real symptoms — before reaffirming the thesis.
- Includes a full CRAAP source evaluation, showing methodical awareness of source quality, bias, and credibility rather than relying on citations alone.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper employs a classic argumentative structure: state a thesis, marshal evidence, engage a counterargument, then reaffirm the original position. By explicitly identifying and addressing the opposing view (that medication is a necessary response to genuine societal conditions), the writer strengthens rather than weakens the essay's persuasive force.
Structure breakdown
The essay opens with an introduction that presents the problem and states the thesis. The body section marshals statistical evidence from multiple national data sets to support the overmedication claim. A dedicated rebuttal section fairly presents the opposing view. A brief conclusion synthesizes the key statistics and restates the thesis. The paper closes with a Works Cited list and a formal CRAAP evaluation table for each source used.
Introduction
According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 10,000 children could be receiving psychostimulant medication — for example, methylphenidate, commonly known as Ritalin. Media coverage of this report highlighted the notably high numbers as evidence that children are being overmedicated (Insel). Additionally, a study by a university College of Pharmacy found that there is about a 40% chance that three-year-olds diagnosed with ADHD will be taking up to three kinds of mental health drugs by the time they are eight years old (Lea Reynolds). These drugs include anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, and other multi-mental health medications. The findings of these two reports bring to the forefront the claim that children with ADD or ADHD are being overmedicated (Lea Reynolds). This essay therefore argues that, yes, children diagnosed with ADHD and/or ADD are being overmedicated.
Children with ADD and ADHD Are Overmedicated
According to statistics from the National Center for Health, in 2015–2016 nearly 20% of children under the age of 18 were taking prescription drugs. According to 2011–2012 estimates, 7.5% of children in America between the ages of 6 and 17 were taking medication for emotional and/or behavioral challenges (Insel; Kazda et al.). CDC reports further indicate that from the 1988–1994 period to the 2007–2010 period, there was a five-fold increase in the number of children in America taking psychostimulants. Recent data show that approximately 4.2% of children in America are taking psychostimulants and 1.3% are taking antidepressants. Statistical data also reveal that the rate of children receiving antipsychotic prescriptions in America increased six-fold over the same period (Olfson et al., 1247–1256).
Based on age, the health of a young person is generally considered more stable than that of an adult and, accordingly, children should require little if any medication. In typical circumstances, the only medications children receive are vaccinations. Therefore, as demonstrated by the university College of Pharmacy study, the fact that three-year-old children are taking three kinds of medication simultaneously represents a clear instance of overmedication.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most commonly diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorders in children, and the rapid rise in prescription rates has prompted significant debate among clinicians, researchers, and policymakers about where appropriate treatment ends and overmedication begins.
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