ADHD Diagnoses Rising Among U.S. Adults: CDC Report
Diagnoses of ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) are on the rise among adults in the U.S. Approximately 15.5 million adults had an ADHD diagnosis in 2023, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That’s equivalent to around 6% of adults in the country, or one in 16. Around half of these diagnoses didn’t come until adulthood.
The agency gathered this data from the National Center for Health Statistics Rapid Surveys System between October and November 2023.
Approximately 15.5 million adults had an ADHD diagnosis in 2023, according to a new report from the CDC. (iStock)
The study also found that adults with ADHD were more likely to be 50 or younger (84.5%) and more likely to be non-Hispanic White (70.4%). Those earning less than the federal poverty level were also more likely to be diagnosed (22.1%).
Around one-third of the adults with ADHD reported taking some type of stimulant medication, but more than 71% said the prescription was difficult to obtain. Additionally, around half of diagnosed adults indicated that they had used telehealth to receive treatment for ADHD.
The study did have some limitations, the CDC acknowledged. “First, self-reports of ADHD diagnosis might be subject to recall and reporting biases and were not validated against medical records,” the agency stated. “Second, surveys with commercial online panels have low response rates and might underrepresent certain subpopulations, increasing the potential for nonresponse bias.”
A third limitation highlighted by the report was that the sociodemographic and geographic data were collected before the survey was administered, which “could have affected the demographic distribution for some variables, such as age, education, household income and metropolitan status.”
Expert Insights on ADHD Diagnoses
Jonathan Alpert, Psychotherapist
Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist in Manhattan and Washington, D.C., noted that he sees a new patient each week with concerns about ADHD.
“The first line of treatment should be psychological and behavioral intervention.”
Alpert remarked, “There certainly are those accurately diagnosed with ADHD and in need of medication — however, much like the GLP-1 phenomenon, there’s a shortage of medication because of all the people using it off-label or not truly in need of it.” He emphasized that many patients self-diagnose through online research, contributing to a growing trend where people become over-reliant on psychological services.
He also pointed out that electronic devices and social media might contribute to the spike in diagnoses. “The very nature of these is to provide stimulation through a device where the brain is continuously engaged — and, for many people, overly engaged,” he cautioned.
“By making significant behavioral and lifestyle changes, one can start to minimize their symptoms and make improvements, thereby lessening their reliance on medication,” Alpert advised.
Discussion and Community Engagement
What are your thoughts on the rise of ADHD diagnoses among adults? Do you think the increase is reflective of greater awareness or is it indicative of a deeper issue within society? We encourage you to share your views in the comments below!