ADHD Medication Use Triples Across Europe, Soars Among Adult Women
A dramatic surge in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication use has been observed across Europe, with the United Kingdom experiencing the most significant increase and adult women showing the most pronounced rise in prescriptions. New research indicates a tripling in overall ADHD medication prevalence in the UK over the past decade, coupled with a twenty-fold increase among women aged 25 and over.
A study led by researchers at the University of Oxford analyzed electronic health records from Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and the UK, examining trends in medication use among individuals aged three and above between 2010 and 2023. The findings, published in the Lancet Regional Health – Europe journal, reveal a consistent increase in the prescription of medications including methylphenidate, dexamphetamine, lisdexamfetamine, atomoxetine, and guanfacine.
Across the five countries studied, prevalence increased during the study period. The UK demonstrated the highest relative increase, climbing from 0.12% in 2010 to 0.39% in 2023. The Netherlands also saw a substantial rise, more than doubling from 0.67% to 1.56%.
The increase in adult diagnoses and subsequent medication use is particularly striking. In the UK, the prevalence of ADHD medication among those 25 and older jumped from 0.01% in 2010 to 0.20% in 2023. This represents a more than twenty-fold increase for women and a fifteen-fold increase for men. While medication use remains more common among males, the gap between sexes is narrowing, particularly with increasing age.
“We observed a consistent increase in ADHD medication use across Europe, but the most striking changes were among adults, especially women,” explained Xintong Li, the lead study author at Oxford. “These findings likely reflect growing awareness and diagnosis of adult ADHD, but they also raise important questions about long-term treatment patterns and care needs.”
Despite the rising numbers, researchers noted that current medication usage appears lower than the estimated prevalence of ADHD itself. Globally, ADHD is believed to affect approximately 8% of children and adolescents and 3% of adults. The study suggests a significant proportion of individuals with ADHD may not be receiving pharmacological intervention, even though not all require medication.
Methylphenidate remains the most frequently prescribed medication across all countries analyzed. Newer treatments, such as lisdexamfetamine and guanfacine, have seen increasing uptake following their market approval. However, the research also highlighted relatively low rates of treatment continuation after initial prescription, with significant variations observed between countries. .
The findings underscore a growing recognition of ADHD as a lifelong condition, necessitating proactive healthcare planning to meet increasing demand. This is particularly crucial given ongoing ADHD medication shortages in several European nations.
In England, the National Health Service (NHS) is already facing financial strain due to ADHD services, overspending by £164 million annually. A recent report by The Guardian indicated that total NHS spending on ADHD services is projected to more than double existing budgets, with a more than threefold increase in expenditure on private assessments.
“Understanding how ADHD medications are being used in real-world clinical practice is essential for healthcare planning,” stated Prof. Daniel Prieto-Alhambra, a senior author of the study. “These data can help health systems anticipate demand and reduce the risk of future medication shortages, while also highlighting populations that may need closer monitoring.”
This article was amended on January 22, 2026. It is the NHS in England, not the UK, that is overspending by £164 million a year on ADHD services.
