It's appalling.  Most studies for the effectiveness of ADHD medication are conducted for only 3 or 4 weeks.  But some kids take the medication for 15 years!

And the news gets even worse.

Long-term research funded by the US National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) shows that medication for ADHD makes things worse.

Looking at 3 National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded studies:

• the original MTA (also read about it below),
• a 3-year follow-up, and
• an 8-year follow-up.

In the 3-year follow-up they state: "participants using medication ... actually showed increased symptomatology during that interval relative to those not taking medication." From 2 to 3 years, medication made things worse.

In the 8-year follow-up, medication use was "associated with worse hyperactivity-impulsivity and ODD symptoms and CIS impairment." (CIS is a tool for rating impairment).  After 8 years, those using medication were worse.

So, medication makes things worse.  Maybe we should stop pushing it.  After all, there are many other treatments and interventions that work well.