More Than Half Of Adolescents & Adults Prescribed ADHD Medication Stop Taking It Within A Year
Among adolescents and adults prescribed medication for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) worldwide, the percentage who continue taking the medication after one year declines by more than half. Medication adherence drops to 47% among adolescents (ages 12 to 17), to 39% among young adults (ages 18 to 24), and to 48% among adults (age 25 and older). Among children under age 12, the one-year persistence rate is 65%. Medication persistence refers to the act of continuing the treatment for the prescribed duration.
Treatment persistence for up to five years was higher across countries when accounting for reinitiation of medication . . .