Dr. Sonia Morris:

Dr. McDonnell is correct that it is a choice. We also see many adults availing of medication management. One of the issues with service provision is that very few clinicians are available to prescribe to adults, whether privately or publicly. The demand for medication management from the adult population far outstrips capacity. Many children used to being medicated for their ADHD are also coming through the CAMHS system, but there is no capacity when they transition at 18 into adult services to continue that medication management. As Mr. Kilbride said, even though these people are stable on their medication and the dosages have not been changed, few GPs will take over their medication management. That is an issue.

What we tend to see in the context of medication is that those who meet the criteria for moderate to severe ADHD will avail of it. These are the kids who would have attended the CAMHS service and also the adult services being rolled out across the HSE. Medication supports school engagement because it targets inattentive types of behaviours and allows children to pay attention to lessons to give them the best chance to retain that information. It also supports them in private study and homework at the same time in the home environment. It is possible to go on medication holidays or breaks. This is medication that can be stopped with very few side effects as a result. We do, therefore, see kids who would take such medication during the school term but not during their summer holidays. It is a matter of parental choice.