This podcast explores the global prevalence and impact of ADHD, including the underdiagnosis of certain groups. It discusses the role of social media influencers in shaping perceptions of ADHD and the potential risks of self-diagnosis. Additionally, it delves into the misuse of ADHD medication for studying in South Korea and the global shortage of ADHD medication, examining the factors contributing to the scarcity.
ADHD influencers on social media have raised awareness and provided strategies, but caution is needed to avoid oversimplification and misinformation.
Global shortages of ADHD medications, compounded by the controlled production of amphetamines, pose challenges for individuals relying on medication to manage their symptoms.
Deep dives
Living with Adult ADHD
Living with adult ADHD can be challenging, with symptoms such as daydreaming, overactivity, restlessness, and difficulty with organization. Diagnosis rates for ADHD in adults have been increasing, with more people like Maria, a medical doctor from Colombia, being diagnosed later in life. Neurocognitive therapy has been helpful for managing ADHD symptoms, providing clarity and improved focus.
Perceptions and Influences on ADHD Diagnosis
ADHD diagnosis rates are rising, with more young adults being diagnosed. However, there are challenges in diagnosing ADHD, especially in marginalized communities. Abigail Ujay, who was diagnosed at 30, highlights the gender and racial biases in diagnosing ADHD. She believes that influencers on social media discussing ADHD have been helpful in raising awareness and providing strategies, although caution is needed to avoid oversimplification and misinformation.
Medication Shortages and Global Impact
There are global shortages of medications used to treat ADHD, leading to challenges for those who rely on medication to manage their symptoms. Medications like methylphenidate have been increasingly used by students without ADHD for study purposes, particularly during high-pressure exams like South Korea's Sunung. In addition to medication shortages, the tightly controlled production of amphetamines, a key ingredient in ADHD medications, contributes to the ongoing scarcity. The complexity of the medicine supply chain and the need for increased production limits further compound the shortage problem.
366 million adults worldwide have ADHD as of 2020 - that’s over 6% of the whole population. And more young adults are being diagnosed with the condition. BBC health reporter Dominic Hughes explains the causes and treatment of ADHD.
Does your culture and background affect your diagnosis? Some women have found that their symptoms are not the standard ones that doctors have traditionally linked to ADHD. We hear from people living with ADHD including Abigail Agyei in the UK and mental health advocate Emily Unity in Australia and ask them how ADHD influencers have changed the nature of the conversation online.
Some health professionals have raised concerns about the accuracy of some of this content and whether it could contribute to more self-diagnosis. A study from 2022 looked at the 100 most popular ADHD videos on TikTok and found that over half of them were judged by clinicians to be misleading.
The BBC’s Suhnwook Lee, in South Korea, explains why ADHD prescriptions go up around the time of the annual college exam there. And pharmacist Jonathan Silcock from the UK’s University of Bradford sets out why there’s a global shortage of ADHD medication.
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Julia Ross-Roy, Maria Clara Montoya, Benita Barden and Luis Felipe Molina
Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks
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