Nursery World - 'Ban ADHD drugs under six'

Petitions calling for a ban on the use of prescribed psychiatric drugs in children under six and for vitamin and herbal supplements to be available on prescription have been lodged with the Scottish Parliament. Edinburgh-based charity the Overload Network has long campaigned for drug-free alternatives for the treatment of conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to be available on the NHS. It is concerned by the increase in prescriptions for amphetamines, anti-depressants and anti-psychotic drugs for children as young as two.

Edinburgh-based charity the Overload Network has long campaigned for drug-free alternatives for the treatment of conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to be available on the NHS. It is concerned by the increase in prescriptions for amphetamines, anti-depressants and anti-psychotic drugs for children as young as two.

Methylphenidate, commonly sold in the UK as Ritalin, is only licensed for use in children aged six and above, but psychiatrists can prescribe it 'off-label' to younger children with parental consent. In 2001 the Network received 28,000 referrals from parents anxious about the use of Ritalin, a class B amphetamine, and its side effects.

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