Overview

• Analyzing 2016–2023 records from eight U.S. pediatric networks, the Stanford-led team identified 9,708 children aged 3–5 with an ADHD diagnosis.
• 42.2% were prescribed medication within a month of diagnosis, while only 14.1% first received medication more than six months later despite behavior therapy being recommended first.
• About 68% of diagnosed children were medicated before age seven, most often with stimulant drugs such as methylphenidate.
• The study could not measure referrals to behavioral therapy, and investigators report physicians frequently point to limited availability and coverage of such treatment when explaining early prescribing.
• Boys accounted for roughly 76% of cases, and the authors note younger children experience more side effects that can lead families to discontinue medication.