Surging prescriptions for methylphenidate comes amid growing misconceptions about the drug as a “study-enhancing” medication. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 2 (Korea Bizwire) – In South Korea, prescriptions for methylphenidate, a medication used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), have skyrocketed in the first half of this year, nearly matching the total number of patients prescribed the drug in all of 2023.
This surge comes amid growing misconceptions about the drug as a “study-enhancing” medication.
According to the September issue of the “Monthly Trends in Medical Narcotics” report by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, 256,848 patients received methylphenidate prescriptions in the first six months of 2024.
This figure represents approximately 90% of the 280,663 patients who were prescribed the medication throughout the entirety of 2023.
Methylphenidate, a central nervous system stimulant classified as a medical narcotic, is primarily used to treat ADHD in children and adolescents over six years old.
However, its misuse can lead to side effects ranging from headaches and insomnia to more severe symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, and even suicide attempts in extreme cases.
The most alarming trend is the substantial increase in prescriptions for patients under 20 years old. In the first half of 2024, males under 20 accounted for the largest group of methylphenidate recipients, with 85,106 prescriptions.
For females, the under-20 age group was the second-largest, with 32,780 prescriptions, just behind women in their 20s who received 35,773 prescriptions.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety suggests that the dramatic rise in prescriptions may be partly due to increased accessibility to psychiatric care. However, officials stated that they are still analyzing the exact causes of this trend.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
