Psychostimulant medication for ADHD and socioeconomic status in Australia (2003–2022)

Standardised prescription levels in Australia are narrowing around the national average. Findings for both individual prescriptions and total dispensing are similar, providing little evidence for large quantum of drug use. Youth from lower socioeconomic regions are slightly more likely to be prescribed medication. Youth from the highest socioeconomic decile are now much more likely to be prescribed medication. The was an increase in prescription levels across the first 2 years of COVID-19. The drivers behind these changes are worthy of further research.