Abstract
Figure 1 shows the annual number of adults who were commenced on stimulant medication for the treatment of ADHD for the first time in the period 1990 to 2002 by sex. It can be seen that a steep increase occurred from 1990 to 1998 in the overall number of adults who commenced treatment. In 1990, just 21 adults started treatment for the first time, while in 1998 the figure was 1,037. From 2000 to 2002 there was a downward trend in the number of adults with ADHD who were started on stimulant medication for the first time.
