In January 2019, doctors mobilized to denounce the alarming increase in the consumption of psychostimulants among children and young Quebecers.
Their demands led elected officials sitting on the Health and Social Services Commission to hold an initiative mandate on the issue, in November 2019, where 15 experts (doctors, researchers, neuropsychologists, psychoeducators, etc.) shared their knowledge, experiences and observations. Followed, in December 2020, by a report in which the Commission made 17 recommendations grouped under 4 distinct axes1 :
a) to deepen research in mental health, in particular on the consumption of psychostimulants in children and young people associated with attention deficit disorder with/without hyperactivity (ADHD);
b) to correct and improve screening and diagnostic practices for ADHD and related disorders;
c) open up to multidisciplinary and collaborative approaches in the treatment of ADHD and related disorders and improve access to psychosocial services;
d) implement follow-up measures for the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD and related disorders and better support young people, their families and teachers.
Since then, two years have passed and no action seems to have been taken. However, the problem is still very real and the increase in the prescription of medication continues steadily, as shown by a recent report by the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ)2 on the monitoring of ADHD and associated psychotropics.
A quarter (24.7%) of young people aged 6 to 17 received a prescription for psychostimulants in 2020, compared to less than 10% in 2000.
And these figures are underestimated due to the fact that they exclude recipients of private insurance and stop before the pandemic, which is known to have had negative effects on the mental health of children. , young people and their parents.
With the difficulties of access to psychosocial services and educational resources, psychotropic drugs are becoming the “default” treatment for children and their families, in order to leave no one without care. But at what cost ? Is medical treatment really the solution? Knowing that the diagnosis of ADHD is often linked to academic difficulties, psychosocial and educational services could better meet the needs of children and young people, without side effects. Strongly collective reflection and government action in this direction.
* Marie-Christine Brault presented a brief during the Commission’s hearings.