Psychotropic Medication Overprescription Debate

There is ongoing debate and concern about the possible over-prescription of psychotropic medications, such as those used to treat ADHD and depression. According to a review published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry in 2018, “Psychotropic medications are among the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States and many other countries, and their use has increased significantly over the past two decades. However, concerns have been raised about the potential for overuse or inappropriate use of these drugs, as well as about their potential risks and benefits.” One concern is that these medications may be prescribed too readily, without sufficient consideration of other treatment options or potential risks (Costello et al., 2018). For example, a review published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2018 found that “rates of psychotropic medication prescribing to children and adolescents in the United States significantly exceed rates in other countries, and there is little evidence to support their widespread use.” (Bednarczyk et al., 2018) Cont…