16:43
Tieng Anh Vui
There has been a 50% rise in the use of drugs for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in six years.
Prescriptions for methylphenidate drugs, including Ritalin, rose from 420,000 in 2007 to 657,000 last year, the Care Quality Commission said.
The watchdog warned health workers to "carefully monitor" their use as they have a potential for "misuse".
The drugs are one of a number linked to the "smart-drug" craze, where students take medication to help them focus.
Methylphenidate is known as a psychostimulant.
While it is not completely clear how it works, it is thought to stimulate a part of the brain that changes mental and behavioural reactions.
The CQC report - its annual review of controlled drugs - said the number of prescriptions for such medications rose by 11% between 2011 and 2012.
Impulsiveness
The commission said: "As in previous years, we believe that this reflects increased diagnosis of, and prescribing for, the treatment of ADHD.
"We are also aware of the possibility that methylphenidate could be diverted and abused, and for this reason we recommend that its use should be monitored carefully."
Common symptoms of ADHD include inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Symptoms tend to be first noticed at an early age and it is normally diagnosed between the ages of three and seven.
It is estimated that the condition affects 2% to 5% of school-age children and young people. However, it can be a lifelong condition and many children continue to show symptoms in their teens and adulthood.
Đăng ký: Tieng Anh Vui
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