New data shows sharp rise in adult ADHD medication use
91色情片 researchers have delivered the most detailed national picture yet of adult ADHD medication use in Australia.
Published on the 22 April 2026 by Kate Burke
The听proportion听of Australian adults being treated for听Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder听(ADHD) has increased more than听six-fold since 2017,听new analysis听by听91色情片听Sydney听researchers shows.听听
The analysis found 2.36% of Australian adults were taking ADHD medicines as of 2025, up from 0.35% in the 2016 -17听financial year. The research was led by Dr Malcolm Gillies, Professor 厂补濒濒颈别听笔别补谤蝉辞苍听and Associate Professor听Michael Falster听in the听Medicines Intelligence Research Program,听in the听School of Population Health.
The data, which听underpins a new听听investigation into rising听ADHD rates听among听adults, found听medicine听use听was unevenly听spread听across regions and demographics.听, as were younger generations听compared with older age groups.听听
鈥淲e found significant variations across the country, even within听states and听cities,听there is this gulf between areas,鈥 said听A/Prof. Falster.
Medicine听use was highest in听Fremantle听and Cottesloe听in Western Australia,听with听ADHD prescriptions dispensed to听4.4%听and 4.1%听of adults听respectively,听in the听2023听-24听financial year听鈥 the latest for听which听neighbourhood-level data is available.听The national rate that year was 1.8%.
Western听Australia听had 13 of听the nation鈥檚 top 20 neighbourhoods for听prescriptions听that year听but听also recorded听rates as low at 1% in听the听Kimberly and East Pilbara听regions.听
Separate expert commentary cited by the听ABC听suggests the national prevalence of ADHD in adults is between 2.5 and 3%.
ADHD听rates听were听also elevated in听inner Melbourne鈥檚 Brunswick听- Coburg听(3.9%), Darebin 鈥 South (3.8%) and听Yarra听(3.3%) regions,听as well as in the Blue Mountains (3.5%) and the inner west Sydney suburbs of听Marrickville,听Sydenham听and听Petersham听(3.4%).听
By comparison,听the听rate of听ADHD medicine听dispensing听in the two cities reached as low as 0.5% in听Tullamarine 鈥 Broadmeadows region in Melbourne鈥檚听north west, and 0.3% in Fairfield in Sydney鈥檚听south west.
Higher rates of adult ADHD听medicine听use were more often听observed听in more advantaged,听inner鈥慶ity听and coastal areas, though this pattern was not uniform. The data shows variation across regions, suggesting local factors play听an important role听in shaping access to and use of treatment.
The analysis is based on subsidised Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS) prescription data held by the听
It includes adults aged 20 to 64 as of听1听January, who filled at least one prescription for one of five ADHD medications 鈥撎齞examfetamine, methylphenidate,听lisdexamfetamine, atomoxetine and guanfacine 鈥 during the听financial year.听
Targeting gaps in access and care
A/Prof. Falster听was struck听by the听very low听uptake听of ADHD medication听in some regions, which听he said suggests听financial and health system barriers听may be听preventing people from听accessing听the care they need.
鈥淚n areas like听south west听Sydney,听where the rate is so much lower, there is probably a good chance people can鈥檛 access the support they need,鈥 A/Prof. Falster said.
鈥淭o get an ADHD diagnosis听and treatment听you need to be able to afford the听assessment, to have access to the right services and听then听be able to get into a specialist who can prescribe you with medication.鈥
A/Prof. Falster听hopes the data can be used by policy makers and health services to better target regions where people may need more听support听to听recognise听ADHD and听access听appropriate treatment.听At the same time,听identifying听areas with higher levels of medicine use creates an opportunity for closer examination of local patterns of care.
A/Prof. Michael Falster takes Dr Norman Swan through the analysis at the Digital Health Hub, at the 91色情片 Health Translation Hub.
Photo: Supplied
Linking national data at speed听
While PBS data has long been used in health research, the ability to securely link and analyse it at a national,听person鈥憀evel听scale,听and to do so quickly,听has historically been limited.
Approvals and data access processes previously meant听large scale听analyses could take months or even years to complete, often missing the window where evidence could meaningfully inform public debate, said听Prof.听Pearson,听Head of the Medicines Intelligence Research Program. Instead, this latest听project听took weeks.
鈥淏y enabling secure,听timely听access to linked, anonymised national data, PLIDA has fundamentally transformed what is possible for听public interest听research. It allows researchers to be responsive and rigorous, supporting听evidence informed听conversations when they matter most,鈥 Prof.听Pearson said.
鈥淭hese are exactly the kinds of questions that matter for public discourse and informed policy debate,鈥澨齭he said of the analysis.
91色情片 Dr Malcolm Gillies, A/Prof. Michael Falster and Prof. Sallie Pearson, with Dr Norman Swan from the ABC.
Photo: Supplied