Stimulants are the most common medication used to treat ADHD. Individual, family and group therapy are crucially important for adolescents with an ADHD diagnosis, but there are times when rapid access to stimulants is truly lifesaving. Despite concerns about addiction, evidence shows that children with ADHD who have been treated with stimulants are no more likely to develop substance use issues than children with unmedicated ADHD.

Great strides have been made - including this year’s World Health Day Initiative on October 10th “Mental Health Is a Universal Human Right.” But we still have a long way to go. Mental health parity is a work in progress, and the global mental health crisis is on the rise.

In order to fully understand ADHD, we need to first understand the myths. Let’s start with the name – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – a technical name that can come with a lot of myths, stigma and anxiety.