Racial Differences in Medication Use in a National Sample of Children with ADHD Enrolled in Special Education

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent of medication use among elementary school students in special education diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In addition, researchers sought to understand whether the frequency of medication use varied by demographic factors such as ethnic group and age. Participants were children enrolled in the nationally representative Special Education Elementary Longitudinal Study. Results indicate that significant discrepancies exist between African-American children and their other-race counterparts in ADHD medication use. Additionally, younger children were more likely to take medication than older children, and the higher the parents' educational level, the more likely their children took medication. Implications for ADHD treatment among racially diverse populations are discussed.