Experts offer theories on why WA is 'wild west' for ADHD prescriptions
Western Australia has some of the highest rates of ADHD medication prescriptions in Australia, with seven of the top 10 prescribing areas located in Perth and the southern region. Experts attribute the high rates to early advocacy efforts in the 1990s that improved awareness and recognition of ADHD in the state. Despite this, structural gaps in public mental health services have led to a reliance on medication as a primary treatment method.
- ▪Western Australia accounts for seven of Australia’s 10 highest ADHD medication-prescribing areas, with Fremantle having the highest rate.
- ▪Early advocacy by a multidisciplinary group in the 1990s helped establish ADHD WA and increased public awareness of ADHD in the state.
- ▪A 2001 parliamentary inquiry found WA’s reliance on stimulant medication stemmed from a shortage of multidisciplinary health services and economic barriers to alternative treatments.
- ▪Medical professionals note that many adult patients seeking ADHD assessments today were likely diagnosed as children during periods of increased medication use.
- ▪The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists has raised concerns about the adequacy of public psychiatric services for ADHD in WA.
- ▪There has been a 30 per cent increase in ADHD medication prescriptions nationally since 2021, with some Perth areas now seeing over 6 per cent of adults on medication.
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| Publication time | Tue, 28 Apr 2026 21:15:19 +0000 |
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Why WA's unique history has it leading the pack on ADHD medication prescriptionsDBy Daryna ZadvirnaMBy Madigan LandryTopic:ADHDWed 29 Apr 2026 at 7:15amWed 29 Apr 2026 at 7:15amWed 29 Apr 2026 at 7:15amWestern Australia has seven of the top-10 highest areas for ADHD medication prescriptions. (ABC News: Adam Kennedy)abc.net.au/news/adhd-medication-prescriptions-high-in-western-australia-explain/106610292Link copiedShareShare articlePerth and southern Western Australia account for seven of Australia's 10 highest ADHD-prescribing neighbourhoods, raising questions about why rates are so concentrated in the west.Nationally, ADHD affects about 2.5 to 3 per cent of adults, but data sourced from the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS) shows more than 4 per cent in some Perth areas are being…
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