America ’s pre-teens and teens more than doubled their use of type 2 diabetes medications between 2002 and 2005, with girls between 10 and 14 years of age showing a 166% increase.  In addition to diabetes, the study found that utilization patterns for blood pressure, cholesterol, attention-deficit disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD), asthma and depression medications increased at varying levels during the four year period.  

“Our study findings indicate that these increased levels of chronic medication use are symptoms of broader underlying issues affecting children today,” cautions investigator Emily R. Cox, PhD, RPh. “These trends are worrisome given that many of these therapies are treating conditions with modifiable risk factors and if not addressed, many of these children will carry these chronic conditions into adulthood.”

Pediatrics – November 2008.

www.pediatrics.org