Use of ADHD drugs surges among Korean youths, raising safety concerns

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications, often nicknamed “study drugs” for their perceived effect on concentration, are drawing intense interest among students and parents in Korea.

ADHD medications are designed to manage symptoms of hyperactivity and inattention in diagnosed patients. However, their reputation as concentration-enhancing drugs has fueled demand among otherwise healthy teenagers and adults, raising the risk of misuse and abuse.

While prescriptions for children and adolescents have risen steadily over the past three years, hundreds of adverse reactions have also been reported, raising concerns over gaps in safety management for young patients.

According to data submitted to Rep. Seo Mi-hwa of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee, prescriptions for ADHD drugs in patients aged 19 and under reached 3.35 million between 2022 and 2024.

Notably, 1.37 million prescriptions were issued to minors in 2024, marking a 21.9 percent increase from the previous year. These figures reflect only reimbursed prescriptions for treatment purposes.

Over the same period, 278 cases of adverse drug reactions were reported. Among the 83 cases with available age data, 47 cases, or 56.6 percent, involved patients under 19. The most frequently reported side effects were loss of appetite (49 cases), insomnia (30), nausea and vomiting (21), palpitations (12), irritability (7), tics (7), headache (5), and dizziness (5).

The prescription data also revealed demographic patterns. Male patients accounted for 78.6 percent of prescriptions, far outnumbering female patients at 26.8 percent.

Geographically, prescriptions were concentrated in the capital region, with Seoul and Gyeonggi Province together accounting for just over half of the total.

“Growing awareness of ADHD treatment is a positive development, but as prescriptions increase, it is essential to ensure a safe treatment environment for those who genuinely need medication,” Seo said. “We must strengthen drug management systems to reduce misuse of controlled substances and guarantee safe prescribing for the public.”