[neilparikh]

The real answer (IMO) is that ADHD is both under-diagnosed and over-diagnosed. I know many people who would benefit from a ADHD diagnosis, but aren't diagnosed yet, and just kind of struggle through as best as they can. On the flip side, it's also somewhat common for people to be diagnosed incorrectly (either due an over eager doctor, or because they sought out the diagnosis to get the drug).

So really, it's a question of improving accuracy overall, not just "let's make things stricter" (which would make it even harder from those are not diagnosed yet).

(I know you mentioned prescribing, not diagnosing, but I think it's a broader issue beyond just the drug).

[spiralx]

Adults, females and minorities are all under-diagnosed compared to the estimated 2-4% of the population with ADHD. And I'd guess that diagnosis rates are higher across the board in the USA than elsewhere - I read the other day only 1 in 1,000 adults in Scotland have been diagnosed with ADHD, at least an order of magnitude fewer than those who would benefit from it.

https://www.additudemag.com/statistics-of-adhd/