The NHS recently reported an increase in prescribed medicine for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) over the past year, with 278,000 patients prescribed – a rise of 27.7% in adults compared to the previous year. However, this increase in patient prescription demands has been met with warnings from the Department of Health and Social Care (DH), which has reported mass manufacturing issues behind the ongoing shortages of ADHD drugs lasting for months with no clear end in sight.
Due to these medication supply lines being unable to meet rising demand, this has left many diagnosed patients in the lurch and forced to go without necessary medical assistance. The NHS has even admitted it would take 8-9 years to address the backlog of waiting lists for ADHD diagnosis. Interim support for ADHD patients is needed to help safeguard them, especially if these drug shortages continue to go unaddressed for the long term.
Learning from outside the UK
Many in the UK are feeling let down by the lack of services with traditional healthcare already, regardless of the current strain on prescription resources. Turning outside the UK could hold the answer for education around ADHD diagnosis and support. Whilst not a complete replacement for medication, tailored ADHD management programmes and strategies have been proven to help individuals by bringing a sense of structure and routine to potentially scattered minds. This support works on a case-by-case basis, ideally supplemented with accessible therapy to help keep patients on track.
These strategies are taught in ADHD CBT programmes and are already approved by private healthcare systems worldwide, such as in the Netherlands and The United States. CBT programmes are proven methods for supporting ADHD symptoms but lack proliferation across the wider UK healthcare system. As they can be practised pre- or post-diagnosis, and while taking or waiting for assistive medication, this can help alleviate stress on NHS mental health resources across the country.
Lowering the barrier of entry to ADHD understanding
Even when available, ADHD help is often not ADHD-friendly. Surging numbers of people are looking to access limited resources, often locked behind technical, scientific vocabulary that just simply isn’t useful for the average person. Providing more accessible frameworks for ADHD management – informed by comprehensive expert research – lowers the number of obstacles patients may feel concerning maintaining their mental health.
Technology can now cost-effectively provide access to management and support tools needed. This includes not just coaching and self-study resources, but accessible clinician platforms to find specialist ADHD therapists. A holistic digital platform solution can provide that needed ADHD support, combining therapy, teaching and education all in one place.
Regardless of the ongoing ADHD prescription crisis, more and more people need help with wider non-clinical attention issues. ADHD management platforms, designed for ADHD and attention-deficit brains, can benefit anyone struggling with attention. The technology already exists to better manage neurodiversity and attention disorders – so long as people know where to look. Dom Longford, CEO of Cog ADHD