The Journal. For Many Kids on ADHD Pills, It’s the Start of a Drug Cascade
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Jan 23, 2026 
Shalini Ramachandran, a Wall Street Journal reporter who led the investigation, explains data linking early ADHD meds to later psychiatric prescriptions. Nancy Gansky, a mother reflecting on treatment choices, shares her regrets. Danielle Gansky, who lived decades on stimulants and psychiatric drugs, recounts highs, crashes, withdrawal and slow tapering. They discuss prescribing practices, lack of research on drug combinations, and barriers to therapy.
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Medication Journey Began At Age Seven
- Danielle was diagnosed with ADHD at age seven and began taking stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall.
- Over years she accumulated antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and antipsychotics into a long medication list.
ADHD Medication Strongly Correlates With Polypharmacy
- WSJ analysis found kids on ADHD meds were more than five times as likely to be on additional psychiatric drugs four years later.
- The correlation was stronger for children who started ADHD medication at very young ages.
Stimulant 'Crashes' Led To More Prescriptions
- Danielle described stimulant 'crashes' that made her moody and agitated at day's end.
- Those side effects led doctors to add antidepressants and other drugs to treat new symptoms.