The Current Prescription surge of ADHD meds across Canada
Mar 10, 2026
Mina Tadros, associate professor and lead researcher on rising stimulant prescriptions in Ontario. Isabella Hay, a young adult who found diagnosis and treatment through social media. They discuss social media’s role in recognition, the post-pandemic jump in virtual prescribing, gendered diagnosis patterns, and concerns about rapid assessments and commercial incentives driving prescriptions.
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Young Woman's Fast ADHD Diagnosis And Impact
- Isabella Hay was diagnosed with ADHD at 23 after describing lifelong anxiety and executive-function struggles to a new psychologist.
- A psychiatrist quickly recognized symptoms like persistent fidgeting and task-initiation problems, leading to a fast diagnosis and Vyvanse prescription.
Medication Restored Routine And Mood
- Isabella credits medication with major improvements in mood and daily functioning by enabling task completion and routines.
- She specifically reports better hygiene, gym attendance, and breaking big tasks into manageable steps after starting Vyvanse.
Postpandemic Doubling Of Adult Stimulant Prescriptions
- Ontario adult stimulant prescriptions more than doubled since the pandemic with the sharpest rise right after the first lockdown.
- The increase is concentrated in 18–34-year-olds, especially women, reaching about 1 in 50 in that age group.