For more than two decades, the word “Ritalin” seemed to be almost synonymous with ADHD. For parents, teachers, doctors, and students, the drug became a symbol of one of the most prominent medical and social phenomena in Israel. However, it turns out that reality has changed dramatically.
A new study by the Ministry of Health, to be presented at the annual conference of the National Institute for Health Policy Research on June 10, reveals that the consumption of ADHD medications in Israel spiked by 98 percent between 2020 and 2025. In other words, within just five years, the amount of medications consumed in Israel has almost doubled.
But the most interesting figure is not necessarily the increase in the volume of use. Behind the numbers lies another quiet revolution: Ritalin and similar drugs that led the field for decades are losing their status, and new drugs from the amphetamine family are taking their place.
In almost every classroom in Israel
ADHD is currently considered one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in the world. It is characterized by difficulties in concentration, organizational difficulties, impulsivity, and sometimes also hyperactivity.
In Israel, as in many Western countries, the number of diagnosed individuals is on a continuous upward trend. Many children are diagnosed as early as elementary school age, and in recent years there has also been an increase in the number of adults diagnosed for the first time at a later age.
The result is that more and more Israelis are receiving drug treatment as part of their daily coping with the disorder. According to the study data, this is currently one of the fastest-growing areas of treatment in the healthcare system.
End of the Ritalin era?
For many years, methylphenidate preparations dominated the market for ADHD medications. Well–known drugs such as Ritalin, Concerta, and Medikinet belong to this group.
In 2020, these drugs held about 75 percent of the total market. However, within just five years, the picture changed completely. According to the study, in 2025, the share of methylphenidate drugs dropped to just 33 percent of the entire market.
At the same time, amphetamine–based drugs recorded an unprecedented surge. Attent and Adderall recorded an increase of 675 percent and became the leading drug group in Israel with about 40 percent of the market. Focalin also recorded a surge of 569 percent, while Vyvanse rose by 181 percent.
In total, amphetamine–based drugs currently account for 56 percent of the entire ADHD drug market in Israel. This is a significant turnaround in the world of attention disorder treatment, as for decades methylphenidate preparations were considered the primary line of treatment.
What is the reason for the dramatic spike in the use of attention disorder medications?
The Ministry of Health is still trying to understand the exact reasons for the change. “We monitor the amount of ADHD medications entering Israel over the years and clearly see the increase and the change in the types of drugs,” says Royi Rokach, one of the study’s leaders, coordinator of pharmaceutical and drug imports at the Pharmacy Department of the Ministry of Health.
According to him, one of the central questions is whether the increase stems from a growth in the number of patients or from the use of higher dosages. “We are currently checking with the health funds whether this is an increase in the number of prescriptions or whether the increase stems mainly from increasing the dosages given to patients,” he explains.
The study was conducted by Eli Marom, Dr. Israel Fitoussi Taieb, Victoria Finkel-Pekarsky, Dr. Miri Cohen-Kandli, and Miri Trainin from the Ministry of Health.
According to the researchers, several processes may be occurring simultaneously. On the one hand, more children are diagnosed at a young age. On the other hand, more adults receive a diagnosis for the first time at a later age. In addition, public awareness of ADHD is much higher today than in the past, leading to an increased turnover for diagnosis and treatment.
The public debate returns
The new data is published against the backdrop of a lively public debate that has been ongoing for years surrounding the use of ADHD medications, especially among children. Just last week, Minister of Education Yoav Kisch addressed the issue in an interview for the program “Sari and Schlesinger” at the Walla studio.
Kisch claimed that Israeli society has gone from one extreme to another regarding drug treatment. “In my eyes, this is a grave mistake and we need to stop with it,” he said. “We have become a culture that for every minor problem, we blast the kids with Ritalin. In our time, we were in under–treatment, and in this period, we are in over–treatment.”
When asked whether children are currently receiving medications unnecessarily, he replied: “Today there are cases where there are children who should not be given any. I am telling you again, you asked me about our time, there was under–treatment, today there is over–treatment.”
His words reflect a concern shared by some parents, educators, and professionals.
The central question is whether the sharp growth in the number of patients reflects a better diagnosis of children and adults who in the past did not receive a response, or whether it is a broader trend of over–medicalization.
Not just a pill
Alongside the debate, most experts agree that for many people suffering from ADHD, drug treatment can significantly improve the quality of life, academic achievements, and daily functioning.
However, experts emphasize that optimal treatment does not amount to a drug alone. A professional and comprehensive diagnosis, emotional support when necessary, accommodations in the education system, parental guidance, and behavioral interventions are an integral part of the treatment.
The researchers note that the sharp increase in the scope of drug use requires an in–depth examination of the diagnostic processes, prescription writing, and patient follow–up.
Questions that still have no answer
The new data raises a series of questions that the healthcare system will be required to address in the coming years.
• Does every patient indeed undergo a thorough and comprehensive diagnosis?• Is the choice of a specific drug always based on medical considerations alone?• Is there enough follow–up on long–term effects?• What is the economic impact of the mass shift to new and more expensive drugs?
“The rapid growth in national consumption alongside the shift to preparations with a different pharmacological profile requires regulatory follow–up on the appropriateness of diagnosis, prescription writing, and the examination of long–term clinical and economic implications,” the researchers conclude.
The new data is expected to reignite one of the most sensitive debates in the healthcare system and the education system: Whether Israel is succeeding in better identifying and treating people with ADHD, or whether it is gradually becoming a society that rushes faster and faster to seek solutions inside a medicine box.
Source:
www.jpost.com
