5 Live Investigates

5 live Investigates speaks exclusively to head teachers who claim stimulants are being over-prescribed to young children. They are raising the alarm on what they say is "over-prescription" of powerful medication to children from dysfunctional families, who have behavioural problems which make them "extremely naughty" - but who they suspect are not actually sufferers of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The number of prescriptions written for young people suffering from ADHD is skyrocketing, with around 420,000 issued for 16-17 year olds alone in 2007. ADHD is a serious psychiatric condition and amphetamine drugs are proven to help, but are children who don't need medication also ending up on powerful drugs that have major side effects? Teachers and psychologists tell the programme how some parents, struggling with difficult children and motivated by the benefits they could receive on Disability Living Allowance, seem to be pushing for a diagnosis of ADHD. They paint a picture in which school