Parents Talk: Too Much ADHD?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that about 1 in 5 high-school-age boys in the USA and 11 percent of school-age children overall have received a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, more commonly referred to as ADHD. An estimated 6.4 million children ages 4 through 17 had received an ADHD diagnosis at some point in their lives, a 16 percent increase since 2007 and a 53 percent rise in the past decade, according to a March 31 New York Times article.  The majority of those said to have ADHD are prescribed medications such as Ritalin or Adderall. While these medications can drastically help ADHD patients, there are other risks associated with them, such as addiction and sharing or selling pills to classmates. Even people with just traces of ADHD can benefit from the drugs, without regard for the health risks, by improving focus and drive, according to some doctors. Is ADHD over-diagnosed? Is taking an ADHD medication the "shortcut to getting good grades"? Tell us below in the comments area.