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Data from data.ct.gov.<\/p>\nIn third grade, Christian Smith struggled with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He was having trouble paying attention in class and had a lot of excess energy which led to him being clinically diagnosed.<\/p>\n
Smith, of Wilton, said he took a stimulant medication that his doctor prescribed but stopped shortly after because of the reactions he had.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I first started taking ADHD medication, it caused me not to eat, increased my anxiety exponentially and caused anger outbursts,\u201d said Smith, now a psychology student at the University of Massachusetts.<\/p>\n
Then, in August 2024, he started taking stimulant medication again because he had trouble focusing, and it has worked for him since.<\/p>\n
State data shows that more Connecticut residents are being prescribed stimulants, such as Ritalin and Adderall. Stimulants, which are the most widely prescribed medication for ADHD, work by increasing the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain.<\/p>\n
From 2022 to 2024, stimulant prescriptions issued in Connecticut increased by 13.2 percent, according to data from the state.<\/p>\n
In 2022, the top five stimulants totaled 987,957 prescriptions. By 2024, they totaled 1,118,829. That\u2019s an increase of 130,872 between 2022 and 2024. In the first three quarters of 2025, the top five stimulant prescriptions amounted to 912,255.<\/p>\n
Data from data.ct.gov.<\/p>\n
Smith said that the ADHD medications still have their ups and downs.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince I have started taking stimulants again, I have been able to focus on tasks, but the downside is I am still not eating as much as I should,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Although Smith agrees the medication helps him, he added that it\u2019s not the best for everyone.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never been supportive of just giving people medication,\u201d Smith said. \u201cFirstly, you are just throwing pills at people and having them sign the paper. Secondly, the effects of the pill will wear off eventually, but having the disorder will never wear off so it\u2019s easier if you learn how to work with the disorder.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smith added that even if he doesn\u2019t like the medication, he still needs it to get certain things done.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have constant tasks that I need to do every single day that I need to stay on top of. If I don\u2019t take my medication, those tasks will fall and if I wanted to go off the medication, it would be harder for me to get through what I need to get done.\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Smith added that he does not take his prescription all the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t always need to be on medication,\u201d he said. \u201cUsually if I\u2019m not doing something important at that moment, I don\u2019t really take it.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Demographic](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769728682_886_image.png\")
Demographic data for the third quarter of 2025 from data.ct.gov<\/p>\n
Dr. Kimberly Soule, a licensed psychologist in Westport, said that therapy can help patients with ADHD.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt depends on the phase of life a person is in,\u201d she said. \u201cFor someone entering middle school, they might not understand executive functioning so helping them with organizational skills would be helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Soule added that older students may need help with other things, too.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they are in college, they might not need help with executive functioning, so helping them prioritize certain things or helping them with impulse control may be more beneficial,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Soule also said that sometimes ADHD can be misdiagnosed.<\/p>\n
\u201cPart of my role is to do assessments and evaluations to determine whether a person has ADHD or if it is something else like anxiety, because sometimes you have trouble focusing when you\u2019re nervous or depressed,\u201d Soule said.<\/p>\n
She added that with ADHD, the combination of medication and therapy can help.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s ideal if someone is on medication and is also receiving therapy because you can help the person with skills to not have them solely rely on the medication,\u201d Soule said.<\/p>\n
Medication has its strengths, Dr. Hassan Minhas, a psychiatrist in Stamford, said.<\/p>\n
Two of the top stimulant medications Minhas prescribes are Ritalin and Adderall for both short- and long-acting help with focus.<\/p>\n
In Connecticut, Ritalin, known as methylphenidate, was prescribed 195,671 times in 2022 and 224,111 times in 2024. That is an increase of 14.5 percent. Adderall, or dextroamphetamine, was prescribed 476,541 times in 2022 and 531,172 times in 2024, an increase of 11.4 percent.<\/p>\n
Minhas confirms he has seen an increase in prescriptions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn my experience, more clients are on stimulants,\u201d Minhas said. \u201cThis is likely due to an increase in awareness of ADHD treatments, but also likely in part due to over-prescribing of stimulants.\u201d<\/p>\n
Minhas said there was a shortage in stimulant prescription medications<\/a>, including Adderall and Vyvanse, between 2022 and 2023.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is likely a combination of higher prescribing, supply-chain issues and manufacturing not being able to keep up,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n Minhas added that they have backup plans for certain medication.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen shortages like that happen, it is important to have a second and sometimes third option for patients who really need stimulants, when their particular stimulant is not available,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He said patients had to shop around to more pharmacies during the shortage.<\/p>\n Minhas added that he has some concerns about increased stimulant use.<\/p>\n \u201cStimulant medication is very addicting, and stimulant abuse is dangerous and problematic, psychiatrically and medically,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n