Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is becoming a condition that family members are treated for together: Parents of children taking ADHD medication are about nine times more likely to also use the drugs than parents of children who aren’t on these drugs, according to a prescription analysis out today…

The upsurge in adults seeking treatment is partly a result of consumer advertising by drug companies, says behavioral pediatrician Lawrence Diller of Walnut Creek, Calif.
He says genetics alone doesn’t explain the overlap between parents and children taking ADHD drugs; environment can play a key role. Disorganized parents may find it more difficult to manage children with attention problems by using behavioral techniques, Diller says. So these parents may be more likely to choose medication for their children…

“No wonder these women feel distracted and overwhelmed,” Diller says. “I’m not sure if the Ritalin is treating their ADHD or allowing them to act as superwomen in our demanding culture.”

Source: USA TODAY
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-09-27-adhd-drugs_x.htm