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May 12, 2025
Explore key insights from Dr. Vin Gupta’s latest public health town hall on ADHD, where he breaks down the evolving science, rising diagnosis rates, treatment options, and the critical role of environment and technology in youth mental health.
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On April 28, I held a second national public health town hall with the AFT and Share My Lesson, this time on the topic of youth mental health and attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder. Here are five important takeaways from that discussion:
More ADHD diagnoses are being made, despite less clarity on diagnostic criteria: While ADHD diagnoses are increasing dramatically across the country and in most age groups, uncertainty around what criteria should be used to render a diagnosis has never been greater. It was previously thought that blood tests or brain imaging would clearly reveal the underlying cause behind an individual’s ADHD diagnosis. Yet, no such test has been shown to accurately diagnose this condition. Checklists that evaluate for the presence of certain symptoms, like inattention or hyperactivity, are also under scrutiny for their accuracy.
If you have been diagnosed with ADHD, talk to your medical provider about whether they still think you have the condition and whether any prescribed medicines you might be taking, like Ritalin or Adderall, remain helpful to you. The more we learn about this condition, the more we realize that ADHD might manifest episodically for some people—days without symptoms interrupted by a stretch where symptoms are present and need to be managed. What is clear is that more people than ever before are on some form of treatment: Over the last 10 years, prescriptions have nearly quadrupled in the U.S. alone.
Changing your environment or lifestyle can positively improve your symptoms. Whether you are experiencing depression, anxiety or ADHD, non-medication options can work! Creating a more congenial family environment, focusing on outdoor activities, and avoiding overuse of technological tools can all help mitigate symptoms and improve overall mental health.
If you are on a medication like Ritalin or Adderall and are worried about side effects, like cold digits (Raynaud’s phenomenon), talk to your medical provider about nonstimulant options as treatments. In some cases, antidepressants can be utilized to treat ADHD, as can other categories of medications, especially if you are intolerant to the side effects from common treatment options.
Use of technology for social media can have detrimental impacts on young people’s mental health if not properly managed. It is important for parents to maintain open lines of communication with their children so they build the necessary skills and vigilance for their own safety and resilience. Further, for parents: Settling limits on their children’s use of social media and setting an example by modeling proper use of their own personal digital use are vital priorities as parents navigate their kids through this new world we live in.
Download the supplemental FAQ document for essential tips on supporting youth mental health and others in your community with ADHD.
Join Dr. Vin Gupta—pulmonologist, public health expert, and professor—for a yearlong series offering expert-led webinars, blogs, resources, and Q&A sessions on pressing health issues to help AFT members and communities stay informed and healthy. Access all on-demand town halls and register for the next one.
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