CRC concluding observations 2016, paragraph 63
Plain English recommendation
Government should: (a) Collect and publish data on psychotropic drugs (Ritalin, Concerta etc.) prescribed to children. (b) Ensure drugs are prescribed as a last resort, following an individual assessment of the best interests of the child. Properly inform children and their parents about the side effects of such treatments and about non-medical alternatives. (c) Monitor the diagnosis of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders. Examine the root causes of any increase in diagnoses.
Original UN recommendation
63. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Regularly collect data on the amount and regularity of psychotropic drugs (Ritalin, Concerta, etc.) being prescribed to children, and make the data transparent; (b) Ensure that the prescription of drugs is used as a measure of last resort and only after an individualized assessment of the best interests of that child, and that children and their parents are properly informed about the possible side effects of such medical treatment and about non-medical alternatives; (c) Establish a system of independent expert monitoring of diagnoses of or related to attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders, and undertake a study on the root causes of their increase, also aimed at improving the accuracy of diagnoses.
Date of UN examination
23/05/2016
UN article number
24 (health and health services), 25 (review of treatment in care)
Original UN document
Download the original CRC concluding observations 2016 on the UN website