In 2011, approximately 11 percent, or 6.4 million children between the ages of four and seventeen, were diagnosed with a condition called ADHD. These numbers have continued to increase, from 7.8% in 2003, 9.5% in 2007 and now to 11% in 2011. The number of children receiving medication to treat their ADHD has also continued to increase. increase. The percentage of children ages four to seventeen taking ADHD medications, such as Adderall and Ritalin, increased from 4.8 percent in 2007 to 6.1 percent in 2011. These growing numbers have led to overdiagnosis in many children in the United States. Many doctors, parents, and schools turn to medications to treat ADHD because they believe it is the best way to treat this condition. In reality, these medications are overprescribed and given to children because their parents and teachers do not want to deal with the immature behaviors that typically accompany youth. There are many other alternative treatments that can be combined to safely treat ADHD, which cost less and have less effect on these children into adulthood. (" Data &… "). Doctors say that when diagnosing a child with ADHD, it is a process that involves several steps. First, they must focus on examining symptoms and deciding whether there is a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is impeding normal functioning and development. In order to consider a child inattentive, they must have at least six symptoms of inattention if they are under sixteen years old, or five or more symptoms if they are seventeen years old or older. These symptoms must have been present for at least six months and considered inappropriate for their developmental level. Some symptoms of inattention include inability... middle of paper ... stopping (Cohen). The controversy surrounding ADHD will likely never be resolved. As doctors hand out lifelong diagnoses, which can have effects throughout adulthood, something must be done. Overprescribing ADHD medications, most of which are unnecessary, will only cause problems for children who are given these medications to moderate their behavior. Giving medication to children who may not even have ADHD as a simple treatment is not a solution to a behavioral problem that will last throughout their lives. Overprescribing medications hinders the abilities and opportunities of children who don't really need them. The number of people with ADHD continues to grow, and as doctors continue to issue prescriptions without proper evaluation, people taking medication to control their behavior may not be the only solution...