A dramatic increase in the number of Danish adults on ADHD medication in just a few years is driving a trend that has experts concerned about potential overdiagnosis and overmedication.

More than 130,000 Danes are now on ADHD medication - surprisingly many are adults

Animation: Mads D'Alterio Djervig.
Listen to the articleLæst op af Anders Legarth Schmidt
22:50

Look at the graphics in this article and follow the curve from left to right. At first, it rises steadily year after year. But around 2018, something starts to happen. The curve bends upward to become almost vertical in 2023 and 2024.

The graph transforms into a skateboard ramp, illustrating so-called exponential growth. Here, the increase year by year becomes more extreme.

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