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Attitudes About Stimulant Medication for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Among African American Families in an Inner City Community

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Abstract

Limited information exists on views among African American families living in low-income, inner-city communities regarding the treatment of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Parents of children treated for ADHD in an urban primary care setting were recruited to complete a survey to assess attitudes toward stimulant medications. Although most (71%) were initially hesitant to use stimulants based on what they heard in the lay press, 63% would recommend stimulant medication to a relative/friend whose child had ADHD. Approximately 17% believed stimulants led to drug abuse, 21% preferred counseling over medication, 21% felt medications had bad side effects, and 23% believed that too many children were medicated for ADHD. Most (90%) felt the medication was safe if a physician recommended it. Views did not differ between participants whose child had or had not received counseling. Additional studies are needed to clarify whether such views impact treatment choices and health outcomes.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are indebted to the nurses and administrative personnel whose assistance made this work possible. The authors also gratefully acknowledge Dori Makowske for assistance with the survey administration and data entry.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, CMSC 346, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA

    Susan dosReis PhD & Robin Chernoff MD

  2. Department of General Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 200 North Wolfe Street, Room 2051, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA

    Arlene Butz CRNP, ScD

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA

    Paul H. Lipkin MD

  4. The Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Paul H. Lipkin MD

  5. Division of Behavioral and Developmental Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 737 West Lombard Street, Suite 130, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA

    Julia S. Anixt MD

  6. Boston University, 38 Winchester Street, Brookline, MA, 02446, USA

    Courtney L. Weiner BS

  7. Children First Pediatrics, 5812 Johnson Avenue, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA

    Robin Chernoff MD

Authors
  1. Susan dosReis PhD
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  2. Arlene Butz CRNP, ScD
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  3. Paul H. Lipkin MD
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  4. Julia S. Anixt MD
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  5. Courtney L. Weiner BS
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  6. Robin Chernoff MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Susan dosReis PhD.

Additional information

This study was supported through a research grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (R03-MH58470; Dr. S. dosReis) and the Thomas Wilson Sanitarium for Children of Baltimore City (Dr. R. Chernoff).

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dosReis, S., Butz, A., Lipkin, P.H. et al. Attitudes About Stimulant Medication for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Among African American Families in an Inner City Community. J Behav Health Serv Res 33, 423–430 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-006-9038-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-006-9038-y

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