A WA parliamentary question seeks data on stimulant medication prescriptions for ADHD in children and adults, comparing WA figures to the national average and inquiring about recent data and briefings on the issue. The Minister for Health provides specific percentages and confirms the data's currency.

AnsweredQoN 1103Legislative Council
Asked
25 November 2004
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

(1) What percentage of children aged 17 years and under in Western Australia are currently prescribed stimulant medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and how does this compare with the national average of 1.2 per cent? (2) What percentage of adults aged 18 years and over in Western Australia are currently prescribed stimulant medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder? (3) Are the figures provided in answer to (1) and (2) more recent than July 2003, when stricter reporting levels were introduced? (4) Has the Department of Health recently provided information at a doctor’s briefing on this issue that implied that 1.6 per cent of Western Australian children are being prescribed stimulant medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder? Hon SUE ELLERY

AnswerView source ↗

(1) As at 25 November 2004, 1.8 per cent of children 17 years and under in WA have been notified as requiring treatment with stimulant medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The population data used to calculate this percentage is based on 2003 Australian Bureau of Statistics figures. (2) As at 25 November 2004, 0.4 per cent of adults 18 years and over in WA have been notified as requiring treatment with stimulant medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The population data used to calculate this percentage is based on 2003 Australian Bureau of Statistics figures. (3) Yes. (4) The Department of Health held workshops for paediatricians and psychiatrists on 18 and 19 October 2004 respectively. The medical practitioners at these workshops were provided with preliminary data from information received on notification forms relating to the stimulant regulatory scheme for the period 1 August 2003 to 25 August 2004. The figure of 1.6 per cent may have been derived from the information provided.
(2) What percentage of adults aged 18 years and over in Western Australia are currently prescribed stimulant medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder? (3) Are the figures provided in answer to (1) and (2) more recent than July 2003, when stricter reporting levels were introduced? (4) Has the Department of Health recently provided information at a doctor’s briefing on this issue that implied that 1.6 per cent of Western Australian children are being prescribed stimulant medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: (1) As at 25 November 2004, 1.8 per cent of children 17 years and under in WA have been notified as requiring treatment with stimulant medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The population data used to calculate this percentage is based on 2003 Australian Bureau of Statistics figures. (2) As at 25 November 2004, 0.4 per cent of adults 18 years and over in WA have been notified as requiring treatment with stimulant medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The population data used to calculate this percentage is based on 2003 Australian Bureau of Statistics figures. (3) Yes. (4) The Department of Health held workshops for paediatricians and psychiatrists on 18 and 19 October 2004 respectively. The medical practitioners at these workshops were provided with preliminary data from information received on notification forms relating to the stimulant regulatory scheme for the period 1 August 2003 to 25 August 2004. The figure of 1.6 per cent may have been derived from the information provided.
(3) Are the figures provided in answer to (1) and (2) more recent than July 2003, when stricter reporting levels were introduced? (4) Has the Department of Health recently provided information at a doctor’s briefing on this issue that implied that 1.6 per cent of Western Australian children are being prescribed stimulant medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: (1) As at 25 November 2004, 1.8 per cent of children 17 years and under in WA have been notified as requiring treatment with stimulant medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The population data used to calculate this percentage is based on 2003 Australian Bureau of Statistics figures. (2) As at 25 November 2004, 0.4 per cent of adults 18 years and over in WA have been notified as requiring treatment with stimulant medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The population data used to calculate this percentage is based on 2003 Australian Bureau of Statistics figures. (3) Yes. (4) The Department of Health held workshops for paediatricians and psychiatrists on 18 and 19 October 2004 respectively. The medical practitioners at these workshops were provided with preliminary data from information received on notification forms relating to the stimulant regulatory scheme for the period 1 August 2003 to 25 August 2004. The figure of 1.6 per cent may have been derived from the information provided.
(4) Has the Department of Health recently provided information at a doctor’s briefing on this issue that implied that 1.6 per cent of Western Australian children are being prescribed stimulant medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: (1) As at 25 November 2004, 1.8 per cent of children 17 years and under in WA have been notified as requiring treatment with stimulant medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The population data used to calculate this percentage is based on 2003 Australian Bureau of Statistics figures. (2) As at 25 November 2004, 0.4 per cent of adults 18 years and over in WA have been notified as requiring treatment with stimulant medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The population data used to calculate this percentage is based on 2003 Australian Bureau of Statistics figures. (3) Yes. (4) The Department of Health held workshops for paediatricians and psychiatrists on 18 and 19 October 2004 respectively. The medical practitioners at these workshops were provided with preliminary data from information received on notification forms relating to the stimulant regulatory scheme for the period 1 August 2003 to 25 August 2004. The figure of 1.6 per cent may have been derived from the information provided.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: (1) As at 25 November 2004, 1.8 per cent of children 17 years and under in WA have been notified as requiring treatment with stimulant medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The population data used to calculate this percentage is based on 2003 Australian Bureau of Statistics figures. (2) As at 25 November 2004, 0.4 per cent of adults 18 years and over in WA have been notified as requiring treatment with stimulant medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The population data used to calculate this percentage is based on 2003 Australian Bureau of Statistics figures. (3) Yes. (4) The Department of Health held workshops for paediatricians and psychiatrists on 18 and 19 October 2004 respectively. The medical practitioners at these workshops were provided with preliminary data from information received on notification forms relating to the stimulant regulatory scheme for the period 1 August 2003 to 25 August 2004. The figure of 1.6 per cent may have been derived from the information provided.
(1) As at 25 November 2004, 1.8 per cent of children 17 years and under in WA have been notified as requiring treatment with stimulant medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The population data used to calculate this percentage is based on 2003 Australian Bureau of Statistics figures. (2) As at 25 November 2004, 0.4 per cent of adults 18 years and over in WA have been notified as requiring treatment with stimulant medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The population data used to calculate this percentage is based on 2003 Australian Bureau of Statistics figures. (3) Yes. (4) The Department of Health held workshops for paediatricians and psychiatrists on 18 and 19 October 2004 respectively. The medical practitioners at these workshops were provided with preliminary data from information received on notification forms relating to the stimulant regulatory scheme for the period 1 August 2003 to 25 August 2004. The figure of 1.6 per cent may have been derived from the information provided.
(2) As at 25 November 2004, 0.4 per cent of adults 18 years and over in WA have been notified as requiring treatment with stimulant medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The population data used to calculate this percentage is based on 2003 Australian Bureau of Statistics figures. (3) Yes. (4) The Department of Health held workshops for paediatricians and psychiatrists on 18 and 19 October 2004 respectively. The medical practitioners at these workshops were provided with preliminary data from information received on notification forms relating to the stimulant regulatory scheme for the period 1 August 2003 to 25 August 2004. The figure of 1.6 per cent may have been derived from the information provided.
(3) Yes. (4) The Department of Health held workshops for paediatricians and psychiatrists on 18 and 19 October 2004 respectively. The medical practitioners at these workshops were provided with preliminary data from information received on notification forms relating to the stimulant regulatory scheme for the period 1 August 2003 to 25 August 2004. The figure of 1.6 per cent may have been derived from the information provided.
(4) The Department of Health held workshops for paediatricians and psychiatrists on 18 and 19 October 2004 respectively. The medical practitioners at these workshops were provided with preliminary data from information received on notification forms relating to the stimulant regulatory scheme for the period 1 August 2003 to 25 August 2004. The figure of 1.6 per cent may have been derived from the information provided.

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