The following information is the most accurate and documented data available on psychiatric drug usage in the United States. The information is from IQVia (formerly IMS Health), a company that provides information, services and technology for the healthcare industry. It is the largest vendor of U.S. physician prescribing data. The following data was taken from the IQVia Total Patient Tracker Database for Year 2019, extracted February 2020. To see drug regulatory agency warnings, studies and documented side effects of the psychiatric drugs prescribed to children, click hyperlinks below in blue (i.e., ADHD Drugs, Antidepressants, Antipsychotics, etc).
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Drug Class: Age Group: Number of People:
All Psychiatric Drugs 0-17 Years 6,726,189
0-5 Years 530,169
Age Breakdown:
0-1 Years 106,678
2-3 Years 184,256
4-5 Years 263,363
6-12 Years 2,963,924
13-17 Years 3,335,146
ADHD Drugs 0-17 Years 3,396,066
0-5 Years 68,588
Age Breakdown:
0-1 Years 338
2-3 Years 1,519
4-5 Years 67,261
6-12 Years 1,927,563
13-17 Years 1,471,894
Antidepressants 0-17 Years 2,148,971
0-5 Years 35,043
Age Breakdown:
0-1 Years 7,821
2-3 Years 11,174
4-5 Years 18,837
6-12 Years 560,477
13-17 Years 1,581,361
Antipsychotics 0-17 Years 1,022,918
0-5 Years 61,262
Age Breakdown:
0-1 Years 2,237
2-3 Years 20,325
4-5 Years 39,789
6-12 Years 392,211
13-17 Years 575,004
Anti-anxiety Drugs 0-17 Years 1,303,095
0-5 Years 305,792
Age Breakdown:
0-1 Years 80,290
2-3 Years 120,236
4-5 Years 114,618
6-12 Years 415,507
13-17 Years 589,349
Mood Stabilizers 0-17 Years 877,083
0-5 Years 109,908
Age Breakdown:
0-1 Years 23,075
2-3 Years 41,852
4-5 Years 53,517
6-12 Years 317,619
13-17 Years 464,326
Newer Generation 0-17 Years 756,652
Psychotherapeutics*
0-5 Years 14,717
Age Breakdown:
0-1 Years 58
2-3 Years 535
4-5 Years 14,279
6-12 Years 450,911
13-17 Years 303,168
*Includes drugs such as Strattera, Kapvay and Intuniv.
SOURCE: IQVia Total Patient Tracker (TPT) Database, Year 2019, Extracted February 2020.
For more information including non-drug, non-harmful medical alternatives visit, Parents: Get the Facts—Know Your Rights
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