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 2020, extracted January 2021. 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 6,155,852
0-5 Years 418,425
Age Breakdown:
0-1 Years 85,003
2-3 Years 138,822
4-5 Years 215,120
6-12 Years 2,652,554
13-17 Years 3,188,966
ADHD Drugs 0-17 Years 3,155,441
0-5 Years 58,091
Age Breakdown:
0-1 Years 310
2-3 Years 1,300
4-5 Years 57,010
6-12 Years 1,750,481
13-17 Years 1,409,438
Antidepressants 0-17 Years 2,154,118
0-5 Years 35,216
Age Breakdown:
0-1 Years 7,811
2-3 Years 12,137
4-5 Years 18,911
6-12 Years 543,120
13-17 Years 1,605,375
Antipsychotics 0-17 Years 829,372
0-5 Years 30,632
Age Breakdown:
0-1 Years 1,318
2-3 Years 7,873
4-5 Years 22,180
6-12 Years 304,754
13-17 Years 502,372
Anti-anxiety Drugs 0-17 Years 1,153,351
0-5 Years 233,125
Age Breakdown:
0-1 Years 60,068
2-3 Years 89,453
4-5 Years 90,716
6-12 Years 357,976
13-17 Years 571,210
Mood Stabilizers 0-17 Years 794,715
0-5 Years 100,233
Age Breakdown:
0-1 Years 21,593
2-3 Years 36,986
4-5 Years 50,206
6-12 Years 289,262
13-17 Years 419,221
SOURCE: IQVia Total Patient Tracker (TPT) Database, Year 2020, Extracted January 2021.
For more information including non-drug, non-harmful medical alternatives visit, Parents: Get the Facts—Know Your Rights
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