The groundbreaking account of the widespread misdiagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder-and how its unchecked growth has produced ADHD perhaps one of the most controversial conditions in medicine, with serious effects on children, adults, and society. “ADHD Country should be needed reading” (THE BRAND NEW York Times Book Review).

Several in seven American kids are identified as having ADHD-three instances what professionals have said is appropriate-meaning that an incredible number of kids are misdiagnosed and about ADHD Nation: Children, Doctors, Big Pharma, as well as the Making of the American Epidemic taking medications such as Adderall or Concerta for a psychiatric condition they probably don’t have. The figures rise every year. And still, many specialists and drug companies deny any trigger for concern. In fact, they say that adults and all of those other world should embrace ADHD and that its medicines will transform their lives.

“With this effective, necessary reserve, Alan Schwarz exposes the filthy secrets from the developing ADHD epidemic” (Kirkus Testimonials, starred review), including how the father of ADHD, Dr. Keith Conners, spent fifty years advocating medicines like Ritalin before realizing his role in what he today calls “a nationwide disaster of harmful proportions”; a troubled young lady and a studious teenage guy obtain entangled in the developing ADHD machine and take medications that backfire horribly; and big Pharma egregiously over-promotes the disorder and earns billions in the mishandling of children (and now adults).

While demonstrating that ADHD is real and may become medicated when appropriate, Schwarz noises a long-overdue security alarm and urges America to handle this growing national health turmoil. “ADHD Nation is normally a necessary reserve. Schwarz has done a fine job on a maddening subject, and everyone who’s interested in hyperactivity, interest spans, stimulants, and the existing state of American health care should get a duplicate” (New York magazine).