There have been articles debating whether Ritalin is over or under prescribed. When people ask me about this, I tell them that I can only answer for the children and adults that I have evaluated or treated. Yes, there probably are some individuals who have received medication when some other treatment might have been better. On the other hand, there are probably others who were not been diagnosed for years and could have benefited from medication.
Medication can be quite helpful if prescribed in the right context.
First the individual needs a thorough evaluation. If medication is prescribed, it should be followed closely. Small changes in timing and size of doses can make a difference. Although Ritalin is the best known medication for ADHD, there are a number of other useful medications. For individuals who have an incomplete response to one medication, the doctor can often work with the patient to find another medication or combination that does control symptoms.