Disturbing ADHD deviations in Quebec: “We jump on the diagnosis and the pill more easily”

The percentage of young people who have received a diagnosis of ADHD varies a lot in Quebec and certain regions have up to two or three times more cases than in Montreal.

Bas-Saint-Laurent leads in the province with a rate of 7% among those under 24. For example, according to a study by the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (Inspq).

Conversely, barely 2.2% of children in the Montreal region received a diagnosis of attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADHD). In addition, The provincial average is 4%.

One thing is clear disturbing adhd deviations quebec: “we according to experts: the gap between Montreal and Eastern Quebec has nothing to do with the environment.

No more turbulent

“It’s really a big difference. Nevertheless, ” notes the D^r Pierre-Claude Poulin, a retired pediatrician who has always been interested in this subject. Therefore, I don’t think children in Bas-Saint-Laurent are more turbulent. Nevertheless, We jump on the diagnosis and on the pill more easily. However, ”

Dr Pierre-Claude Poulin, pediatrician at the Beauce-etchemin hospital center. Pierre-Claude Poulin courtesy photo Pierre-Claude Poulin

This is not disturbing adhd deviations quebec: “we the first time that Bas-Saint-Laurent has been the ADHD champion region. In 2023. a study had shown that a child in this region was twice as much as they were diagnosed with ADHD as a young Montrealer.

In its study, the INSPQ stresses that the total case is probably higher than what the data indicates. Only children who have received a diagnosis established by a doctor. and whose ADHD is registered in the medical file, are compiled.

Experts interviewed by The newspaper cannot scientifically explain the regional differences. Several hypotheses are however advanced:

• Difficulties of access to specialists who make the diagnostics
• Cultural differences
• Availability of school resources
• Tolerance of turbulent behavior

According to the psychiatrist Lily Hechtman of the Montreal Children’s Hospital (CUSM). the “real” rate of children with ADHD varies between 6% and 8%. In Montreal, the low number of cases can disturbing adhd deviations quebec: “we be partly explained by waiting to see a specialist.

“In the region. the diagnosis is often made by family doctors, for lack of specialists, which can lead to more frequent diagnoses or be used to facilitate access to educational services,” writes Said Kourrich, professor of biological sciences at the University of Quebec in Montreal.

“In a well -equipped school with the services. a child will have more support and will not need to be sent to evaluation,” explains the D^re Hechtman.

Always more cases

No less than 94,830 children had ADHD in 2022-2023, according to Inspq data. It is almost four times more than 20 years ago, when there were barely 24,000 cases. Almost twice as many boys that girls are affected.

“Parents. teachers and doctors are not patient enough, that’s clear, deplores the D^r Poulin, who admits discouraged by the increase in cases. It got worse. We use disturbing adhd deviations quebec: “we the pill too easily to deal with problems like that. ”

“Children do not just need the pill, they need help to organize better,” added the D^re Hechtman.