Rapid Rise in ADHD Medication Errors Raises Alarm for Prevention

The frequency of medication errors among children taking ADHD medications has increased by nearly 300% over a 22-year period, likely due to the rise in ADHD diagnoses and prescriptions. A study suggests that improved patient and caregiver education, as well as child-resistant medication dispensing and tracking systems, could help prevent these errors. The most common errors involved taking or giving medication twice, taking someone else's medication, or taking the wrong medication. While most errors did not result in serious medical outcomes, some cases required hospitalization. Experts recommend proper medication storage, documentation, and the use of pillboxes or apps to prevent these easily avoidable mistakes.