South Korea sees nearly 38% rise in ADHD medication prescriptions over two years
Methylphenidate prescriptions in South Korea jumped almost 38% in the past two years, with half of the tablets given to people under 20.
South Korean health regulators reported that prescriptions for methylphenidate, a controlled ADHD medication, rose by 37.8% from the first half of 2024 to the first half of 2025, reaching 58.05 million tablets. This represents a 12.1% increase compared with the same period last year. About 28.81 million of those tablets were prescribed to individuals aged 19 and under, who make up roughly half of all users, and males received nearly three times as many tablets as females.
Monthly data show around 225,000 patients received the drug in June, 35,000 more than the previous June. Health officials attribute the surge to the drug’s reputation as a “study drug” among students and have intensified public-education campaigns, while also cracking down on illegal online sales.
Why it matters
The rapid growth in ADHD drug use raises concerns about misuse among students and potential health side effects.
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