Statement from CHADD Regarding the Executive Order Establishing the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission

In service to the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) community, CHADD has thoroughly reviewed the President’s Executive Order establishing the Make America Healthy Again Commission.

We were encouraged by planned efforts to improve public health through better nutrition, sleep, and exercise. Such improvements are valuable and benefit all individuals, including those with ADHD. These factors contribute to overall wellbeing, can help support emotional and physical health, and may even aid in improving some symptoms of ADHD. However, while a healthy lifestyle is important, it does not treat or alleviate the core symptoms of ADHD.

ADHD is a complex, lifelong neurological condition that requires evidence-based treatment. Decades of scientific research confirm that for many children and adults with ADHD, stimulant medications are not just helpful, but medically necessary. These treatments are a cornerstone of an individualized, multimodal approach that may also include behavioral interventions, parent and patient training, and educational support.

We stand firmly behind the overwhelming scientific evidence proving the efficacy and often critical necessity of stimulant medications for many children and adults diagnosed with ADHD as part of an individualized, multimodal approach.

ADHD is a significant public health issue, affecting 22 million people of every age, gender, IQ, religion, socioeconomic background, and political affiliation across the United States. This complex, lifelong neurological disorder is among the most well-researched medical diagnoses in the world and is the most treatable mental health disorder in psychiatry.

Evidence-based research confirms that stimulant medications are the most effective treatment for managing the symptoms of ADHD—essential for many individuals to develop self-regulation, function successfully, and contribute to society. Studies show these medications significantly reduce ADHD symptoms in 70 to 80 percent of children and adults.

For children under the age of six, clinical guidelines recommend behavioral parent training as the first-line treatment, with medication considered only if behavioral interventions alone are insufficient. However, for older children, adolescents, and adults, stimulant medications remain the most effective treatment option and are a critical component of a multimodal approach.

Multiple studies make it abundantly clear that when ADHD is not properly diagnosed and treated, the consequences are severe, and include anxiety, depression, substance abuse, reckless behavior, increased injury and accidents, school and job failure, relationship and social issues, suicide, and a decreased life expectancy of as many as thirteen years. Left untreated, ADHD has more devastating consequences than poor diet, insufficient exercise, obesity, and smoking combined, contributing to higher rates of mental health issues, substance abuse, accidents, incarceration, and even premature death.

Research does not support the view that ADHD arises from excessive sugar intake, too much television viewing, poor child management by parents, or social and environmental factors. These elements do not cause ADHD, although they can exacerbate symptoms in some children.

The increasing ADHD diagnosis rate over the past twenty years reflects improved awareness, more accurate screening, and a growing willingness to seek help—factors that lead to better treatment and support for those who need it. This rise is a sign of progress, not a cause for concern.

It is paramount that children and adults diagnosed with ADHD have access to all aspects of treatment. Restricting access to stimulant medications would disproportionately harm the millions of children and adults who rely on these medications for daily functioning. The risks of untreated ADHD—including increased rates of school failure, job loss, addiction, and suicide—far outweigh the carefully managed use of these life-changing medications.

As leaders in the ADHD community, we stand united in our commitment to disseminate accurate, science-based information, and determinedly advocate for the wellbeing of children and adults with ADHD. We urge policymakers to protect access to ADHD medications and ensure that any public health initiative recognizes the overwhelming scientific evidence supporting stimulant treatments. Limiting access would be a devastating step backward for millions who depend on these medications to lead healthy, productive lives.