Backfired: Attention Deficit

De: Leon Neyfakh, Prologue Projects

Narrado por: Leon Neyfakh, Arielle Pardes

ADHD may be the defining diagnosis of our time. According to the latest data, more than 10 percent of American children (that’s 7.1 million kids) have been diagnosed with ADHD. And the number of stimulant prescriptions for adults in their 30s has shot up nearly threefold since 2012, hitting 15.3 million in 2021. It’s increasingly common to hear people who haven’t been diagnosed at all say they’re “so ADHD,” as if it’s more of a personality trait—or a zodiac sign—than a medical condition. In recent years, this explosion in demand has combined with other factors—including federally mandated limits on production—to create a widespread stimulant shortage in the US.

In the second installment of Backfired, cohosts Leon Neyfakh and Arielle Pardes look at the unintended consequences of the ADHD industry and trace the surprising path that brought us here.

Backfired: Attention Deficit is the latest podcast from Prologue Projects, the award-winning team behind Slow Burn, Fiasco, and Think Twice: Michael Jackson, and the second season of the Backfired franchise, a show about what happens when solving one problem inadvertently leads to a host of new ones. Backfired: Attention Deficit follows the acclaimed first season Backfired: The Vaping Wars.

For a list of books, articles, and documentaries used to research Backfired: Attention Deficit, please visit bit.ly/backfiredbib.

Backfired: Attention Deficit was hosted and produced by Leon Neyfakh and Arielle Pardes. The executive producer was Andrew Parsons. The senior producer and story editor was Madeline Kaplan. Producers were Dustin Desoto and Danielle Hewitt. Fact-checking by Maggie Duffy. Research by Frank Zhou. Archival research by Francis Carr. Theme song and score composed by Emma Munger. Audio mix by Aman Sahota. Backfired was co-created for Prologue Projects by Kim Gittleson.

©2024 Prologue Projects (P)2024 Audible Originals, LLC.

Nuanced

I am a psychiatric nurse practitioner and dealing with the surge of ADHD diagnosis requests and stimulant shortages has been the most challenging work of my career. This comprehensive overview of the culture and history of ADHD and stimulants should be required for any psychiatric provider who strives to provide the best possible care for their patients. We cannot practice in a vacuum.

Informative and personal

A diverse set of views, conflicting motivations and corporate profiteering, Enjoyable all the way through.

Background of ADHD meds

It was insightful. A bit more science behind other literature. Something very useful in a disorder is : it’s only a disorder if you can’t manage it.

I appreciate that the full investigative story was given.

I like hearing all sides of the story. I don't like that this review has a 15 word minimum. why is this box still red and says '15 word minimum'

So eye opening

I've been noticing this trend for awhile and I this podcast was fascinating. Great insights

Probably just changed my life.

The way this is laid out enabled me to look back over my own history with being prescribed medications that didn’t really work and given labels that never felt quite right. Thank you.

Informative and a Enjoyable

I enjoyed this and learned a great deal about ADHD, its history and how treatment has evolved over time.

I give it a 4/5. There were times that the narrators were a bit too glib and having a bit more fun than I would prefer; but that certainly would appeal to some people, so take my feedback with a grain of salt.

Good Historical View of ADHD

“Backfired: Attention Deficit” was a good podcast series. I like that they showed the good of ADHD and associated medicines for those who truly have ADHD. It also revealed the dark side of those who abuse the medications related to ADHD. I appreciate the history behind the schools and past research practices. As an educator, it is good to understand why there are certain things we can’t “recommend” or “advise,” but understanding how the families choose to support their child with amazing ADHD will help you know the areas you can empower the student. My advice is to discover what areas of executive functioning and social skills the child is lacking, teach them those skills, and give them many opportunities to choose from. And… if you see a child is very wiggly at or around their desk, they are most likely a child who processed information through movement. Help that child by getting the class up and moving while learning to help support all your students’ academic success.

Dilemma of ADHD

I am a child psychiatrist retired one. Seen and lived with ADHD throughout my practice, starting from Connor to Adler. Interesting presentation, listen to every word of your discussion, and I believe all psychiatrist, including child. Psychiatrist should listen to this.

Thurough & well rounded research

The piece was well researched and presented multiple points of view, leaving The Listener to draw their own conclusions. A fascinating history of ADHD.