For Many Kids on ADHD Pills, It’s the Start of a Drug Cascade episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 23, 2026 · 23 MIN

For Many Kids on ADHD Pills, It’s the Start of a Drug Cascade

from The Journal. · host The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

Danielle Gansky was diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder at age 7. Soon, she was prescribed a daily cocktail of powerful psychiatric drugs that she would be on for years. A new Wall Street Journal investigation reveals that children who start on ADHD medication at a young age are more than five times as likely to be prescribed additional psychiatric drugs. WSJ’s Shalini Ramachandran breaks down that investigation. WSJ’s Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Is America on Too Many Psychiatric Drugs? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Danielle Gansky was diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder at age 7. Soon, she was prescribed a daily cocktail of powerful psychiatric drugs that she would be on for years. A new Wall Street Journal investigation reveals that children who start on ADHD medication at a young age are more than five times as likely to be prescribed additional psychiatric drugs. WSJ’s Shalini Ramachandran breaks down that investigation. WSJ’s Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - Is America on Too Many Psychiatric Drugs? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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For Many Kids on ADHD Pills, It’s the Start of a Drug Cascade

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This episode was published on January 23, 2026.

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Danielle Gansky was diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder at age 7. Soon, she was prescribed a daily cocktail of powerful psychiatric drugs that she would be on for years. A new Wall Street Journal investigation reveals that...

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