Italy reports rise in pediatric psychotropic drug use, consumption triples since 2016
In 2025 the prevalence of psychotropic drug use among Italian children and adolescents reached 0.64%, a 12.1% increase over 2024. The prescription rate was 63.8 per 1,000 children, corresponding to a consumption of 66.9 packages per 1,000 – more than three times the level recorded in 2016 (20.6 packages per 1,000).
Use is highest in the 12‑17 age group, with 142.2 packages per 1,000 and a prevalence of 1.56%. Overall, 46.3% of the pediatric population (about 4.1 million children) took at least one medication in 2025. The most marked growth was seen in ADHD treatments, especially methylphenidate (+28.9%), as well as atypical antipsychotics aripiprazole (+14.6%) and risperidone (+13.3%), and the antidepressant sertraline (+9.6%).
The data come from the latest OsMed report published by the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA). AIFA noted that, despite the post‑pandemic rise, Italy’s pediatric psychotropic drug consumption remains well below that of other countries, such as France (1.61% prevalence) and the United States (over 24%).
Entities: Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco (AIFA) · Aripiprazole · Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) · Italian children and adolescents · Italy · Methylphenidate · Sertraline
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The highest psychotropic drug use was among 12‑17‑year‑olds, with 142.2 packages per 1,000 children and a prevalence of 1.56%. (AIFA OsMed report)
- [● 3 SOURCES] In 2025 the prevalence of psychotropic drug use among Italian children was 0.64%, a 12.1% increase over 2024. (AIFA OsMed report)
- [● 3 SOURCES] From 2016 to 2025, pediatric psychotropic drug prevalence and consumption more than tripled, rising from 0.26% (20.6 packages per 1,000 children) to 0.64% (66.9 packages per 1,000 children). (AIFA OsMed report)
- [● 3 SOURCES] In 2025, 46.3% of Italy’s pediatric population (about 4.1 million children) took at least one medication. (AIFA OsMed report)
- [● 3 SOURCES] 13.3% of pediatric psychotropic drug users received only one prescription in 2025. (AIFA OsMed report)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The prescription rate for pediatric psychotropic drugs was 63.8 per 1,000 children in 2025, up 13.2% from the previous year. (AIFA OsMed report)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Consumption of pediatric psychotropic drugs reached 66.9 packages per 1,000 children in 2025, representing 3.4% of total pediatric drug consumption. (AIFA OsMed report)
- [● 3 SOURCES] ADHD medication (methylphenidate) use rose 28.9%, atypical antipsychotics aripiprazole 14.6% and risperidone 13.3%, and antidepressant sertraline 9.6% in 2025. (AIFA OsMed report)