Figures from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, seen by the Herald Sun, show that last year, a dozen Victorian three-year-olds were placed on drugs to counter poor concentration and behaviour.

Five two-year-olds were also prescribed stimulants, such as Ritalin, last year.

The PBS will not reveal in which states the youngest children live. 

Almost 60,000 Australians, including 10,256 Victorians, are on drugs, including amphetamine derivatives, for diagnosed ADHD.

Forty-six of the state's four-year-olds and 137 five-year-olds are being medicated for the condition, which leads to short attention spans, hyperactivity and poor concentration.

Jill Sewell, from the Royal Children's Hospital, said she had heard of very young children with complex family situations, high aggression and extreme hyperactivity who were on medication.

But Assoc Prof Sewell said she did not teach the practice to new pediatricians.

"We're certainly not advocating use of these medications in young children," she said.

"But as an experienced pediatrician who has dealt with very difficult families over the years, what you're weighing up is how functional is that family, how functional is the child, and whether his or her development is being interfered with by this serious behaviour.

"You would have to have a very strong reason -- but there are some very strong reasons, and you have to call in as much support as you can for these families."

Some experts have estimated that 3-5 per cent of children suffer ADHD.

Assoc Prof Sewell said medication rates represented only about 1 per cent, and showed Victorian doctors were not over-prescribing.

But George Halasz, a long-time critic of ADHD medication practices, believes attention difficulty and hyperactivity are more often symptoms of other problems the child is experiencing.

"The immediate gut reaction is one of extreme alarm," Dr Halasz said.

"If these are amphetamine-like drugs, what is going on when two, three and four-year-olds are already getting them?

"Any person who gets this medication on the basis of a one-hour or less assessment would cause me extreme concern about the accuracy of that diagnosis."

Adolescent psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg said parents could have certainty about modern diagnosis.

While he had concerns about some children considered to have ADHD a decade ago, Dr Carr-Gregg said the condition was now diagnosed using brain scans and most children being prescribed drugs required the treatment.

http://www.news.com.au

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