http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21672726-5006009,00.html


ADHD guru quits over Ritalin link
May 05, 2007
THE head of the Federal Government's ADHD review has stood down after The
Saturday Daily Telegraph queried his links to two major ADHD drug companies.

Health Minister Tony Abbott yesterday said paediatrician Dr Daryl Efron had
"done the honourable thing".

Mr Abbott said it was "not a good look" that Dr Efron was on the advisory
boards of Novartis, which makes the controversial drug Ritalin, and Eli
Lilly, maker of Strattera, which goes on to the PBS in July.

The move came as Mr Abbott joined Prime Minister John Howard in voicing
concerns about the use of drugs to treat ADHD.

Mr Abbott said he "instinctively questioned" the long-term use of drugs for
non-life threatening conditions.

He said while he had faith in Dr Efron's impartiality, it was important the
public had confidence in the outcome of the first review in 10 years of the
escalating diagnosis of ADHD and other treatment options.

The Royal College of Physicians committee will recommend new clinical
guidelines for GPs and specialists, who have more than doubled prescription
rates for Ritalin and the related drug, dexamphetamine - from 116,320 to
264,296 - in the past decade.

Mr Howard last week said he was worried about reports of over-prescription
of Ritalin.

Dr Efron publicly supports the use of Ritalin in some circumstances to treat
ADHD in children younger than the current cut-off age of six.

"I want to see new clinical guidelines but I stress it is up to the experts
to carefully weigh all the issues," Mr Abbott said.

Dr Efron's decision to step down was welcomed by the Australian Childhood
Foundation.

"It makes us more hopeful that there will be an examination of the whole
range of issues around ADHD treatment rather than being focused on
medication," foundation CEO Joe Tucci said.

"We are hoping the guidelines will provide practitioners with research about
all the potential problems that can be called ADHD, like diet, trauma and
family relationships at home."

The new chairman, Associate Professor David Forbes from the University of
Western Australia school of paediatrics, could not be contacted yesterday.
Dr Efron could also not be contacted.