Opinion

EDITORIAL Attention deÿ cit? Look at the system

Opinion

Thomas Jeff erson, third United States president, was … complex to say the least. But he may have been onto something when he said “if a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so.”

This quote brings to mind Dr Tony Hanne – the Auckland GP convicted for incorrectly prescribing ADHD medication.

To recap: Dr Hanne was reported to the Medical Council for having prescribed stimulant therapies, such as Ritalin, for hundreds of patients – without the recommendation of a psychiatrist.

This is a breach of the Medicines Act, which classifi es stimulant medications as a Class B substance. Which can only be administered with a “special authority”, issued with a psychiatrist’s sign-off .

In October [International ADHD Awareness Month – poignant], Dr Hanne was convicted of professional misconduct by the Medical Disciplinary Tribunal.

Dr Hanne knew he was acting illegally – but he did so because his patients were facing signifi cant barriers to receiving diagnosis and treatment.

I don’t condone breaking the law, Wairarapa. But as a member of Aotearoa’s ADHD community, this case hurts.

I received my diagnosis in 2020, a month shy of my 36th birthday. For me, ADHD is like living with an internal symphony orchestra – without a conductor. A lot of unfocused noise. Such a cacophonous racket was not conducive to concentration, executive function, and performing basic tasks without heading for burn-out. So, I sought help from a private specialist and began taking medication.

I was one of the lucky ones.

An estimated 1 in 20 New Zealanders have ADHD. However, recent research from ADHD New Zealand found over 80 per cent of adults surveyed have struggled to access support.

In Aotearoa, specialist services for ADHD are scarce. Very few psychiatrists within the public system specialise in neurodiversity. Public mental health services that do provide diagnostic services for adults come with wait times of at least nine to 12 months. Private psychiatrists can charge upwards of $1500.

And, if you are diagnosed and prescribed stimulants, your special authority needs to be renewed by a psychiatrist every two years. Creating further fi nancial stressors.

Untreated ADHD can be debilitating – and research has revealed grim outcomes for those of us who go undiagnosed.

People with undiagnosed ADHD are four times more likely to be involved in traffi c accidents, 11 times more likely to be unemployed, and 20 times more likely to spend time in prison. Rates of substance abuse are almost double that of our neurotypical counterparts. We are four times more likely to attempt suicide.

For Kiwis with ADHD, access to medication is literally life-saving. And yet, the resources are either unavailable, fraught with red tape, or priced out of their reach. People are desperate for help – so are we really surprised a doctor was prepared to bend the rules to throw his patients a lifeline?

There are changes afoot. Back in September, the government committed to investigating “sweeping changes” to ADHD care: Including improved access to medicines, building a consistent service model, and more education for healthcare workers.

“Investigating” is a good start – and it’ll be interesting to see if this results in meaningful action. Tony Hanne’s story has raised awareness of the crisis facing our community – and we can only hope it’s enough of a wake-up call to expedite change.

Convicting one man of misconduct isn’t going to fi x anything. We need a health system that works for us – and we needed it yesterday. Having my ADHD diagnosed and treated has opened up a whole new world. For my ADHD siblings struggling to be heard – I hope that day is coming for you.

Young(ish), scrappy & hungry Erin Kavanagh-Hall

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In five years’ time, I think I will be...

Janine Cardno

Getting a house bus and travelling around New Zealand.

Margaret Mcnaughton

Happy and humble and enjoying life with my kids.

Deb Bailey

Retired and not working.

Catherine RowePenny Older and possibly wiser.

Jean Cretney

Beyond the sunset.

Graeme Burnard

The UK Prime Minister. They will be looking in the colonies by then.

Christina Schofield

Happy.

Carol Manson

Still enjoying life.

Richard Alan Dahlberg

A distant memory.

Damian Matthew Hall

Eating fresh lobster in Monaco at our new mansion – or here in Masterton still doing creative stuff. Don’t mind either way.

Rosemary Rayner

Hopefully still walking this planet.

Debbie Flannery

Five years older – I hope!

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CUTIE OF THE WEEK

Masterton local Margaret McNaughton sent in this adorable photo of her “wee cheeky chappy” Alex, who turned seven last month. Margaret says Alex loves school, reading books, going to the movies, and playing on his tablet – which he bought with his own pocket money. He is “a great little saver” – and currently has $52 in the bank. Happy belated birthday, Alex! PHOTO/SUPPLIED