It’s tricky when it comes to something like ADHD. Researchers in the field (Russell Barkley comes to mind), describe ADHD as a developmental disorder, with stun

It’s tricky when it comes to something like ADHD. Researchers in the field (Russell Barkley comes to mind), describe ADHD as a developmental disorder, with stunting that may be lifelong. Many problems associated with the slower executive control development are alleviated by starting medication early and building behaviors to manage time blindness and inattention. Also, in terms of effect size, there isn’t a better change in expected outcome for any medication/therapy in psychiatric care than using stimulants to treat ADHD. The pendulum of public opinion on stimulant use with ADHD treatment has always been too fast, resulting in periods of over and under diagnosis. The lifelong negative effect of being treated for ADHD when unnecessary is much less than being undiagnosed, but the delay in the change of outcome makes it difficult to see. People with untreated ADHD tend to perform worse in _every_ aspect of life, from relationship maintenance, financial stability, professional and academic development, and personal happiness. While it is wrong to simply give a patient the meds without therapy and observation, it is much worse to not do so when the medication is needed.