Student-Perceived School Climate Is Associated With ADHD Medication Treatment Among Adolescents in Medicaid:

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between school climateand ADHD medication treatment among adolescents in Medicaidin Georgia. Method: School climateand Medicaidclaims data were aggregated for 159 GA counties. County-level school climate percentileand medicated ADHD prevalence were calculated. The t tests and regression models evaluated the relationship between school climate, medicated ADHD, and demographics, weighted by county population. Poorer 2008 school climate(<25th percentile) was regressed on 2011 medicated ADHD prevalence, controlling for potential confounders. Results: The prevalence of medicated ADHD was 7.8% among Medicaid-enrolled GA adolescents. The average county-level prevalence of medicated ADHD was 10.0% (SD = 2.9%). Poorer school climatewas associated with lower rates of medicated ADHD (p < .0001); along with demographics, these factors accounted for 50% of the county variation in medicated ADHD. Conclusion: School climateis associated with...