In December, 2009, the New York Times reported that the number of major league baseball players permitted to take otherwise-banned stimulants rose for the third year in a row.

No doubt some major league ballplayers are legitimately diagnosed with and treated for ADHD … but 2-3 times the usual adult rate of ADHD?

In response to the steroid scandal, baseball instituted an increasingly effective drug-testing program. However, it is hard not to be skeptical about the high incidence of ADHD diagnoses among major league baseball players.  It is hard to escape the conclusion that many players are being diagnosed ADHD as a way to obtain amphetamines and amphetamine-like drugs