Deadspin's Take on the ADHD numbers

It is 108 out of all major leaguers. That is a high percentage.

"One hundred and eight players, almost a tenth of the league, received medical exemptions due to their attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders. That's up slightly from last year, and up from 28 players in 2006. Completely coincidentally, MLB's stimulant ban went into effect in 2006."

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That’s, how do you say, intriguing.

"Those that drink the Kool-Aid, please leave the room."

by Kitspool on Dec 4, 2009 1:31 PM PST reply actions

Man, I hate when writers do this

I don’t know what data Deadspin base their claims that less than 2% of adults have ADHD on, but the National Institute of Mental Health says 4.4% of Americans have it, and the World Health Organization also says it’s around that number.

108 out of 1,200 is 9%, not 10%. There’s no reason to round up we’re dealing with such small numbers.

The difference might not sound big at first, but basically Deadspin says that the number of players who claim to have ADHD is 5 times higher than you’d expect, when in reality it’s only twice as high. I hate this kind of dishonesty – making a lot of small “mistakes” with the numbers in order to make your point look better, knowing that most people won’t notice.

Regardless of that, this is interesting, though not too surprising.

I was promised lasagna.

by Cookyman on Dec 4, 2009 1:57 PM PST reply actions

You also have to figure that MLB players are under higher scrutiny and medical attention. So while the MLB number may be high, the CDC, WHO data maybe artificially low b/c of stereotypes of having the disease and etc

say hey nation is the Ralph Nader of McC.-Xanthan

by say hey nation on Dec 4, 2009 2:00 PM PST up reply actions

Not in this case

The numbers I posted are of the estimated number adults who have ADHD symptoms, regardless of whether or not they know it and/or admit it.

I was promised lasagna.

by Cookyman on Dec 4, 2009 2:14 PM PST up reply actions

estimates still vary

say hey nation is the Ralph Nader of McC.-Xanthan

by say hey nation on Dec 5, 2009 11:53 AM PST up reply actions

Obviously.

I was promised lasagna.

by Cookyman on Dec 5, 2009 1:00 PM PST up reply actions

Yeah, I forget where I was reading but someone pointed out estimates as to how many people actually have ADHD range up to 10%. Now, I have no doubt baseball players are abusing the system so they can keep taking their greenies, but if you tried to call them out on it, it seems there’s enough research out there to suggest their rate isn’t any higher than the rest of the population.

by Missing Barry on Dec 4, 2009 2:16 PM PST up reply actions

Eric Byrnes

on his own, accounts for at least 5% of that 9%… the rest of the MLB therefore is just about in line with the NIMH and WHO numbers.

by KrazyKrabMeat on Dec 4, 2009 4:57 PM PST up reply actions

You realize you're assuming no gender differences, right?

Males, 18-44, are estimated to have ADHD symptoms at a rate of %9 to %10.

by khenderson on Dec 5, 2009 7:58 AM PST up reply actions

From what I understand, there are disagreements about that, though the number of men diagnosed with ADHD is definitely higher than the number of women. But yes, this makes the numbers seem even less shocking.

I was promised lasagna.

by Cookyman on Dec 5, 2009 1:15 PM PST up reply actions

I agree with you. Then you hear people repeat the argument and there is no way to discuss with them the actual numbers because the false ones are stuck in their head

by tyrannoman on Dec 5, 2009 11:37 AM PST up reply actions

I always assumed “greenies” over Ritalin or other ADD drug when it came to Shitorino.

by Every6thDay on Dec 4, 2009 3:33 PM PST reply actions

ADD drugs ARE greenies….

by Missing Barry on Dec 4, 2009 5:02 PM PST up reply actions

I suspect getting a doctor’s note for a medical exemption to use stimulants is about as tough as getting a doctor’s note to buy marijuana for medical purposes.

But, nice to see that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

And so long as baseball does not test for HGH, their PED policy remains ineffective.

Good thing Barry Bonds was kept out of baseball, as the only wrong-doer EVER. /eyeroll

It's my blarg! Quick Pitch
And I tweet (more often than I blarg).

by can of corn on Dec 4, 2009 6:47 PM PST reply actions

a big part of the problem with testing for HGH, from what I understand, is everyone has a different level naturally so a baseline is nearly impossible to establish. The ones that are used are just kind of a best guess. I’ve also read that most studies don’t show that HGH helps with performance, with the possible exception of better vision. I’d like to see more studies done with HGH just so we all know where it stands.

by tyrannoman on Dec 5, 2009 11:39 AM PST up reply actions