The Link Between ADHD and Substance Abuse
With all of the rumors, legends, myths and misinformation that exist about attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), it can be difficult to know what is fact and what is fiction. Do kids with ADHD really need a specialized diet that cuts out gluten, dyes and preservatives? Does watching too much TV really cause ADHD? Is ADHD a result of poor parenting? Is ADHD even a real disorder or a fabrication used to sell billions of dollars in medications?
To help someone with ADHD, you are tasked with sorting through the information. Forget about ideas of “right and wrong” and “good and bad” to begin seeking information that will be helpful to you or the person with ADHD in your life. Not all information applies to all people.
One topic that should be a focus on your investigation is the link between people with ADHD and substance abuse. Over the years, some have thought of this link as a myth while others held a steadfast believe in the association. Then, the believers of this had differences regarding what caused the link and what could be done to improve the life of those affected.
The goal of this article is to sift though the information available on the subject to address three points. Is there a relationship between ADHD and substance abuse? If so, why does this correlation exist? Finally, what can be done to prevent abuse and treat the symptoms if they have already begun?
Look at the Facts
Studies have uncovered a great deal of interesting findings about ADHD and substance abuse including:
- Children with ADHD are more likely to engage in alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use by early adolescence than peers of the same age without an ADHD diagnosis.
- ADHD is shown to speed the progression from first use to full abuse or dependence on a substance
- People with ADHD are three times more likely to use nicotine.
- Adults with ADHD also have an alcohol abuse or dependence disorder at rates between 17% to 45%. This means that between 1 in 5 and 1 in 2 adults with ADHD will have an issue with alcohol.
- Adults with ADHD also have a drug abuse or dependence disorder at rates between 9% and 30%. This means that between 1 in 10 and 1 and 3 adults with ADHD will have an issue with drugs other than alcohol.
- Of the people with ADHD that use substances, only 30% of them use the drugs to “get high.” The majority of people are using drugs as a form of self-medication to improve their mood, help with sleep or improve their ADHD symptoms in some way.
With this evidence, it seems clear that people with ADHD are more likely than the general population to have greater rates of substance abuse that begin at earlier ages. The facts have been confirmed.
