RESEARCH: Substance Abuse & AD/HD

[Andrew]

Here's a clinical study that actually refutes the long-held myth that putting your AD/HD kids on medications will lead them to substance abuse!

http://www.additudemag.com/additude....&ARTICLE_NO=86

[Tara]

Not that I'm trying to disagree with the study but I always wonder about any study. and Of course I have questions about this study.

1.Were these non-medicated ADDers in any sort ot treatment/managment program for their ADD.

2. Were the ADDers who were medicated in these studies receiving any other treatment besides medicaion.

[Andrew]

As quoted from the article:

"We know that untreated individuals with ADHD are at a significantly increased risk for substance abuse. And we understand why parents often ask whether stimulant medications might lead to future substance abuse among their children," says Timothy Wilens, MD, MGH director of Substance Abuse Services in Pediatric Psychopharmacology, the paper's lead author. "Now we can reassure parents and other practitioners that treating ADHD actually protects children against alcohol and drug abuse as well as other future problems." Wilens and his MGH colleagues have conducted previous studies that found a protective effect in stimulant treatment. However, at least one report from another research center asserted that stimulant treatment increased the risk of later substance abuse. In order to resolve the question, Wilens' group searched the medical literature for studies of children, adolescents and adults with ADHD that included followup information on later substance abuse. They identified six such studies conducted in the U.S. and Germany, which provided information on more than a thousand participants with ADHD - 674 who received stimulant treatment and 360 who were non-medicated - followed for four years or more. These studies included both the previous MGH research and the study suggesting increased risk.

After application of standard meta-analysis techniques, the researchers found a significant overall reduction in the risk of subsequent substance abuse among those receiving stimulant treatment. They note that four of the six studies showed "striking protective effects of stimulant medications."

[kitty_kaht]

Think taking a quick look around the judicial system in UK would put some very possitive results across that would indicate that those who are diagnosed in adulthood and cannot get medication (UK POLICY) have a far higher risk of substance abuse, leading to criminal activity, the last survey taken showed that a staggering 70-80% of the prison system in Uk, for petty crime and drug related crime , the perpetrators were add/adhd untreated or undiagnosed...........somehow, the powers that be have not fugured out yet that it would be cheaper in the long term to treat these individuals for the condition than the cost of having them in and out of the judicial system throughout there adult lives..........go figure

[toydoggie]

As a substance abuse Counselor, I know that most of the drug addicts are ADD/ADHD and about half of the Alcoholics have ADD/ADHD. Children who are treated with the appropriate stimulant have much less risk of going on to become drug addicts. The addicts I have treated and had been on Ritalin, or some other stimulant, were taken off their medication prematurely.

[Tara]

Personally I think it has more to do with self esteem than the medication itself. I'm sure in many case medication helps students do better in school which helps the situation at home and helps with build self esteem.

But I have also seen teens who were/are on AD/HD medication who have very low self esteem due to numerous factors. These kids still do abuse drugs and alchohol.

[misclee]

Yes, I think the combination of medications and a supportive environment will help immensely. I at least have to try for my daughter. Anything I can do to prevent her having to go through what I went through, I will try.