Children diagnosed with ADHD prone to higher risk of substance use in adolescence and adulthood
| Jan 25, 2018, 10:10 IST
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are found to engage in substance use way more than those children who do not suffer from ADHD. The study, led by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine stated that children diagnosed with ADHD had a faster progression of substance use during childhood and adolescence.
"There has been inconsistency across previous studies of children with ADHD and their risk of substance use in adolescence and in adulthood," said Brooke Molina, lead author of the study adding that the "study closely examined substance use by children with and without ADHD over a long period of time, considering that experimenting with some substances, such as alcohol and cigarettes, is typical after teens reach high-school age."
The authors confirmed a finding for the ADHD group that is widely replicated in the general population - that early substance use strongly predicts adult substance use. However, more of the children with ADHD were found to be early substance users, such as having a drink of alcohol before the age of 15. "We were not surprised to find high numbers of daily cigarette smokers, but we were surprised to discover that so many children with ADHD later used marijuana as adults on a weekly basis, about one-third of the ADHD group," said Molina. And while the study did not find higher rates of binge alcohol consumption among young adults with ADHD, it did find that alcohol use is still an important part of the bigger picture.
"Many children with ADHD end up being cared for in primary care settings, so paediatricians are the front-line treatment care providers and conversations about substance use need to begin early," she said. Continuing, she added, "When these children are being treated, we need to start monitoring their potential risk for substance use at a young age, and not just treating with medication, but considering the range of factors that increase their risk for becoming dependent on nicotine and for developing substance use disorders."
"There has been inconsistency across previous studies of children with ADHD and their risk of substance use in adolescence and in adulthood," said Brooke Molina, lead author of the study adding that the "study closely examined substance use by children with and without ADHD over a long period of time, considering that experimenting with some substances, such as alcohol and cigarettes, is typical after teens reach high-school age."
The authors confirmed a finding for the ADHD group that is widely replicated in the general population - that early substance use strongly predicts adult substance use. However, more of the children with ADHD were found to be early substance users, such as having a drink of alcohol before the age of 15. "We were not surprised to find high numbers of daily cigarette smokers, but we were surprised to discover that so many children with ADHD later used marijuana as adults on a weekly basis, about one-third of the ADHD group," said Molina. And while the study did not find higher rates of binge alcohol consumption among young adults with ADHD, it did find that alcohol use is still an important part of the bigger picture.
"Many children with ADHD end up being cared for in primary care settings, so paediatricians are the front-line treatment care providers and conversations about substance use need to begin early," she said. Continuing, she added, "When these children are being treated, we need to start monitoring their potential risk for substance use at a young age, and not just treating with medication, but considering the range of factors that increase their risk for becoming dependent on nicotine and for developing substance use disorders."