![]() A majority of children are diagnosed with ADHD by age 7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since 2007, 5.4 million children ages 4 to17 have been diagnosed with ADHD, and 66 percent reported taking medication to treat their symptoms, according to the U.S. We agree completely with those who argue that Ritalin and Adderall shouldn’t be a cheap substitute for lousy schools or a performance steroid for college kids.īut the problem of sloppy diagnosis does not justify the sloppy suggestion that a child who is given a prescription to treat seriously impairing ADHD is placed at extra risk of substance abuse.June 25, 2012— - Children with ADHD who start taking medications as early as fourth grade may be more likely to score better academically than those who start taking medication in middle school, according to a study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics.Īttention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a developmental disorder characterized by problems focusing and erratic behavior. Not all kids and not all families, of course. Lee, senior author of the study, a psychology professor at UCLA.Īnd let’s not forget that there is solid evidence that ADHD meds can be lifesavers for kids struggling with severe ADHD symptoms, and their families. “For parents whose major concern about Ritalin and Adderall is about the future risk for substance abuse, this study may be helpful to them,” says Steve S. Substance abuse is something all parents of teenagers and young adults with ADHD should be especially alert to - but it’s not a reason to avoid treatment. But the new study shows that the risk is linked to the disorder, not to the treatment. The same group of UCLA researchers two years ago concluded, based on another big analysis of a group of studies, that adolescents and young adults with ADHD are two to three times more likely to develop serious alcohol or drug abuse than other kids. This is where it gets complicated: The fact remains that kids with ADHD are at higher risk for substance abuse than other kids. Substance abuse is something all parents of teenagers and young adults with ADHD should be alert to - but it’s not a reason to avoid treatment.ĪDHD itself puts kids at risk for addiction But that higher risk is linked to ADHD itself, not treatment with stimulant medication, which doesn’t either increase or reduce the risk. That said, it’s true children with ADHD are at higher risk for developing substance abuse as adults. A number of studies have found no connection between taking stimulant medication as a child with ADHD and substance abuse later in life. ![]() However, there is no evidence that taking stimulant meds makes kids who do have ADHD more likely to abuse substances. ![]() Some tell the stories of kids without ADHD who take stimulants as study aids and then get addicted to other drugs later in life. Some critics of ADHD medications suggest that kids who take stimulants may be more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol later in life. These medications can help kids focus, succeed in school, get along with family members, and control their emotions. Doctors often prescribe stimulant medications like Adderall or Ritalin for children diagnosed with ADHD.
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