Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that can affect a person’s attention, focus, and activity.[1] People with ADHD usually receive a diagnosis during childhood. Medications and other treatments can help people manage their symptoms and improve functioning.

There are about 11 million people in the United States living with ADHD.[2] Some research suggests that people with ADHD may have an increased risk of developing substance use disorder (SUD).

This article will explore the connection between ADHD and addiction.

What you will learn:

  • The symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
  • Why there is a link between ADHD and addiction
  • What happens during treatment for ADHD and addiction
  • Where to find comprehensive addiction treatment and support

If you or someone in your life lives with ADHD and SUD, you are not alone. Contact the Alamo Behavioral Health specialists to learn about our treatment and support programs.

What is ADHD?

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health condition. ADHD can cause symptoms that include:[1]

  • Impulsivity
  • Hyperactivity
  • Inattentiveness

These symptoms can significantly disrupt people’s lives. Children with ADHD symptoms may receive a diagnosis and begin treatment. Studies show that the average age of diagnosis of ADHD is seven years old. However, some people do not receive a diagnosis until adulthood.

People with this condition require comprehensive treatment plans to help them manage the symptoms of ADHD. Individuals with ADHD may benefit from taking prescription stimulant medications.[3] They may also make lifestyle changes and learn new coping skills to reduce symptoms.

What is the Link Between ADHD and Substance Abuse?

Research shows a connection between ADHD and addiction. People with substance use disorder (SUD) are up to ten times more likely to have ADHD than the general population.[4,5]

There is no evidence to suggest ADHD can lead to addiction. However, experts believe there are several factors that may be responsible for the link between ADHD and substance abuse.

Some experts believe that symptoms of ADHD, like impulsivity, may make people more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol. They theorize that people with ADHD may be more likely to experiment with addictive substances or relapse after treatment.

Other experts believe that people with ADHD may be more likely to abuse their prescription stimulants. Many of the prescription drugs used in treating ADHD are controlled substances with a risk of abuse and addiction.

What Drugs Are Used to Treat ADHD?

Doctors sometimes prescribe medications to help people with ADHD manage their symptoms. Here is an overview of the medications used to treat ADHD.

Stimulants

Several prescription stimulants can relieve symptoms of ADHD, including:[3]

  • Vyvanse
  • Ritalin
  • Adderall

The stimulant effects of these medications can increase central nervous system activity, which can decrease the symptoms of ADHD.

Non-stimulant medications

Doctors sometimes prescribe non-stimulant drugs for people with ADHD and substance use disorder. These prescription drugs include:[6]

  • Clonidine
  • Strattera
  • Guanfacine

People may use these medications along with other prescription drugs to reduce ADHD symptoms. These non-stimulant medications are not controlled substances and do not have a risk of addiction.

Many risk factors may contribute to a person’s likelihood of developing SUD. However, some experts believe taking addictive stimulant drugs may contribute to the link between ADHD and addiction.

What to Expect in Treatment for ADHD and Addiction

When someone lives with a mental health condition and addiction, they require specialized dual diagnosis treatment for both conditions. Alamo Behavioral Health offers comprehensive dual-diagnosis treatment programs in San Antonio for ADHD and substance use disorder.

Here is an overview of what to expect during treatment.

Assessment

Before you start treatment, a mental health or medical professional will assess your needs. This assessment may consist of:

  • Questions about your past and current substance use
  • A mental health and medical history
  • Lab testing
  • Physical exam

Your treatment team may also ask about your family history of substance abuse or collect other relevant information.

Detox

The information you provide in your assessment will help your team create the most effective detox treatment plan. Your detox plan may include:

  • Medications to manage withdrawal symptoms
  • Round-the-clock access to treatment and support
  • Emotional support, including group and individual counseling, when appropriate
  • Mindfulness, yoga, nutrition support, and other holistic therapies

During detox, your team will provide consistent supervision and treatment to keep you safe and comfortable. This care can significantly increase your likelihood of completing detox.

Treatment

After completing your tailored detox program, you will begin to follow a specialized plan. Your treatment plan will address the physical, behavioral, and emotional aspects of your substance abuse.

Your plan may include:

  • Individual, group, and family counseling
  • Medications and medical care
  • Mental health treatment and behavioral therapies
  • Relapse prevention education
  • Exercise, art therapy, mindfulness, and other holistic therapies
  • Aftercare planning and support programs

Your treatment team will provide treatment to help you manage your ADHD symptoms while addressing substance abuse. This process may include exploring new medications to treat ADHD, if necessary.

Find Treatment Now

If you or a loved one lives with ADHD and addiction, effective treatment is available at Alamo Behavioral Health. Contact our specialists to learn about our treatment and support programs or to schedule an intake assessment.

References:

  1. American Psychiatric Association (APA): What is ADHD?
  2. Columbia University Department of Psychiatry: Effort Underway to Develop First U.S. Guidelines for ADHD in Adults
  3. National Institute of Health (NIH): Treatment of ADHD: Drugs, psychological therapies, devices, complementary and alternative methods as well as the trends in clinical trials
  4. Industrial Psychiatry Journal: Prevalence of adult ADHD in patients with substance use disorder in North East India
  5. Springer Link: Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Substance Abuse
  6. National Institute of Health (NIH): Non-Stimulant Treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that can affect a person’s attention, focus, and activity.[1] People with ADHD usually receive a diagnosis during childhood. Medications and other treatments can help people manage their symptoms and improve functioning.

There are about 11 million people in the United States living with ADHD.[2] Some research suggests that people with ADHD may have an increased risk of developing substance use disorder (SUD).

This article will explore the connection between ADHD and addiction.

What you will learn:

  • The symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
  • Why there is a link between ADHD and addiction
  • What happens during treatment for ADHD and addiction
  • Where to find comprehensive addiction treatment and support

If you or someone in your life lives with ADHD and SUD, you are not alone. Contact the Alamo Behavioral Health specialists to learn about our treatment and support programs.

What is ADHD?

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health condition. ADHD can cause symptoms that include:[1]

  • Impulsivity
  • Hyperactivity
  • Inattentiveness

These symptoms can significantly disrupt people’s lives. Children with ADHD symptoms may receive a diagnosis and begin treatment. Studies show that the average age of diagnosis of ADHD is seven years old. However, some people do not receive a diagnosis until adulthood.

People with this condition require comprehensive treatment plans to help them manage the symptoms of ADHD. Individuals with ADHD may benefit from taking prescription stimulant medications.[3] They may also make lifestyle changes and learn new coping skills to reduce symptoms.

What is the Link Between ADHD and Substance Abuse?

Research shows a connection between ADHD and addiction. People with substance use disorder (SUD) are up to ten times more likely to have ADHD than the general population.[4,5]

There is no evidence to suggest ADHD can lead to addiction. However, experts believe there are several factors that may be responsible for the link between ADHD and substance abuse.

Some experts believe that symptoms of ADHD, like impulsivity, may make people more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol. They theorize that people with ADHD may be more likely to experiment with addictive substances or relapse after treatment.

Other experts believe that people with ADHD may be more likely to abuse their prescription stimulants. Many of the prescription drugs used in treating ADHD are controlled substances with a risk of abuse and addiction.

What Drugs Are Used to Treat ADHD?

Doctors sometimes prescribe medications to help people with ADHD manage their symptoms. Here is an overview of the medications used to treat ADHD.

Stimulants

Several prescription stimulants can relieve symptoms of ADHD, including:[3]

  • Vyvanse
  • Ritalin
  • Adderall

The stimulant effects of these medications can increase central nervous system activity, which can decrease the symptoms of ADHD.

Non-stimulant medications

Doctors sometimes prescribe non-stimulant drugs for people with ADHD and substance use disorder. These prescription drugs include:[6]

  • Clonidine
  • Strattera
  • Guanfacine

People may use these medications along with other prescription drugs to reduce ADHD symptoms. These non-stimulant medications are not controlled substances and do not have a risk of addiction.

Many risk factors may contribute to a person’s likelihood of developing SUD. However, some experts believe taking addictive stimulant drugs may contribute to the link between ADHD and addiction.

What to Expect in Treatment for ADHD and Addiction

When someone lives with a mental health condition and addiction, they require specialized dual diagnosis treatment for both conditions. Alamo Behavioral Health offers comprehensive dual-diagnosis treatment programs in San Antonio for ADHD and substance use disorder.

Here is an overview of what to expect during treatment.

Assessment

Before you start treatment, a mental health or medical professional will assess your needs. This assessment may consist of:

  • Questions about your past and current substance use
  • A mental health and medical history
  • Lab testing
  • Physical exam

Your treatment team may also ask about your family history of substance abuse or collect other relevant information.

Detox

The information you provide in your assessment will help your team create the most effective detox treatment plan. Your detox plan may include:

  • Medications to manage withdrawal symptoms
  • Round-the-clock access to treatment and support
  • Emotional support, including group and individual counseling, when appropriate
  • Mindfulness, yoga, nutrition support, and other holistic therapies

During detox, your team will provide consistent supervision and treatment to keep you safe and comfortable. This care can significantly increase your likelihood of completing detox.

Treatment

After completing your tailored detox program, you will begin to follow a specialized plan. Your treatment plan will address the physical, behavioral, and emotional aspects of your substance abuse.

Your plan may include:

  • Individual, group, and family counseling
  • Medications and medical care
  • Mental health treatment and behavioral therapies
  • Relapse prevention education
  • Exercise, art therapy, mindfulness, and other holistic therapies
  • Aftercare planning and support programs

Your treatment team will provide treatment to help you manage your ADHD symptoms while addressing substance abuse. This process may include exploring new medications to treat ADHD, if necessary.

Find Treatment Now

If you or a loved one lives with ADHD and addiction, effective treatment is available at Alamo Behavioral Health. Contact our specialists to learn about our treatment and support programs or to schedule an intake assessment.

References:

  1. American Psychiatric Association (APA): What is ADHD?
  2. Columbia University Department of Psychiatry: Effort Underway to Develop First U.S. Guidelines for ADHD in Adults
  3. National Institute of Health (NIH): Treatment of ADHD: Drugs, psychological therapies, devices, complementary and alternative methods as well as the trends in clinical trials
  4. Industrial Psychiatry Journal: Prevalence of adult ADHD in patients with substance use disorder in North East India
  5. Springer Link: Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Substance Abuse
  6. National Institute of Health (NIH): Non-Stimulant Treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Medically Reviewed: July 16, 2024

Medical Reviewer

Chief Editor

medically-verified

All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *