ADHD/ADD

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ADHD and Substance Abuse
It is necessary for the guardians/parents of children with “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)” to understand the threats posed by the condition as well as the medication concerning substance abuse. This will help them make informed decisions when treating the Child. It has been alleged that the stimulant medications administered to children suffering from this condition lead to substance abuse at an older age (Indiana University 1). This has caused a lot of stigmatization in public, with the news stories focusing on children that abuse the medication and have not been diagnosed with ADHD. This essay provides an analysis of how ADHD and the medication is linked to substance abuse.
According to a recent study carried out at the “University of California (UCLA)” in 2013, the medication administered to children with ADHD does not in any way increase or decrease the risk of substance abuse in the future. The research provided an analysis of 15 studies where thousands of children between the ages of 8 and 20 had been considered. According to the lead author, “We found no association between the use of medication such as Ritalin and future abuse of alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, and cocaine.” (Miller 1).
The findings of this study invalidate the conclusions drawn from earlier researches where it was claimed that childhood treatment of ADHD increases the substance abuse risk. There were other studies conducted in 2003 that came up with the conclusion that medication treatment reduced the older age substance abuse risk by half.

No such findings were found in the UCLA research. The study, therefore, undercuts all the research and documentation that was done earlier. Though the recent findings do not link medication to either the reduction or increase in the risk of substance abuse, children with ADHD are still at high risk of developing substance abuse when compared to other kids.
The group of UCLA scientists who invalidated the previous findings claimed later on that the ADHD condition puts children at risk of developing addictions. They arrived at this conclusion after conducting yet another analysis on the studies that had already been carried out. They pointed out that addictions among young adults and adolescents with ADHD were twice or thrice as likely when compared to the rest. The research, therefore, attributed the risk to the disorder and not the treatment (Miller 1).
Ritalin, which is one of the drugs used in treating ADHD has also been studied thoroughly to identify the potential risks involved. After intensive research, it was noted that when the drug is taken as per the prescription, the potential risks are extremely minimal. However, the findings do not dismiss the possible potential consequences that may result from abuse of the drug. Studies have also been conducted on the Methylphenidate drug. The findings proved that it is not a “gateway drug” as termed by the media where it was claimed that the drug led to other addictions (Seay 1).
It can, therefore, be noted that parents, guardians, young adults and adolescents are supposed to be cautious with substance abuse when dealing with ADHD. It can also be concluded that ADHD medication does not influence the risk of future addiction. ADHD medications have been noted to be life-savers for kids with the disorder. Therefore, drugs such as Ritalin and Adderall as well as other medications should not be denied to children struggling with ADHD.
Works Cited
Indiana University. “ADHD medication tied to lower risk for alcohol, drug abuse in teens and adults.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 July 2017. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170712201249.htm.
Miller, Caroline. “ADHD Medication Addiction | ADHD Medications for Children.” Child Mind Institute, Child Mind Institute, 11 Oct. 2017, childmind.org/article/adhd-meds-lead-addiction/.
Seay, Bob. “What You Should Know About ADHD Meds If You Have a History of Substance Abuse.” ADDitude, ADDitude, 9 Jan. 2018, www.additudemag.com/adhd-medication-substance-abuse-drug-use/.