According to experts, addiction and mental health disorders are often co-occurring, making each condition more challenging to address. But among the long list of mental health issues, are ADHD and addiction more likely to co-exist?
In this post, we’ll discuss the connection between ADHD and substance abuse, how to prevent it, and where you can get help. Keep reading to see how you can help yourself or your loved one struggling with these conditions.
What is ADHD?
ADHD or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (formerly called ADD) is a brain condition that affects a person’s ability to pay attention or control their behavior.
While ADHD is widely known to children and teens, it can also occur or persist among adults. It can also manifest in either inattentiveness, hyperactive-compulsive, or a combination of both.
Among adults, ADHD is often characterized as forgetting things, being late all the time, having anger issues, trouble concentrating, procrastination, and the list goes on. If you’re struggling with any of these for extended periods, it’s best to consult with a professional for proper diagnosis.
Here are more of the tell-tale signs that a person has ADHD:
- Difficulty finishing tasks or chores
- Getting easily distracted
- Restlessness and constant fidgeting
- Forgetfulness or misplacing personal items many times
- Having issues with organization
- Finding it difficult to listen to others
- Mood swings (quick temper, frustration)
- Low self-esteem and negative self-talk
- Performance issues at school or work
In general, ADHD is a struggle on its own. But if you add drug abuse to the picture, it becomes a more serious and even dangerous combination.
The connection between ADHD and substance abuse
Take note that just because you have ADHD doesn’t mean you’re bound to form some type of addiction. Still, there’s no denying that there’s a strong connection between ADHD and alcoholism, as well as drug abuse.
According to a 2002 study, about 25% of adult patients receiving treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) have been diagnosed with ADHD. At the same time, 30% of teens with SUD also have co-occurring ADHD.
Also, studies show that children with ADHD are more likely to start drinking and abusing alcohol once they reach their teenage years. Those who have this psychological disorder are also found to be more susceptible to trying marijuana or other recreational substances.
So, how come individuals with ADHD are more likely to get into substance abuse? Here are some of the risk factors you should know:
Genetics
Experts see the impulsive behavior as the leading factor. However, you should also know that both ADHD and addiction can run in families, meaning some people may have a genetic predisposition to both conditions.
In general, those who have a family member with ADHD are four times more likely to inherit the same condition.
Exposure
Research shows a link between ADHD in children and the use of alcohol or tobacco during pregnancy. This increases the child’s possibility of developing substance dependency and substance use disorder as an adult.
Self-medication
Self-medicating ADHD increases a person’s risk of addiction. It’s because stimulants are often prescribed for ADHD. These drugs regulate dopamine production in the brain, which helps a person focus more.
Such benefits can be addictive, which leads some to take more than what’s prescribed. Worse, others will acquire the drugs outside of their prescription for ADHD self-medication, which could land them in drug rehab.
Social factors
Your environment can also impact your likelihood of developing drug addiction and ADHD. Peer pressure, access to illicit substances, and other influences will increase your risk of substance use.
ADHD and addiction treatment
When it comes to ADHD and substance use disorder, you can’t treat one without addressing the other. This is why the best way to treat these problems is to perform dual diagnosis.
At LA Wellness Home, we conduct dual SUD and ADHD diagnoses to medically determine if a person has co-occurring mental health disorders and substance use disorders. For example, it will let us know if you have ADHD and alcohol abuse or drug addiction and ADHD.
Through this, we can design a treatment for ADHD and addiction that will address each condition. It’s often a combination of a medical detox, medication management, behavioral therapy, counseling, and inpatient rehab in Los Angeles.
Take note that dual diagnosis is crucial because untreated ADHD and substance abuse will only lead to relapse. In the end, the person will just return to his old ways – something that we always aim to avoid.
Aside from that, we specifically treat co-occurring addiction based on the substance involved. For example, patients with ADHD and cocaine addiction could undergo cocaine addiction treatment, and those with methamphetamine and ADHD issues can enroll in our meth detox program.
Aside from that, we also offer heroin detox, marijuana addiction treatment, fentanyl detox, and so on.
Each of these programs is composed of varying modalities to ensure that we provide the best treatment plan to every client who comes to us for help.
Prevention tips for adult ADHD and substance abuse
Overall, experts are not fully sure what causes Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Still, there are many ways to prevent ADHD from leading to substance use disorder. Here’s what our specialists recommend:
- Don’t ignore the signs. If you suspect that a loved one has a case of ADHD and drug use, you should seek intervention as soon as possible. The earlier you provide help to someone with this condition, the easier it will be for them to overcome substance disorder.
- ADHD and self-medicating is a no-no. ADHD drug addiction often begins when someone misuses their prescription. It’s important to follow your doctor’s orders and practice extreme caution, even for the best over-the-counter ADHD medication for adults.
- Seek professional help. You are never alone on your journey to managing your ADHD symptoms and preventing the risk of SUD. If you or a loved one is struggling with ADHD and substance use, our addiction treatment center is just a call away.
- Develop healthy coping mechanisms. Whether or not you have SUD as a co-occurring disorder, developing positive coping mechanisms is a great way to manage your ADHD symptoms. Many of our clients with ADHD thrive when engaging in new hobbies.
- Surround yourself with the right people. Having people that positively influence your life will greatly reduce your risk of exploring illicit substances. It can be your family, friends, or the specialists at our inpatient rehab center who can guide you in maintaining a healthy and sober life.
Get help for ADHD and substance use today
Many people with ADHD often shy away from professional help due to the stigma and stereotypes that surround the condition. Worse, they end up using alcohol and drugs as coping mechanisms, which only creates a much bigger problem.
But in our Los Angeles rehab center, you’ll have a safe haven to overcome your substance use and mental health disorders. With us, you’ll have a team of medical doctors, registered nurses, therapists, counselors, and more who will help you recover from addiction and manage your ADHD symptoms.
If you need more answers or if you’re ready to seek help, feel free to contact our 24/7 helpline. We also provide free and confidential insurance verification to help you plan your treatment. All you need to do is reach out!
