Troubled Teens Resources

One of the first concerns that parents of ADHD teens express is that medicating their teen will set them up for full blown teen age drug abuse.If nothing else, some parents feel that it will introduce them into a life long habit of seeking answers from a pill bottle. Though such concerns are understandable, there is no definitive research to support those fears.

What research has shown is that animals used in testing did later demonstrate drug seeking behavior, but the doses that they were administered were 50-200 times higher than any human would ingest.

“What is relevant is what we know about adults and teens who were give medications as children. Ten studies that have addressed this important issue.

• Six of the studies demonstrate clearly that earlier treatment results in reduced substance abuse.
• Three studies show no difference.
• One study shows higher risk for substance abuse connected to earlier treatment.
• No study shows any increased risk of substance abuse when the severity of ADHD is factored in.

Treatment isn’t all that matters. So does treatment response. Studies show that adolescents with ADHD who respond well to their medications are at lower risk for substance abuse compared than those who respond poorly to their medication.

In summary:

• Stimulant treatment of ADHD appears to result in reduced alcohol and drug problems, not increased substance abuse.
• Some ADHD youth and adults self medicate with substances to treat their ADHD and self esteem problems. Treating ADHD with medication may reduce this phenomenon.”

(source)