Although there is certain amount of attraction among teenagers towards substance abuse, a new study suggests that teenagers suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more vulnerable to substance abuse issues as compared to the teens without this disorder. The findings of the research, as recorded in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, gave some startling statistics.

The number story

ADHD and substance abuse is a relatively new research that has a long way to go. The study conducted by researchers at the School of Medicine, University of Pittsburg, found out that by 15 years of age, 35 percent of teenagers with ADHD claimed they have used some sort of substance, as compared to 20 percent teens without this mental disorder.

The teenage substance abuse becomes drastic by age 17, as 13 percent of teens with ADHD have already smoked marijuana as compared to 7 percent of their peers without the disorder. Similarly, the use of tobacco was also higher among teens with ADHD.

However, the study revealed that ADHD had no effect on the rate of alcohol use, which was found to be quite high among kids both with and without ADHD.

The lead researcher, Brooke Molina of the School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, said, “These findings also are the strongest test to date of the association between medication for ADHD and teenage substance abuse.”

Finding cause and effect

So the question arises, what causes substance abuse among ADHD teens? Some researchers have argued that it is the drugs which harm the normal development of the brain, which increases the chances of various forms of mental illnesses during adolescence. This usually occurs among teens that are vulnerable to mental health issues. On the other hand, researchers have also argued that teens with mental illnesses abuse medication drugs which lead to substance dependency and abuse. However, it can’t be ascertained what causes the other, which would be quite informative in dealing with teenage substance abuse.

ADHD meds: killer in disguise?

Parents with teens suffering from ADHD have often voiced their concerns about ADHD drugs. Their worries are not exaggerated as most of the stimulant drugs given to ADHD patients are also consumed as recreational drugs by many teens. So the question arises if the ADHD meds risk the substance abuse among the teens?

A 13-year study conducted to find the effect of the treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder with stimulants on drug use or abuse found “no compelling evidence that stimulant treatment of children with ADHD leads to an increased risk for substance experimentation, use, dependence, or abuse by adulthood.”

In another study, conducted in 2008, followed the development of 114 ADHD children for five years till they reached the age of 16. Researchers found out that 94 kids who were treated with stimulant medications displayed no risk of substance abuse, linked to the use of stimulant drugs. On the contrary, their research revealed that 73 percent of these teens on stimulant drugs were less likely to have substance abuse disorder.

Therefore, it is wise for the parents to be concerned about the effects of stimulant drugs on their ADHD teens, but they should also be vigilant about their kids’ misuse of the medication, which is even more of a danger.