Children with ADHD at Greater Risk of Substance Abuse, Study Suggests

Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely to use substances including nicotine, marijuana and cocaine, and to develop substance use disorders, a review of 27 long-term studies concludes.

The study found that children with ADHD are up to three times more likely than children without the disorder to use, abuse or become dependent on these substances. USA Today reports that the researchers found that teenagers with ADHD were 1.5 times more likely to try marijuana than those without the disorder. They were also more likely to try nicotine and illegal substances at an earlier age, the researchers reported in Clinical Psychology Review.

The study was an analysis of 27 long-term studies that included a total of 4,100 youth with ADHD and 6,800 without the disorder. They were followed from childhood into young adulthood.