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Cited by 57Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderSubstance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesOpioid Use Disorder Treatment

A naturalistic study of the effects of pharmacotherapy on substance use disorders among ADHD adults

FARAONE, STEPHEN V., BIEDERMAN, JOSEPH, WILENS, TIMOTHY E., ADAMSON, JOEL·2007·Psychological Medicine
DOI 10.1017/s0033291707000335
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Abstract

Background: Studies of adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show an elevated prevalence of substance use disorders (SUDs) and the substance abuse literature shows that ADHD is elevated in substance users. Some researchers postulate that stimulant treatment of ADHD increases the risk for SUD in ADHD patients but follow-up studies suggest treatment protects patients from subsequent SUDs. This report uses retrospective data to assess the impact of prior ADHD pharmacotherapy on SUDs in 206 ADHD adults (n=79 late-onset ADHD, n=127 full ADHD) grouped by lifetime history of ADHD treatment (no treatment, past treatment, current and past treatment). Method: Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) data were used to establish abuse and dependence, and Drug Use Screening Inventory (DUSI) responses were used to establish prevalence of use, preference for cigarettes, alcohol and drugs of abuse, complications from use, and motivation for use (get high, change mood, sleep better). Results: No differences were found in the prevalence of cigarette smoking, alcohol or drug abuse or dependence, as well as no significant differences in 1-month prevalence of any use or use more than 20 times. No differences were found in complications of drug or alcohol use across groups. Subjects with current treatment rated getting high as a motivating factor significantly more frequently than subjects in the past treatment group; this result lost significance when we included ADHD diagnostic category. Conclusions: Our results are consistent across substances and ADHD diagnoses, and support the hypothesis that pharmacotherapy does not cause subsequent SUDs.

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Crossref · 10.1017/s0033291707000335

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  • Eleven studies (48%) found no effect of stimulant use on the development of SUD compared to individuals who did not receive treatment for ADHD.

    “Eleven studies (48%) found no effect of stimulant use on the development of SUD compared to individuals who did not receive treatment for ADHD”

    From The Impact of Pharmacotherapy of Childhood-Onset Psychiatric Disorders on the Development of Substance Use Disorders (2022) · cites this paper as Faraone et al. 2007

  • ADHD is considered an important factor in the aetiology of substance use disorders because substances are often used for self-medication and may relieve symptoms like restlessness, inattention, impulsivity, and sleep problems, or may be taken as part of stimulus-seeking traits associated with ADHD.

    “With respect to substance use disorders, ADHD is considered an important factor in its aetiology as the substances are often used for self-medication and may relieve symptoms like restlessness, inattention, impulsivity and sleep problems [207,249-251]; or may be taken as part of stimulus seeking (novelty seeking) traits that are also associated with ADHD.”

    From European consensus statement on diagnosis and treatment of adult ADHD: The European Network Adult ADHD (2010) · cites this paper as [250]

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Authors
FARAONE, S. V., BIEDERMAN, J., WILENS, T. E., & ADAMSON, J.
Affiliations
  • SUNY Upstate Medical University (US)
  • Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
FARAONE, STEPHEN V.
ORCID
Venue
Psychological Medicine
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published
2007-03-12
Volume
37
Issue
12
Pages
1743-1752
ISSN
  • 0033-2917 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-8978
DOI
10.1017/s0033291707000335
OpenAlex
W2124087809
Cited by
57
References
27
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 10
FWCI
4.83
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified)
Locations
  • Psychological Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH057934, R01MH-57934)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA018659, K24 DA016264A2-03, K24DA016264, R01DA014419, R01 DA14419A2-05)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
Keywords
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, substance use disorders, stimulant pharmacotherapy, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, drug abuse, substance dependence, late-onset ADHD
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Alcoholism, Central Nervous System Stimulants, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Motivation, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors, Smoking, Illicit Drugs, Substance-Related Disorders

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