ADHD kids '2 to 3 times more prone to substance abuse problems'

Washington, Feb 12 (ANI): According to a study by UCLA psychologists and colleagues at the University of South Carolina, children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are two to three times more likely than children without the disorder to develop serious substance abuse problems in adolescence and adulthood.

"This greater risk for children with ADHD applies to boys and girls, it applies across race and ethnicity - the findings were very consistent," said Steve S. Lee, a UCLA assistant professor of psychology and lead author of the study.

"The greater risk for developing significant substance problems in adolescence and adulthood applies across substances, including nicotine, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and other drugs."

Lee and his colleagues analyzed 27 long-term studies that followed approximately 4,100 children with ADHD and 6,800 children without the disorder into adolescence and young adulthood - in some cases for more than 10 years. These carefully designed, rigorous and lengthy studies, Lee said, are the "gold standard" in the field.

The researchers combined all the published studies that met rigorous criteria and analyzed them together. They found that children with ADHD were at greater risk for serious problems such as addiction, abuse and trying to quit but being unable to, Lee said.

The study has been published online in the journal Clinical Psychology Review. (ANI)