Treatment of Comorbid Substance Use Disorders and ADHD in Youth

Abstract

There has been great interest in the overlap between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and substance use disorder (SUD). Studies have shown that ADHD increases the risk of SUD and that 25–40 % of adults and adolescents with SUD have ADHD. The mechanism linking these disorders probably encompasses various behavioral, biologic, and genetic factors. Early pharmacotherapy of ADHD does not increase SUD and in fact, appears to reduce cigarette smoking and SUD. In individuals with ADHD and SUD, stabilization of SUD is recommended initially with consideration of adjunct non-stimulant and extended-release stimulant medications. More research on the mechanisms of overlap between the disorders, preventive effects of early ADHD treatment on SUD, and concurrent treatments for ADHD and SUD are necessary.