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Factors of ADHD Medication Use Study

Author: University of Michigan
Published: 2016/06/09 - Updated: 2021/05/24
Topic: Pharmaceuticals - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Study finds youth taking stimulant medication for ADHD early in life no more at risk for substance abuse in later adolescence than teens without ADHD. Males more likely to use stimulant medication therapy for ADHD - no gender differences were found for nonstimulant medication therapy. Nearly 1 in 8 U.S. high school seniors have used stimulant or nonstimulant medication therapy for ADHD.

Introduction

Youth who take Ritalin, Adderall or other stimulant medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) over an extended period of time early in life are no more at risk for substance abuse in later adolescence than teens without ADHD, according to a University of Michigan study.

Main Content

The findings also show that teens who start using stimulant medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder for a short time later in adolescence - during middle or high school - are at high risk of substance use..

The U-M research is believed to be the first national study to compare early-use and longer-duration stimulant medication therapy with nonstimulant therapy for ADHD.

A large sample size of high school seniors also meant researchers could separate doctor-prescribed ADHD medication use by gender. The results show no gender differences in the overall associations between stimulant medication therapy for ADHD and risk of substance use, said Sean Esteban McCabe, a research professor at the U-M Institute for Research on Women and Gender.

More than 40,000 individuals from 10 cohorts nationwide between 2005 to 2014, answered questions about ADHD medication use and recent substance use as part of the Monitoring the Future study.

Among the Findings

Given that higher substance-use behaviors are associated with later initiation of stimulant medications for ADHD during adolescence, the researchers recommend monitoring this later initiation subgroup carefully for pre-existing risk factors or the onset of substance use behaviors.

About the Study

McCabe collaborated with Kara Dickinson, former intern at the U-M Institute for Research on Women and Gender; Brady West, research associate professor at the U-M Institute for Social Research; and Dr. Timothy Wilens of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University.

The findings appear in the current issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institutes of Health supported research grants for the study.

Study: www.jaacap.com/article/S0890-8567(16)30099-5/abstract

Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by University of Michigan and published on 2016/06/09, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.

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Cite This Page: University of Michigan. (2016, June 9 - Last revised: 2021, May 24). Factors of ADHD Medication Use Study. Disabled World (DW). Retrieved June 14, 2025 from www.disabled-world.com/medical/pharmaceutical/adhd-meds.php

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