ADHD as a Risk Factor for Alcoholism

Its really no surprise for those in the field, working with ADHD children and teens, but two new studies show that children with ADHD are more likely than other children to abuse alcohol in their teen years, and maybe beyond.

In one study, researchers found that 15- to 17-years olds with childhood ADHD reported being drunk an average of about 15 times during the previous year, compared to about 2 times for adolescents without ADHD.

Fourteen percent of the ADHD group was classified as alcohol abusers or alcohol dependent, but none of the youths in the non-ADHD group were. Before age 15, kids with ADHD didn't abuse alcohol any more than did other kids.

The study looked at 364 children with ADHD -- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder -- enrolled in the Pittsburgh ADHD Longitudinal Study.

Dexedrine (d-amphetamine)

Dexedrine is not prescribed very often for the treatment of ADHD out here in California, but those patients that we've seen on it have done well. Typically it is prescribed to patients who have not responded to Ritalin very well. It has the advantage of having a very nice long-lasting product (one dose per day). Usually it will not be prescribed to teenagers, or to individuals with a history of substance abuse. It can have retail value in the high school parking lot, and can be misused and abused.

Cylert (Sodium Pemoline)

Cylert seems to be prescribed most by neurologists and by the few pediatricians who are afraid to prescribe Ritalin. We don't recommend Cylert at all, and wonder why anyone actually prescribes it at all any more. It only works about half the time with patients, and can have very serious side-effects. We have been told that it causes hepatitis in 1/1000 of patients. We cannot verify this, but it's good enough for us to not recommend it to patients anyway. Even the manufacturer recommends against it as the first medication tried in treating Attention Deficit Disorder.

Besides Attend works as well or better and is much healthier and safer, so why mess with a medication that can cause such serious problems?

"Thanks for Noticin' Me" says Eeyore. He walks slowly. He looks sad. He doesn't accomplish much. He's just glad to be noticed. This is Eeyore, the stuffed donkey who is so often in need of his tail being pinned back on.

Eeyore is a good picture of what life is like for those who are impacted by the type of ADHD that includes sadness, or depression.

It is estimated that as many as 25% of all those with ADHD have to battle depression as well. This type of ADHD is called "Limbic System ADHD" by Daniel Amen, and for good reason. SPECT scans show that when the brain is at rest, there is increased activity deep in the limbic system, in parts of the brain called the thalamus and hypothalamus. There is also a decreased level of activity in the underside of the pre-frontal cortex.

When the brain is placed under a work load, as during a homework assignment, we would expect the under- active pre-frontal cortex to increase activity and get to work. But instead, nothing changes. The over- active limbic system remains over-active, and the under-active pre-frontal cortex remains under- active. Learn more about the neurology of ADHD.