ADHD Medication: Cause Addiction, or Fix it?
ByIt’s the ADHD version of the age old question: Which came first the chicken or the egg?
Instead, researchers – and many parents as well – have asked: Is the use of the stimulant Ritalin that causes some teens with ADD/ADHD use illicit drugs or is the ADHD itself that triggers this problem.
Professionals and others have weighed in on this problem for years. And now, authors of a new study believe they may have figured out the conundrum. A study, published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine says that for girls with ADHD at least, using prescription drugs to treat their ADD/ADHD actually makes them less susceptible to abusing recreational drugs.
The study uses recent findings that boys with ADD/ADHD were also less likely to abuse illegal drugs if they were medicated for their health condition.
The study evaluated 114 girls – from age six to 18. Of these 94 of them were medicated for their health problem; the other 20 were not. The researchers discovered that those who were treated with prescription drugs were about half as likely to not only take illicit drugs, but also were less likely to consume alcohol and some cigarettes.
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Dr. Kenny
p.s. to learn more about ADD/ADHD medication, please visit: Medication Mastery
Technorati Tags: ADHD Medication, ADD Medication, Addiction
i am an addict,and i take vyvanse70mg and i have never taken more than im suppose too,ive also been on ritilin,and adderall never abused them.i think opiates are more likely to be abused.i took them for legitimate pain at first,but after awhile it helped mask my adhd.in my opinion they should be alot tougher on the growing appetite for opiates.it allmost ruined my life,and almost killed me.it just goes to show if you dont treat your adhd,you will find something whether its alchol or cocaine,thats the problem people dont get treatment,or cant afford it.also if you are a addict dr,s are hesitant to treat you.its been three years clean off opiates now,well i had help with suboxone,but i still was not right,luckily i found a doc who gave me a chance.i have been on vyvanse for a year since i have been on it i have gone from 32mg of suboxone too 8mg.and i will be going too 4mg next month.but i dont think i could have come down without the vyvanse.im just happy to be getting my life back.