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Prevalence and Characteristics of Adolescent Patients with Co-Occurring ADHD and Substance Dependence

NCJ Number
207607
Journal
Journal of Addictive Diseases Volume: 23 Issue: 4 Dated: 2004 Pages: 31-40
Author(s)
Susan Merle Gordon Ph.D.; Frank Tulak Psy.D; Joseph Troncale M.D.
Editor(s)
Barry Stimmel M.D.
Date Published
2004
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study analyzed whether substance use disorder (SUD)-diagnosed adolescents with co-morbid Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) were more likely than other SUD adolescents to abuse or divert psychostimulants.
Abstract
Higher than expected rates of co-occurring Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have been found in adolescents in treatment for substance use disorders (SUD) with prevalence estimates of co-morbidity of SUD and ADHD in addiction treatment settings ranging from 30 to 50 percent. Utilizing a data sample of 162 adolescents (n = 104 males and n = 58 females) admitted to treatment for SUD at a residential treatment program for adolescents from October 2002 to February 2003, participants were given a structured interview concerning ADHD and psychostimulant abuse by a staff psychologist. The results indicated that 31 percent of the interviewed patients had current ADHD diagnosis and 20 percent reported illicit diversion of Schedule II medication. The Schedule II medications discussed are the psychostimulant medications methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine, which are generally considered to be safe and effective in treating ADHD in adolescent patients. The study is limited in that it used self-report data and it did not include information on other psychiatric diagnoses for the adolescent patients. Treatment for this population of adolescents should minimize the use of easily abused and diverted Schedule II psychostimulants. References