NIH Research Suggests Stimulant Treatment for ADHD Does Not Contribute to Substance Abuse Later in Life

According to a April 1, 2008, press release by the National Institutes of Health, NIH, recent studies indicate that the use of stimulate medication to minimize symptoms of ADHD in youth does not contribute to substance abuse. Here is a brief snippet of the release:

Treating children as early as age six or seven with stimulants for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is not likely to increase risk of substance abuse as adults, according to two studies funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). However, the studies also showed treatment with stimulants did not prevent substance abuse later in adulthood. The studies, conducted by researchers at New York University School of Medicine (NYU) and the Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School (Mass General) are being published in this month’s American Journal of Psychiatry.

Link: NIH Research Suggests Stimulant Treatment for ADHD Does Not Contribute to Substance Abuse Later in Life, April 1, 2008 News Release - National Institutes of Health (NIH).