A recent study by the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center shows that teens diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorder are more likely to use alcohol and tobacco. Published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, the research was conducted on more than 2,500 teens between the ages of 12 and 15. Results showed that teens with both these comorbid disorders had a three- to five-times increased likelihood of using tobacco and alcohol and initiated use at a younger age than those who had neither diagnosed disorder.
Adolescents who had ADHD alone were associated to an increased likelihood of tobacco use but not alcohol use. Pediatrician Dr. William Brinkman stated,
“Adolescents who use substances before the mid-teen years are more likely to develop dependence on them than individuals who start later. This is why prevention is so important”.
Implementing a random student drug testing program in your school can encourage a drug-free environment while preventing future users from becoming dependent.
For more information on this study, click here.
