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Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder in the drug and alcohol clinic
Author(s) -
Tucker Peter
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
drug and alcohol review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.018
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1465-3362
pISSN - 0959-5236
DOI - 10.1080/09595239996509
Subject(s) - attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , drug , psychiatry , attention deficit disorder , psychology , alcohol , medicine , chemistry , biochemistry
Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a disorder generally seen in children but more recently found in many cases to persist to adulthood, has been found to be associated with later development of substance abuse. The author reviews evidence for this, and for the possible mediating role of antisocial behaviour in this association. It is concluded that the latter may have a predominating role, but that in any case there is likely to be a significant number of adults with ADHD in substance‐abusing populations. It is doubtful that such individuals are truly self‐medicating their psychiatric disorder. Suggestions are made regarding an approach to this problem of dual diagnosis.