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August 25, 2021 – “One potential explanation for the extremely high rate of illicit drug use among those with ADHD is the accelerated gateway hypothesis,” co-author Senyo Agbeyaka, a recent University of Toronto MSW graduate and a social worker at University Health Network, said in a news release. “This theory posits that people with ADHD tend to initiate substance use at a younger age, resulting in riskier use and greater problem severity in adulthood.”
Some of the other findings include:
More than 27% of people with ADHD suffered from depression compared to 11% of adults who weren’t diagnosed with ADHD.
Nearly 35% with the disorder reported having been physically abused and 11% were victims of sexual abuse before they turned 16 years old.
“These results emphasize the importance of addressing depression and anxiety when providing care to those with co-occurring ADHD and SUD,” lead author Esme Fuller-Thomson, a professor at University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and Director of the Institute for Life Course and Aging, said in a news release. “Individuals with untreated depression and anxiety may self-medicate to manage the symptoms of an untreated psychiatric disorder, which can result in greater substance use.”
