HealthDay (3/20, Neff) reported a study suggests “that the very patients who could benefit from ADHD medication the most – those also struggling with drug or alcohol addiction – are the least likely to receive it.” For the study, researchers “analyzed the health records of more than 1.2 million people between 15 and 25 years of age with ADHD.” They observed that when young adults with ADHD and a substance use disorder “stayed on their ADHD medication, they saw a 30% reduction in their risk of death over five years. These patients also had fewer accidental overdoses and were less likely to harbor thoughts of self-harm.” The study “noted that patients on stimulants had a 4% lower rate of suicide attempts compared to those on non-stimulant alternatives.” Despite these benefits, “the study pointed to hesitation on the part of some doctors because some ADHD meds, particularly central nervous system stimulants, are controlled substances.” The study was published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
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— “Some Patients With ADHD and Addiction History Missing Out,”Deanna Neff, HealthDay, March 20, 2026