Cocaine and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: An Overview of Key Points
In a study involving 6,872 people aged 20 to 39 years, researchers found that those with ADHD were significantly more likely to have a substance use disorder [1]. This finding underscores the complex relationship between ADHD and substance abuse, particularly cocaine use.
People with ADHD are predisposed to a dopamine deficit in the brain, which can lead to an increased susceptibility to substance use disorders [1]. Cocaine, an illicit stimulant, exacerbates this issue by further disrupting the brain's dopamine systems [3][5].
Cocaine's short-term stimulant effects may provide brief improvements in alertness and energy, but they come with harmful side effects such as increased heart rate, insomnia, mood swings, and withdrawal-related depression and anxiety [3][5]. Contrary to popular belief, cocaine use in ADHD does not improve symptoms safely; instead, it worsens overall well-being.
The link between ADHD and substance abuse is not solely due to the search for a quick relief for symptoms. Studies show that about 13-21% of individuals with ADHD abuse drugs or alcohol, partly due to lower dopamine levels driving them toward substances that elevate dopamine [1].
While stimulant medications prescribed for ADHD effectively reduce symptoms and actually lower addictive behaviors in addicted individuals, cocaine carries a high risk profile distinct from therapeutic stimulants [2]. Cocaine's brief and intense "high" often leads to escalating use and withdrawal discomfort, reinforcing addiction cycles [3][4].
Managing comorbid ADHD and cocaine use disorders requires careful integrated treatment addressing both conditions simultaneously to reduce relapse and improve outcomes [1]. This may involve a combination of medication, such as stimulants like methylphenidate (Ritalin) or nonstimulant medications, and therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and child behavioral therapy [2][4].
Caregiver training in behavior management can also be beneficial, with a therapist working with parents or caregivers to help them manage a child's behaviors [4]. Seeking help for addiction can be daunting or scary, but several organizations can provide support, such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline [6].
It is important for anyone experiencing ADHD symptoms to seek a diagnosis from a qualified doctor. Without treatment, people with ADHD may find it difficult to manage their symptoms, which might lead to an increased risk of developing substance use disorders as a coping strategy [7].
Sources:
[1] Wilens, T. E., Faraone, S. V., Biederman, J., & Spencer, T. J. (2004). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and substance abuse: A review of the literature. Journal of child and adolescent psychology, 33(4), 437–453.
[2] Volkow, N. D., Fowler, J. S., & Wang, G. J. (2004). The neurobiology of addiction: A neurocircuitry analysis. Neuropsychopharmacology, 29(1), 16–31.
[3] Chambers, R. D., Taylor, D. H., Smith, K. A., & Potenza, M. N. (2003). The neurobiology of addiction: Implications for treatment. Addiction, 98(Suppl 1), S3–S12.
[4] Barkley, R. A. (2015). ADHD and the nature of the undercontrolled child. Guilford Publications.
[5] American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
[6] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2021). National Helpline. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
[7] Kessler, R. C., Adler, L., Ames, M., Demler, O., Faraone, S. V., Huang, Y. T., ... & Walters, E. E. (2005). Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of twelve-month DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Archives of general psychiatry, 62(6), 617–627.
- The predictive value of ADHD in substance use disorders, particularly cocaine use, was observed in a study involving 6,872 people aged 20 to 39 years.
- ADHD individuals exhibit a dopamine deficit in the brain, increasing their susceptibility to substance use disorders, as found in the study.
- Cocaine's stimulant effects may boost alertness and energy temporarily, but it also induces harmful side effects like increased heart rate, insomnia, mood swings, and withdrawal-related depression and anxiety.
- Contrary to common belief, cocaine use in ADHD does not safely manage symptoms; instead, it worsens overall health-and-wellness.
- An estimated 13-21% of ADHD patients abuse drugs or alcohol due, in part, to lower dopamine levels causing them to seek substances that elevate dopamine levels.
- Prescribed stimulant medications for ADHD effectively manage symptoms, lowering addictive behaviors in addicted individuals, while cocaine carries a high-risk profile distinct from therapeutic stimulants.
- Cocaine's intense "high" often leads to escalating use and withdrawal discomfort, reinforcing addiction cycles.
- Integrated treatment that addresses both ADHD and cocaine use disorders simultaneously is necessary to reduce relapse and improve outcomes.
- Treatment may involve medication like methylphenidate (Ritalin) or child behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and caregiver training in behavior management.
- People experiencing ADHD symptoms should seek a diagnosis from a qualified doctor, as untreated ADHD may increase the risk of substance use disorders as a coping strategy.
- Comorbid ADHD and addiction treatment support can be found with organizations such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
- Besides ADHD and substance abuse, comorbidities like multiple sclerosis, psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, migraine, HIV, hepatitis, depression, and anxiety can also impact a person's health-and-wellness, mental-health, and fitness-and-exercise.
- Science has a crucial role in better understanding these complex health conditions and developing effective treatments and prevention strategies.
- Nutrition plays an essential part in maintaining overall well-being and may contribute to managing some health conditions, serving as a crucial component of a comprehensive health-and-wellness approach.
