Treating childhood ADHD with stimulant meds not associated with
increased substance use later in life, study finds

Date:
July 5, 2023
Source:
University of Pittsburgh
Summary:
Children taking a prescription stimulant to manage ADHD symptoms
are not at a higher risk of substance use disorder as adolescents
or young adults, according to new research.


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FULL STORY ========================================================================== Children taking a prescription stimulant to manage symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) do not have more substance use or substance use disorder (SUD) as adolescents or young adults, according
to a new study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School
of Medicine.

Published today in JAMA Psychiatry,the study may provide some reassurance
to parents and clinicians who may be hesitant to prescribe ADHD
stimulant medications for fear that they may lay the groundwork for
future substance use.

"Stimulants are the first-line treatment recommended for most individuals
with ADHD -- the drug class is an evidence-based treatment with few side effects," said Brooke Molina, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry, psychology
and pediatrics at Pitt. "Because stimulant medications are classified
by the Drug Enforcement Administration as schedule two substances with
the potential for misuse, many people fear that harmful substance use
could result." ADHD is a neurobehavioral condition marked by chronic
patterns of inattention, hyperactivity or impulsivity, or a combination of
the three, that affects a person's day-to-day functioning. Although ADHD
can be managed with medication and other therapeutic approaches, it is a chronic condition that must be monitored throughout an individual's life.

Molina and her colleagues assessed patients with ADHD over a 16-year
period from childhood through adolescence to early adulthood to see if
there was any association between stimulant treatment and subsequent
substance use. The study conducted at Pitt is among the first to address
the relationship between childhood use of prescription stimulants
and later SUD by accounting for dozens of demographic, clinical and psychosocial factors that may predispose an individual to treatment and substance use.

"Our study not only accounted for age, but also used a statistical method
that adjusted over time for the many characteristics that may distinguish treated from non-treated individuals," said study co-author Traci Kennedy, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry at Pitt. "Considering these
factors allowed us to more accurately test the relationship between
stimulants and substance use." While other studies have sought to
uncover and define a possible connection between prescription stimulant
use for ADHD and SUD, the association between the two has remained controversial. The results of some studies suggested a protective effect
of prescription stimulant use on the risk of having SUD later in life,
while others failed to find an association.

When factoring in age and other time-varying characteristics, such
as household income, behavior problems and parental support, Pitt
researchers found no evidence that prescription stimulant treatment in childhood provided protection against developing a SUD for adolescents
or young adults with ADHD. However, researchers likewise did not find
an association between stimulant use during childhood and increased
substance misuse in the future While some study participants self-reported
an increase over time in heavy drinking, marijuana use, daily cigarette
smoking and using other substances, an association with age was also found
for stimulant treatment, with older participants being less likely to
continue taking medication. When these trends were paired with rigorous statistical analysis, results provided no evidence that prolonged
stimulant use is associated with reduced or increased risk for SUD.

"We hope the results of this study will help educate providers and
patients," Molina said. "By understanding that stimulant medication
initially prescribed in childhood is not linked to harmful levels of
substance use, I anticipate that parents' and patients' fears will
be alleviated." Pitt researchers plan to study individuals who were
first diagnosed with ADHD and treated with stimulants in adulthood. The
study aims to learn if there are differences in the characteristics and outcomes of these adults compared to people who were diagnosed and first treated with stimulants in childhood.

Other authors of the study include Andrea Howard, Ph.D., of Carleton University, Canada; James Swanson, Ph.D., and Annamarie Stehli, M.P.H.,
both of the University of California, Irvine; L. Eugene Arnold, M.D.,
of The Ohio State University; John Mitchell, Ph.D., of Duke University;
Edward Kennedy, Ph.D., of Carnegie Mellon University; Jeffery Epstein,
Ph.D., of the University of Cincinnati; Lily Hechtman, M.D., of McGill University; Stephen Hinshaw, Ph.D., of the University of California,
Berkley; and Benedetto Vitello, M.D., of the University of Turin, Italy.

* RELATED_TOPICS
o Health_&_Medicine
# Attention_Deficit_Disorder # Mental_Health_Research #
Children's_Health # Controlled_Substances
o Mind_&_Brain
# Mental_Health # ADD_and_ADHD # Child_Development #
Illegal_Drugs
* RELATED_TERMS
o Methylphenidate o Adult_attention-deficit_disorder
o Attention-deficit_hyperactivity_disorder o
Controversy_about_ADHD o Bipolar_disorder o
Infectious_mononucleosis o Hyperactivity o Neurology

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========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Brooke S. G. Molina, Traci M. Kennedy, Andrea L. Howard, James M.

Swanson, L. Eugene Arnold, John T. Mitchell, Annamarie Stehli,
Edward H.

Kennedy, Jeffery N. Epstein, Lily T. Hechtman, Stephen P. Hinshaw,
Benedetto Vitiello. Association Between Stimulant Treatment and
Substance Use Through Adolescence Into Early Adulthood. JAMA
Psychiatry, 2023; DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.2157 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230705115144.htm

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