Alcohol and other substance use is an internationally widespread form of human behavior and expression, especially in young adult demographics. It has often been noted that young adulthood is marked by experimentation and discovery; these attitudes and beliefs, while not inherently harmful, may encourage risky use of different substances, both legal and illicit. Substance use disorder is particularly prevalent in the young adult demographic, and high-risk individuals benefit from early treatment and intervention. Comorbidities are relatively common in substance use disorder, with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) being no exception. ADHD, hallmarked by impairing symptoms related to inattention, restlessness, and impulsivity, is commonly thought of as a psychiatric diagnosis of childhood and adolescence, however the condition has been found to persist proportionally into adulthood. This paper investigates relationships between ADHD and substance use disorders in Canadian young adults.
This study’s sample is extracted from a nationally representative, population-based Canadian mental health project named the Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health, which dates to 2012. Individual profiles which contained complete information on substance use and ADHD responses composed the extracted sample of 6872 respondents (n= 6872, aged 20-39). Of this cohort, 270 respondents reported a diagnosis of ADHD, while the remainder did not report a history of ADHD. Specific measures used included demographics, socioeconomic status, mental health history, childhood traumatic event history, reported ADHD, smoking status, alcohol use, cannabis use, and other substance use. The data was analyzed using chi-square tests and logistic regression modelling.
Results of the analysis found individuals diagnosed with ADHD reported substance use disorder criteria at nearly double the rate of those without ADHD (36% vs. 19%, p<0.001). This included all sub-forms related to alcohol, cannabis, and other substances. Additional factors which contributed to this association included a history of internalizing mental health conditions (anxiety and depression), childhood trauma, and decreased socioeconomic status.
Takeaway: ADHD is suggested to predispose individuals to substance use disorders. This finding is consistent across the majority of literature investigating these topics.