The Forums › Forums › Ask The Community › recently (and unexpectedly) diagnosed- and still floundering › Re: recently (and unexpectedly) diagnosed- and still floundering
There’s a very high percentage of people with ADHD (especially undiagnosed ADHD), who have substance abuse issues.
It’s partly the lack of the executive function to say to yourself, “I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to do that,” and partly the lack of dopamine (or dopamine receptors) in the brain of an ADHD person. The substances cause a release of dopamine, which makes us feel good, and when something feels good to us, we tend to keep doing it.
There’s also our tendency to indulge in risky behaviours in order to get an adrenaline kick to stimulate our under-functioning right pre-frontal cortexes.
When someone with ADHD is being properly treated with meds (even when the meds are stimulant-based, and, therefore, prone to being abused), the addictive behaviours actually decrease significantly. So the patient is LESS likely to abuse the meds, than to abuse other substances.
I know from my own experience with Concerta that it greatly reduced my cravings for carbs, fats, and other illicit, high-calorie yummies…except at night, when the Concerta had worn off.
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