Alcohol Abuse, Adulthood and ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the world’s most common developmental conditions. A recent collaborative study conducted in the United States and subsequently published in the journal Addiction shows that greater levels of impulsive behaviour (e.g. lack of planning, lack of perseverance and sensation seeking) amongst children with ADHD are associated with an increased risk for developing alcohol problems in later life. This finding is significant because the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists alcohol abuse as the third most frequent cause of preventable deaths in the United States. In a related study carried out in Sweden, heredity was found to be a key factor behind adults with ADHD developing a dependence for alcohol and binge-eating. As such, it concludes that ADHD ought to be treated early to help prevent individuals from developing these disorders during adulthood.