Turning Points in the Lives of Youth of With/Without ADHD: Are They Linked to Changes in Substance Use?

OBJECTIVE: This study examines the behavior beliefs, social supports, and turning points in individuals with/without ADHD related to their substance use/abuse (SU/A) decisions. METHOD: The coded interviews from 60 participants with/without ADHD were compared for their SU/A decisions and precipitants with these decisions among abstainers, persisters, and desisters. RESULTS: ADHD participants reported fewer social advantages to avoid SU/A than non-ADHD participants. Desisters and persisters reported more social advantages of using drugs than abstainers. Persisters reported both more negative and positive psychological/physiological effects of SU/A. ADHD participants reported fewer positive role models in their lives. Non-ADHD patients reported more positive turning points than ADHD participants, regardless of SU/A status. CONCLUSION: ADHD individuals face challenges in making healthy decisions about SU/A due to lack of positive role models. Reinforcing accurate behavioral beliefs may be important to change behaviors in individuals with SU/A or to prevent SU/A initiation in ADHD individuals.

Duke Scholars

Author John T Mitchell Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Adult Psychiatry & Psychol ...

Author Karen Cameron Wells Psychiatry, Child & Family Mental Health & Community Psychia ...