IMPACT OF DRUG/ALCOHOL USE ON TEENAGERS WITH ADHD/ADD

Teenagers with ADHD or ADD are vulnerable to drug abuse & alcohol abuse. Like the rest of the population a person with ADHD/ADD is more likely to abuse drugs if there is a family history of alcohol and drug abuse.

Environmental factors such as peer pressure, location, and the availability of the drug also contribute to a pattern of drug abuse in young people with ADHD/ADD. Drug use can interfere with prescribed medication & increase the symptoms of ADHD ADD.

Having difficulty developing social relationships, some people find themselves more easily accepted by groups whose social activity is based on drug or alcohol use. A person with ADHD or ADD may try to cope through drug/alcohol use. 

The effect of substance abuse on adolescents with ADHD/ADD

Substance abuse often results in the disintegration of social ties and relationships for users. For a teen with ADHD these relationships may have been tentative at best. It has been proven that children growing up with ADHD often find it difficult to make and keep friends and consistently have poor peer relationships. With substance abuse there is a higher risk of the teenager becoming involved with crime. Substance abuse may also result in serious physical and psychological health-related problems including psychosis. Adolescent users will often have academic difficulties and have a higher school drop out rate than non-users. 

Promoting Social Interaction in teenagers

• Be a positive role model for your child. If you model good social skills your child will learn from you.
• Encourage your teenager to get involved in an activity that he/she is interested in or enjoys. It is important that this is a group activity where he/she will interact with his peers
• Make his/her friends welcome in your home.
• Give your teenagers lots of positive reinforcement to boost his/her self esteem & confidence. 

Useful books for parents:

Good friends are hard to find. Make & keep friends

by Fred Flankel & Barry Wetmore

Making and keeping friends by John J Schmidt Ed.D

Help the kids are at it again. Using kids quarrels to teach ‘people skills’

by Elizabeth Crary