Prospective study of adolescent drug use among community samples of ADHD and non-ADHD participants Article

August, GJ, Winters, KC, Realmuto, GM et al. (2006). Prospective study of adolescent drug use among community samples of ADHD and non-ADHD participants . 45(7), 824-832. 10.1097/01.chi.0000219831.16226.f8

cited authors

  • August, GJ; Winters, KC; Realmuto, GM; Fahnhorst, T; Botzet, A; Lee, S

fiu authors

abstract

  • OBJECTIVE: To describe the late adolescent drug use outcomes from a relatively large, community-identified sample of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who have been assessed longitudinally from childhood through late adolescence. METHOD: Adolescent drug use outcomes were compared between ADHD-only (n = 27), ADHD-externalizing (mostly oppositional defiant disorder) (n = 82), and normal control (n = 91) groups. RESULTS: The ADHD-externalizing group revealed significantly worse drug use outcomes (drug use frequency and substance use disorders) compared to the other two groups, and the ADHD-only group showed outcomes comparable to the community control group. CONCLUSIONS: ADHD without a comorbid externalizing disorder is not associated with an increased risk of drug abuse. ADHD with a comorbid externalizing disorder, primarily oppositional defiant disorder, is associated with an elevated risk of drug use, particularly with respect to marijuana and tobacco involvement. ©2006 by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

publication date

  • July 1, 2006

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

start page

  • 824

end page

  • 832

volume

  • 45

issue

  • 7