Subj : Treating childhood ADHD with stimulant m To : All From : ScienceDaily Date : Wed Jul 05 2023 22:30:22 Treating childhood ADHD with stimulant meds not associated with increased substance use later in life, study finds Date: July 5, 2023 Source: University of Pittsburgh Summary: Children taking a prescription stimulant to manage ADHD symptoms are not at a higher risk of substance use disorder as adolescents or young adults, according to new research. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email ========================================================================== FULL STORY ========================================================================== Children taking a prescription stimulant to manage symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) do not have more substance use or substance use disorder (SUD) as adolescents or young adults, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Published today in JAMA Psychiatry,the study may provide some reassurance to parents and clinicians who may be hesitant to prescribe ADHD stimulant medications for fear that they may lay the groundwork for future substance use. "Stimulants are the first-line treatment recommended for most individuals with ADHD -- the drug class is an evidence-based treatment with few side effects," said Brooke Molina, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry, psychology and pediatrics at Pitt. "Because stimulant medications are classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration as schedule two substances with the potential for misuse, many people fear that harmful substance use could result." ADHD is a neurobehavioral condition marked by chronic patterns of inattention, hyperactivity or impulsivity, or a combination of the three, that affects a person's day-to-day functioning. Although ADHD can be managed with medication and other therapeutic approaches, it is a chronic condition that must be monitored throughout an individual's life. Molina and her colleagues assessed patients with ADHD over a 16-year period from childhood through adolescence to early adulthood to see if there was any association between stimulant treatment and subsequent substance use. The study conducted at Pitt is among the first to address the relationship between childhood use of prescription stimulants and later SUD by accounting for dozens of demographic, clinical and psychosocial factors that may predispose an individual to treatment and substance use. "Our study not only accounted for age, but also used a statistical method that adjusted over time for the many characteristics that may distinguish treated from non-treated individuals," said study co-author Traci Kennedy, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry at Pitt. "Considering these factors allowed us to more accurately test the relationship between stimulants and substance use." While other studies have sought to uncover and define a possible connection between prescription stimulant use for ADHD and SUD, the association between the two has remained controversial. The results of some studies suggested a protective effect of prescription stimulant use on the risk of having SUD later in life, while others failed to find an association. When factoring in age and other time-varying characteristics, such as household income, behavior problems and parental support, Pitt researchers found no evidence that prescription stimulant treatment in childhood provided protection against developing a SUD for adolescents or young adults with ADHD. However, researchers likewise did not find an association between stimulant use during childhood and increased substance misuse in the future While some study participants self-reported an increase over time in heavy drinking, marijuana use, daily cigarette smoking and using other substances, an association with age was also found for stimulant treatment, with older participants being less likely to continue taking medication. When these trends were paired with rigorous statistical analysis, results provided no evidence that prolonged stimulant use is associated with reduced or increased risk for SUD. "We hope the results of this study will help educate providers and patients," Molina said. "By understanding that stimulant medication initially prescribed in childhood is not linked to harmful levels of substance use, I anticipate that parents' and patients' fears will be alleviated." Pitt researchers plan to study individuals who were first diagnosed with ADHD and treated with stimulants in adulthood. The study aims to learn if there are differences in the characteristics and outcomes of these adults compared to people who were diagnosed and first treated with stimulants in childhood. Other authors of the study include Andrea Howard, Ph.D., of Carleton University, Canada; James Swanson, Ph.D., and Annamarie Stehli, M.P.H., both of the University of California, Irvine; L. Eugene Arnold, M.D., of The Ohio State University; John Mitchell, Ph.D., of Duke University; Edward Kennedy, Ph.D., of Carnegie Mellon University; Jeffery Epstein, Ph.D., of the University of Cincinnati; Lily Hechtman, M.D., of McGill University; Stephen Hinshaw, Ph.D., of the University of California, Berkley; and Benedetto Vitello, M.D., of the University of Turin, Italy. * RELATED_TOPICS o Health_&_Medicine # Attention_Deficit_Disorder # Mental_Health_Research # Children's_Health # Controlled_Substances o Mind_&_Brain # Mental_Health # ADD_and_ADHD # Child_Development # Illegal_Drugs * RELATED_TERMS o Methylphenidate o Adult_attention-deficit_disorder o Attention-deficit_hyperactivity_disorder o Controversy_about_ADHD o Bipolar_disorder o Infectious_mononucleosis o Hyperactivity o Neurology ========================================================================== Print Email Share ========================================================================== ****** 1 ****** ***** 2 ***** **** 3 **** *** 4 *** ** 5 ** Breaking this hour ========================================================================== * Why_Birds_Ancestors_Lived;_Other_Dinosaurs_Died * Dissolving_Cardiac_Device_Treats_Heart_Disease * Webb_Locates_Dust_Reservoirs_in_Two_Supernovae * Earth_Formed_from_Dry,_Rocky_Building_Blocks * Ancient_Volcanic_Activity_On_Moon's_Dark_Side * Highly_Conductive_Metallic_Gel_for_3D_Printing * Potent_Greenhouse_Gas_Could_Be_Abated_Today * Polymer_Brains_for_Artificial_Neural_Networks * Early_Apex_Predator_Sought_Soft_Over_... * Time_in_Universe_Once_Flowed_Five_Times_Slower Trending Topics this week ========================================================================== HEALTH_&_MEDICINE Fitness Genes Cholesterol MIND_&_BRAIN Child_Psychology Creativity Educational_Psychology LIVING_&_WELL Fitness Healthy_Aging Staying_Healthy ========================================================================== Strange & Offbeat ========================================================================== HEALTH_&_MEDICINE Grocery_Store_Carts_Set_to_Help_Diagnose_Common_Heart_Rhythm_Disorder_and Prevent_Stroke DNA_Can_Fold_Into_Complex_Shapes_to_Execute_New_Functions Everyone's_Brain_Has_a_Pain_Fingerprint_--_New_Research_Has_Revealed_for_the First_Time MIND_&_BRAIN AI_Tests_Into_Top_1%_for_Original_Creative_Thinking Scientists_Discover_Spiral-Shaped_Signals_That_Organize_Brain_Activity Illusions_Are_in_the_Eye,_Not_the_Mind LIVING_&_WELL AI_Tests_Into_Top_1%_for_Original_Creative_Thinking Amputees_Feel_Warmth_in_Their_Missing_Hand Why_Do_Champagne_Bubbles_Rise_the_Way_They_Do?_Scientists'_New_Discovery_Is Worthy_of_a_Toast Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Pittsburgh. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. ========================================================================== Journal Reference: 1. Brooke S. G. Molina, Traci M. Kennedy, Andrea L. Howard, James M. Swanson, L. Eugene Arnold, John T. Mitchell, Annamarie Stehli, Edward H. Kennedy, Jeffery N. Epstein, Lily T. Hechtman, Stephen P. Hinshaw, Benedetto Vitiello. Association Between Stimulant Treatment and Substance Use Through Adolescence Into Early Adulthood. JAMA Psychiatry, 2023; DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.2157 ========================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230705115144.htm --- up 1 year, 18 weeks, 2 days, 10 hours, 50 minutes * Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3) .