Risk of Addiction to ADHD Therapies

Risk of Addiction to ADHD Therapies

3 years ago

As a Maryland and Ohio physician who has dedicated most of his professional career to treating addiction disorders, I’m always cognizant when evaluating a new patient for potential of developing tolerance and addictions to therapies that are offered. I do believe that most patients with ADHD are misunderstood and maligned as to being prone to abuse their treatment. Once the proper screening is done at the onset most patients are not prone to abuse their therapies and in fact are reluctant to take the appropriate doses of medication such as stimulants prescribed to them. Amidst the pandemic, our current culture of hyper alertness on developing addictions from prescribed medication‘s at times seems to inhibit proper seeking of treatment and solving problems. Daily, I face patients that I have been shamed and put down by relatives,  coworkers, and even pharmacy staff when they are trying to fill their prescriptions, as if they are doing something wrong!. Many studies starting from childhood do in fact demonstrate that a proper diagnoses in addressing the range of ADHD disorders reduces the risk of substance abuse later in life.

The Cumulative Trauma of Being a Psychiatrist: The Dark Side of Psychological Transference and Countertransference, and the Burden of the Self
The Cumulative Trauma of Being a Psychiatrist: The Dark Side of Psychological Transference and Countertransference, and the Burden of the Self
4 months ago

Psychiatry, perhaps more than any other medical specialty, is a field defined by ambiguity. Unlike...

The Power of the Future: A Psychiatrist’s Reflections on Healing Beyond the Present Moment
The Power of the Future: A Psychiatrist’s Reflections on Healing Beyond the Present Moment
1 month ago

For the past several decades, Western spiritual culture has been profoundly shaped by the rebrand...

How Social Media Hooks the ADHD Brain—and How to Break Free with Kindness
How Social Media Hooks the ADHD Brain—and How to Break Free with Kindness
4 months ago

As a psychiatrist who works closely with people living with ADHD, I often hear the same frustration: “Wh...