Q: My son was recently diagnosed with attention deficit disorder. I have heard people with this diagnosis are more prone to become drug addicts. How concerned should I be and is there anything I can do to prevent this?
A: Research does show that individuals diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) do have an increased risk of developing substance use disorders. However, I must say that ADHD varies in people, from severe to more mild forms. In addition, while some people have an increased risk of developing a problem, this does not mean that they will definitely experience one. For example, just because a person's family history puts them at increased risk of developing heart disease doesn't mean they will. Like heart disease, substance use disorders are caused by a variety of factors.
A: Research does show that individuals diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) do have an increased risk of developing substance use disorders. However, I must say that ADHD varies in people, from severe to more mild forms. In addition, while some people have an increased risk of developing a problem, this does not mean that they will definitely experience one. For example, just because a person's family history puts them at increased risk of developing heart disease doesn't mean they will. Like heart disease, substance use disorders are caused by a variety of factors.
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