ADHD and addiction: Knowledge is power

You may have read or heard that kids with ADHD are at a higher risk for addiction. Is this true? If so, why? And what can we, as parents and caregivers, do about it?

In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek talk with Dr. Roberto Olivardia. Roberto is a Massachusetts-based clinical psychologist. He has spent years evaluating people for learning and thinking differences including ADHD. And he was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. 

He shares helpful information to help families understand the relationship between the risk of addiction and ADHD.

To get a transcript of this show and check out more episodes, visit the In It podcast page at Understood.

We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at init@understood.org.

Related resources

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
• Suicide and Crisis Hotline
• 5 common concerns parents have about ADHD medications for kids
• Study finds that ADHD medication reduces risk of drug abuse for people with ADHD
• ADHD medication misuse, sharing, and abuse: What you need to know

Timestamps  

(02:01) Chemistry of ADHD

(02:40) Helpful statistics about risk and ADHD

(06:15) Self-medication studies

(13:28) Risk of addiction

(15:34) Talking to younger kids 

(21:22) The importance of communication

(22:16) Assertiveness skills for kids

Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give