ADHD and Addiction

How many times have you heard someone claim to have ADHD, but just have trouble paying attention? The reality is, that we misunderstand the concept of ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. If you have navigated to this page, odds are you struggle with a dual diagnosis of ADHD and substance abuse (or only one of the two).

These two mental illnesses may seem foreign to each other, however, they are much more connected than we may initially think. We will be discussing ADHD, why we misunderstand it, what it actually is, why we should understand addiction as a proper illness, what a dual diagnosis is, then finally the connection between ADHD and substance abuse (and how to cope).

Before we begin, if you struggle with ADHD and substance abuse, or even one of the two, please reach out for help. The road to recovery may seem daunting, but we at the Discovery Institute want to help you. We are here for you and want to make that daunting path seem much easier. Now, let’s take a look at the connection between substance abuse and ADHD.

Do We Know What ADHD Is?

The sheer number of people who have misunderstood ADHD is massive. Odds are we all lack an understanding of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Unless you are someone diagnosed, it may seem like a normal personality quirk, excessive energy, fidgety-ness, etc.

However, ADHD is a real mental illness, and we must treat it as such. The stigmatization and lack of a proper understanding have led individuals who are struggling with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to feel misunderstood, or feel as though people lack empathy. If we were to truly understand ADHD, we would stop comparing it to such trivial matters and take those who have it seriously.

What Is ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a disorder that affects people’s ability to focus, or causes hyperactivity. The inability to focus manifests itself in lacking the drive to stay focused on tasks, losing interest and walking away from conversations, a lack of persistence, and disorganization. None of these are caused by defiance or a lack of comprehension.

The hypersensitivity manifests itself as moving about constantly, needing to fidget all the time, and adults may appear restless or wear others out. There is a third aspect: impulsivity. This means the person with ADHD will constantly make impulsive decisions based on instant gratification, with no regard for consequences. This can appear as social intrusion, excessive interruption, and only short-term decision-making.

Why Is ADHD Misunderstood?

The sad reality is that those who have ADHD will often be looked down upon by teachers, parents, or peers early on in life. This is because many misunderstand ADHD in children and adolescents as defiance. Individuals exhibiting ADHD symptoms might portray the following:

Can Addiction Be Considered A Disease?

Recently, the Surgeon General has declared drug addiction to be a disease. This has sparked controversy in the community, alongside loved ones affected by alcohol and substance abuse addiction. Many argue that this enables addicts to continue to use, and argue from the basis that drug addiction is inherently a choice. The idea stems from the notion that since addicts choose to use narcotics, alcohol, etc., then addiction is a moral failure.

However, misunderstanding the idea of addiction has stigmatized it (which is one connection between addiction and ADHD). The stigmatization has done more harm than good, even though it makes sense on a rational level. It makes sense that since people choose to use narcotics and alcohol, then addiction is a choice.

However, to properly understand the connection between addiction and ADHD, and even to understand substance abuse addiction in itself, we have to move on from this notion. Addiction is a chemical imbalance in the brain, and while there certainly are some who choose to use narcotics and alcohol; nobody chooses addiction. There are other diseases similar to addiction, such as lung cancer and diabetes.

No one would say these people chose their disease, yet it functions in much the same way as addiction. Even in addiction, certain people have become dependent upon medically prescribed opioids, alcohol is encouraged by our culture and no one knows how much it takes to become dependent, and even those who use narcotics such as cigarette smoking do not desire to become dependent upon them. This is not to enable the use of substances, instead, treating addiction as a disease works better for addicts than vice versa.

Why the Disease Model?

Many readers may be wondering, “so what?” Well, the answer is that referring to addiction and ADHD as a disease is not just scientifically accurate, it also is more effective in getting treatment. When someone uses a substance such as alcohol or narcotics, the substance affects the way our brains work. We get that hit of dopamine and serotonin, and our brains mistake this for something beneficial to life.

However, they start to change our brains. They rewire our memory, motivation, and pleasure centers. Thus, the addict can no longer feel normal without the substance.

This means that it is not a black and white choice. However, when we refer to addiction as a moral failure, this instills feelings of guilt, shame, depression, and stress, and can even isolate the addict from loved ones. In trying to help, and in trying to not enable bad behavior; we end up instilling triggering feelings in the person we are trying to help recover.

On the other hand, when we refer to addiction as a disease it simply means the person is sick and must go to the doctor to get better. This takes away feelings of guilt and replaces them with feelings of relief. Dealing with a chronic illness like addiction and ADHD means a person must deal with this disease for the rest of his or her life, but it is treatable.

What Does Choice Have to Do With It?

Although the decision to become addicted is undeniably not a black or white choice, the choice to seek recovery is in your hands. It takes courage, support, and persistence. Yet, recovery is the greatest journey someone with substance use disorder can embark on.

At Discovery Institute, we want you to know that you never have to walk that road alone. We are always here for you. Please consider choosing recovery today.