ADHD AND ADDICTION

Thanks to Gail Johnson for a provocative article on crystal-methamphetamine
addiction ["The Dark Crystal", August 14-21]. Unfortunately, nowhere in the
article does it refer to the primary treatable cause of stimulant addiction,
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

ADHD is primarily known as a disorder of children, but it is common in adults
too. In adults, ADHD looks more like attention deficit and
restlessness/impulsivity disorder.

Not all people with ADHD have addiction, but most people with addiction have
impulsivity/restlessness, whether or not they have problems with attention.

This impulsivity/restlessness, whether as part of ADHD or addiction, improves
dramatically when treated with stimulants. Crystal addicts seek stimulants in
order to self-medicate their inattention, irritability, restlessness, and
boredom (ADHD). But relative to pharmacological stimulants, street drugs are
fast-release. Crystal addicts get addicted because of the fast rate of action
of their stimulant of choice, not the stimulant per se.

A number of studies have shown that children with ADHD who are treated with
stimulant medication are 50-percent less likely to have problems with addiction
as adults.

In order to help crystal-methamphetamine addicts, we need to fund the
mental-health and addiction-care system, and decrease the stigma of mental
illness and its treatment with medication. Your article helps draw attention to
the first of these.

We need to emphasize the second.

I will be giving a talk on ADHD and addiction, for the Mood Disorders
Association of British Columbia, at Sunrise Community Hall, 1950 Windermere
Street, on September 18 at 7 p.m. For more information, call MDABC at
604-873-0103 or e-mail mdabc@telus.net.

Anthony M. Ocana

Vancouver