ADD and addiction

Doctors For Equal Rights For Physical And Mental Pain

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       Founding members Siobhan Reynolds Kevin Byers Vanessa Mullin Alen J Salerian

Solange MacArthur

Catch 22 : ADD and Addiction

Alen j Salerian MD

  People with ADD have brains wired in a way that makes them vulnerable to addiction. Among many disorders comorbidity is the highest for ADD and addiction. Furthermore brain regions involved in both disorders overlap. We can confidently

predict that addiction is the most common complication of untreated ADD.

  So far all these observations are psycho biological and do not address treatment. And here is the bad news once you become diagnosed as an addict it is difficult, extraordinarily difficult to get appropriate help for ADD. This is because the mistaken impression that any addictive substance would would present as a contraindication for treatment with an addictive substance.

  This is a myth and harmful. Let us educate educate educate that most people with ADD may benefit from dopamine agonists i.e. stimulants regardless of their possible past history of addiction.