Are children who take stimulant medications more likely to have substance abuse problems later in life?
A. No. Many studies of children with AD/HD have found that using stimulant medications under a doctor’s care does not increase the risk of later substance abuse. In fact, many studies have shown that children and teens with AD/HD not treated with stimulant medications can have a higher risk of abusing illegal drugs. More Information If you would like detailed information about the many medications used to treat AD/HD, CHADD will send you a fact sheet with details about each, or you can visit the NRC Web site at www.help4adhd.org. Medication Chart See our chart on Medications used in the treatment of AD/HD. The information provided in this information and resource sheet was supported by Cooperative Agreement Number 1U38DD000335-01 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of CDC. It was adapted from What We Know #3, “Managing Medication for Children and Adolesce
