Neurodevelopmental Disorders

ADHD and Addiction May Share Genetic Basis

Tori Rodriguez, MA, LPC
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He and his colleagues compared the prevalence of six risk genes in various populations: Patients with ADHD but not substance abuse; substance-abusing patients without ADHD; patients with both ADHD and addiction; and healthy controls. “Even in this limited study, we managed to find that specific genotypes increase the risk for ADHD only, while others convey an increased risk for the combination of ADHD and addiction,” Carpentier noted.

He added it is important for clinicians to keep in mind that both disorders run in families, are highly prevalent and frequently occur together, and that optimal results are obtained by simultaneously treating both disorders. Dunne hopes his and his colleagues’ findings will “increase awareness of the potential risk for earlier substance use among those with ADHD,” and he recommends that healthcare providers assess for risky behaviors in ADHD patients and make referrals to appropriate treatment. “In addition to medication, several psychotherapies and behavioral interventions have been effective in treating ADHD symptoms.”  

References

  1. Sibley MH, Pelham WE Molina BSG, et al. The Role of Early Childhood ADHD and Subsequent CD in the Initiation and Escalation of Adolescent Cigarette, Alcohol, and Marijuana Use. Journal of Abnormal Psychology; 2014; 123(2): 362–374.
  2. Dunne EM, Hearn LE, Rose JJ, Latimer WW. ADHD as a risk factor for early onset and heightened adult problem severity of illicit substance use: an accelerated gateway model. Addictive Behaviors; 2014; 39(12):1755-8.
  3. De Alwis D, Lynskey MT, Reiersen AM, Agrawal A. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder subtypes and substance use and use disorders in NESARC. Addictive Behaviors; 2014; 39(8):1278-85.
  4. Grant BF, Dawson DA. Introduction to the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. National Institutes of Health : National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Retrieved online from http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh29-2/74-78.htm on 10/16/15.
  5. Carpentier PJ, Arias Vasquez A, Hoogman M, et al. Shared and unique genetic contributions to attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and substance use disorders: a pilot study of six candidate genes. European Neuropsychopharmacology; 2013; 23(6):448-57.

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