ADHD minds crave stimulation and struggle with impulse control. When you combine these characteristics with drugs or alcohol, you have a recipe for developing a dangerous addiction.
Before you know it, getting through each day depends on your next hit, drink, or pill.
Ardu’s experts at our drug and alcohol addiction treatment center can help you break the cycle of substance abuse and build healthy coping strategies to manage your ADHD tendencies. Our dual diagnosis program helps you tackle both conditions simultaneously.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD is one of the most common childhood disorders, affecting around 5% of kids and nearly half as many adults. It’s a neurodevelopmental disorder that makes it challenging to focus, control impulsive behavior, and moderate physical activity.
ADHD is believed to be caused by impaired dopamine signaling in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate motivation, attention, and self-control. Those with ADHD tend to have fewer dopamine receptors and transporters, so their brains are less efficient at processing dopamine activity. As a result, tasks that require sustained mental effort and impulse control—like paying attention or sitting still—become extremely difficult.
Here’s how to recognize the symptoms of ADHD:
While the exact causes of ADHD are unclear, research shows ADHD often runs in families and involves genetic factors and environmental impacts. Boys tend to be diagnosed more often, though ADHD affects people of all genders.
Treatment for ADHD focuses on managing symptoms and improving quality of life. The most common medical treatment is stimulant medication such as Ritalin or Adderall, which help spur dopamine production. Medication can help, but therapy and lifestyle changes seem to be more vital components of treatment.
Still, many people with ADHD turn to other forms of relief—commonly through drugs and alcohol.
Substance use may be a quick fix for distraction or chemical calm for the restless ADHD mind, but over time, the addiction and loss of control may take over. A 2002 study of young adults (mean age 25) found that approximately 44% of participants with ADHD met the criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence, compared to 27% of control participants.
Chronic substance abuse magnifies the existing ADHD challenges with attention, organization, and regulating behavior. Blum, et. al. suggest:
The most destructive coping strategy is self-medication with alcohol or drugs. Such substances give the illusion that they are making life easier and more pleasant, for the symptoms seem to disappear. But the addiction quickly takes over, and life becomes a nightmare.
Blum, et. al. also reveal that:
…when there is a dysfunction in the “brain reward cascade,” especially in the dopamine system, causing a low or hypo-dopaminergic trait, the brain may require dopamine for individuals to avoid unpleasant feelings. This high-risk genetic trait leads to multiple drug-seeking behaviors, because the drugs activate release of dopamine, which can diminish abnormal cravings.
Many people with ADHD fall into addiction as a means of seeking distraction, excitement, or relief. Our specialized dual diagnosis treatment program is necessary to address both the co-occurrence of ADHD and addiction. An effective co-occurring disorder treatment program can teach you healthy coping strategies and promote lifestyle changes to overcome reliance on destructive substance use.
Contact Ardu and learn about all the ways we can help you.
Dual diagnosis refers to the condition of suffering from both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder simultaneously. As the SAMHSA report reveals, comorbidity between mental illness and addiction is remarkably common: one out of every four people with a mental health issue also battles with addiction.
Without properly integrated treatment addressing both aspects, those struggling with dual diagnosis face immense challenges. The mental health symptoms may drive self-medication through alcohol or drugs, while the substance abuse magnifies dysfunctional coping and risks spiraling into dependence.
With the use of specialized dual diagnosis programs, people can manage their psychological condition while breaking the addiction cycle. At Ardu, we incorporate counseling, community support groups, medications, and lifestyle changes to help people deal with their attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and co-occurring addiction.
We offer specialized dual-diagnosis rehab services that address both your substance abuse and any underlying mental health issues. You don’t have to face this journey alone—our alcohol treatment center and drug rehab programs are here to support you every step of the way.
I recently had the good fortune to receive treatment at Ardu, and am so grateful for everyone there… I received the very latest in medical treatment, along with in-depth counseling and behavioral therapy, that allowed me to begin my recovery in a loving and supportive environment. I have never felt healthier; emotionally, psychologically and physically, and I look forward to a new and sober life…
If you’re struggling with the restless distraction of ADHD along with the chaos of addiction, our door at Ardu Recovery Center is wide open.
Our integrated dual-diagnosis treatment service employs a diverse team of specialists to provide comprehensive, gender-specific, primary, and long-term treatment options for people seeking recovery in a serene and supportive environment. We’ll design a holistic recovery plan tailored to your needs.
Some of the therapies we offer include:
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps identify negative thought and behavior patterns and replace destructive habits with healthy coping strategies. For those with ADHD, CBT also teaches emotional regulation and organization skills to manage distractibility and impulsivity.
Mindfulness meditation therapy trains your ability to calm the racing ADHD mind, reduce impulsivity and stress, and increase self-awareness—invaluable for avoiding substance abuse triggers and building discipline.
Our medication management service properly prescribes medications to alleviate ADHD symptoms, support mental health issues, and ease withdrawal while preventing abuse and monitoring side effects.
Group therapy provides a community of peers and a shared understanding to motivate change and practice social skills. Build a circle of support to promote addiction recovery.
Family therapy improves communication and helps repair relationships damaged by addictive behaviors while teaching parenting tactics to better support those with ADHD. We help create opportunities for your loved ones and family members to better understand the dual diagnosis struggles, express caring concern, and learn how to encourage healthy change without enabling more harm.
We also offer family systems therapy which helps intervention focus on the ways addiction and ADHD reverberate through family dynamics across generations, shaping dysfunctional roles, and limiting change.
Proper nutrition helps repair organ damage from substance abuse, restores depleted neurotransmitters, and stabilizes mood which is essential in early recovery. Our nutritional counseling program teaches meal planning and healthy eating to stabilize blood sugar and supply nutrients that support brain health.
For those looking to minimize the use of pharmaceuticals during recovery, holistic healing provides natural alternatives to ease withdrawal and channel ADHD tendencies toward a greater balance. Practices like meditation, Reiki, or yoga forge new pathways of relaxation. When you remove digital distractions by unplugging in a serene, outdoor-oriented environment, you allow the senses to retune, supporting sustained focus.
Holistic rehab and detox offers yoga, acupuncture, and nature retreats to calm the mind, body, and nervous system, addressing the roots of addiction and ADHD issues.
Relapse prevention planning is crucial for sustained recovery from addiction and ADHD struggles. At Ardu, we collaboratively design customized plans to identify triggers, interrupt dangerous thought patterns early, redirect ADHD tendencies towards harm reduction practices, and lean on community support and healthy distractions when cravings arise.
Though slips are often part of the journey, we help you prioritize and focus on progress by getting back on track. See why many people chronically relapse when trying to sober up.
Anyone struggling with drug or alcohol abuse or addiction can be eligible to enroll in our dual diagnosis facility. To enroll in an Ardu program, contact us online or via phone (801-872-8480). We will find a recovery path that works for you during detox and beyond.
You can have your treatment covered if your health insurance providers cover our treatment services (we accept most insurance companies). If you want to verify your insurance coverage and gather more payment information, visit our insurance verification page.
The best treatment for combined-type ADHD is generally considered to be a combination of medication management, counseling and behavioral therapies, educational support, and lifestyle changes. Stimulant medications help improve focus and self-regulation skills, while CBT builds healthy routines and strategies tailored to the individual’s challenges. Ongoing coaching and community support can reinforce progress.
The rarest ADHD symptom is cataplexy, which involves sudden muscle weakness or paralysis while awake, often triggered by emotions. This affects less than 1% of ADHD individuals and overlaps more commonly with neurological conditions like narcolepsy. Most symptoms relate to difficulties with executive functioning, impulse control, sustaining focus, and regulating activity levels.
In low doses, caffeine may temporarily boost focus and calm restlessness in some people with ADHD. However, too much caffeine can increase anxiety, interrupt sleep, and irritate gastric issues which may worsen ADHD symptoms. While offering a brief reprieve, caffeine is no substitute for practices and medications better tailored to individual neurotransmitter deficiencies underlying ADHD. Strategies like exercise, nutrition, and counseling are more effective.
Those struggling with co-occurring addiction and mental health should be aware of the risks, which include:
Integrated, customized treatment is vital, but stigma and complex psychology frequently interfere with diagnosis and access to consistent, effective care.
The most frequent mental health condition co-occurring with addiction is clinical depression, with over one-third of those battling substance abuse also meeting the criteria for major depressive disorder. Post-traumatic stress, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and ADHD also have high dual diagnosis rates as self-medication of symptoms often leads to unhealthy dependence.
The prognosis for co-occurring addiction and mental illness depends heavily on the conditions involved, the timing/consistency of treatment interventions, external stress loads, and the strength of an individual’s community support. While challenging, with timely comprehensive treatment and long-term consistency, many people with a dual diagnosis can achieve symptom remission and lasting wellness. Focus on progress, not perfection.
Mina Draskovic, B.Psy., reviewed this content for accuracy on March 21, 2024
Smith, B. H., & Molina, S. G. (2002). The Clinically Meaningful Link Between Alcohol Use and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Alcohol Research & Health, 26(2), 122-129. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6683828/
Blum, K., Lih-Chuan Chen, A., Braverman, E. R., Comings, D. E., Chen, T. J., Arcuri, V., Blum, S. H., Downs, B. W., Waite, R. L., Notaro, A., Lubar, J., Williams, L., Prihoda, T. J., Palomo, T., & Oscar-Berman, M. (2008). Attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder and reward deficiency syndrome. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 4(5), 893-918. https://doi.org/10.2147/ndt.s2627
2017 NSDUH Annual National Report. (n.d.). CBHSQ Data. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2017-nsduh-annual-national-report
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