I've been studying the relationship between addiction and ADHD.
Given someone is trying their best to overcome their addiction with various strategies such as support groups, therapy etc. Would you say that taking medication could be something that could tremendously help? Because even most addiction recovery programs require a lot of implementation, using tools, following different strategies, reading, staying accountable etc.
Someone who has ADHD it can be hard to stay committed to a certain program and follow the steps. It's also easy to jump from program to program without sticking to one and mastering it. In the past I have struggled to even properly finish books.
How has your experience been with using medication? Has it helped you better manage urges for whatever addiction be it social media, food, alcohol etc.?
Written by
Salah_09
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Mainly I abused caffeine - drinking over 120 ounces of caffeinated sodas plus multiple coffees every day - which was a subconscious method of self-medicating with a very inadequate method.
Impulsivity in actions and purchases are related but not directly addiction.
I found that with medication I may have a coffee or a soda on a day, but often not at all. Not being starved for dopamine I wasn't craving the boost from the caffeine.
The medication is not the same feeling at all. I dont feel any subjective boost or pepping up at all from the Vyvanse, it calms my brain. My body does experience a bit of jitteriness and my pulse rate and blood pressure are up single digits each, so the stimulant is affecting the body in the 'traditional' way. For my brain, however, I am calmer, I can fall asleep, and it gives me support to master the other effects of ADHD that I most want to overcome.
It gives me the ability to see something I should do and start on it, without the panic of a looming deadline. It sharply reduces the emotional disregulation - no more flash eruptions at relatively trivial triggers. I can buckle down and put in long hours on tasks I choose to work on, not because they are novel or interesting or adrenaline producing, but because it is something I want to get done.
Many years ago, I took up smoking cigarettes and in true addictive ADHD fashion, was smoking 4 1/2 packs per day, essentially continuously, to get the boost from nicotine as another form of unconscious self medication. Fortunately I have that up in mid 1982 and have never wanted to smoke another one.
Because I was able to give up cigarettes, I am not the best example to answer about addictive behaviors changing under proper medication, but I think I have some of the temptations and pulls of vulnerability to addiction.
Most of the evidence that I have read, after I learned I had ADHD last year and dived in with hyperfocus to understand all I could about the condition, is that it does not increase the risk of a person, in general, becoming addicted if they do have ADHD and are using the medicines properly. Untreated ADHD brings more risk of substance abuse and other negative behaviors.
On the other hand, I do see plenty of mention that treating psychiatrists and physicians do worry when someone has a clear history of substance abuse, because used the wrong way these can be taken with much higher doses to produce whatever thrill comes from stimulant abuse.
I believe that some practitioners will treat people with substance abuse histories (whether alcohol, stimulants or other addictions) but they monitor closely to make sure that they aren't being abused.
In some cases they may restrict the medications tried to treat the ADHD - there are non stimulants that have a lower rate of success but are safe from abuse.
They may only prescribe Vyvanse (Elvanse is the non-US name I think) because it makes it very difficult to abuse it - it is converted by digestive enzymes at a moderate rate and thus won't give an instantaneous burst of high stimulation.
Anything can be abused though, so expect close monitoring.
The key will be to find medical people with expertise in both ADHD treatment and dealing with people who have a substance abuse history.
Good luck in your journey to receiving help to deal with ADHD. Medication doesn't magically solve everything, but it gives you the tools to be able to learn skills and stick with programs that fill in the rest.
One characteristic of ADHD is difficulty sticking with programs - once they are not shiny new experiences, we move on to the next novel activity in a quest for some dopamine.
Yes, prescription meds can be part of a recovery program. I think meds need to be combined with support groups, 12 step groups, therapy, overall focus on improving health and so on ... These things all work together. Any untreated mental health condition is NOT good for letting go of addiction or avoiding it in the first place .
I'm from an addictive family. We can get addicted to anything ... eating, drinking, smoking and more ...
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Addicted to my medication
The therapist with ADHD v. The ADHD therapist
ADHD and Gullibility 
ADHD or not?
ADHD and Psychedelic 
