It is common for people with
ADHD to turn to addictive substances and behaviours such as alcohol, marijuana,
heroin, prescription tranquilisers, pain medication, nicotine, caffeine, sugar,
cocaine and street amphetamines gambling and sex in attempts to soothe their
restless brains and bodies. Using substances to improve our abilities, help us
feel better, or decrease and numb our feelings is called self-medicating.
Putting Out Fires With PETROL
The problem is that
self-medicating works at first. It provides the person with ADHD or ADD relief
from their restless bodies and brains. For some, drugs such as nicotine,
caffeine, cocaine, diet pills and "speed" enable them to focus, think
clearly, and follow through with ideas and tasks. Others chose to soothe their
ADHD symptoms with alcohol and marijuana.
People who abuse substances, or
have a history of substance abuse are not "bad" people. They are
people who desperately attempt to self-medicate their feelings, and ADHD
symptoms. Self-medicating can feel comforting. The problem is, that
self-medicating brings on a host of addiction related problem which over time
make people's lives much more difficult. What starts out as a
"solution", can cause problems including addiction, impulsive crimes,
domestic violence, increased high risk behaviors, lost jobs, relationships,
families, and death. Too many people with untreated ADHD, learning, and
perceptual disabilities are incarcerated, or dying from co-occurring addiction.
Self-medicating ADD with
alcohol and other drugs is like putting out fires with gasoline. You have pain
and problems that are burning out of control, and what you use to put out the
fires is gasoline. Your life may explode as you attempt to douse the flames of
ADD.
A 1996 article in American Scientists
states that "In the United States alone there are 18 million alcoholics,
28 million children of alcoholics, 6 million cocaine addicts, 14.9 million who
abuse other substances, 25 million addicted to nicotine."
Who Will Become Addicted?
Everyone is vulnerable to
abusing any mind altering substance or behaviours to diminish the gut wrenching
feelings that accompany ADHD. There are a variety of reasons why one person
becomes addicted and another does not. No single cause for addictions exists; rather,
a combination of factors is usually involved. Genetic predisposition,
neurochemistry, family history, trauma, life stress, and other physical and
emotional problems contribute. Part of what determines who becomes addicted and
who does not is the combination and timing of these factors. People may have
genetic predispositions for alcoholism, but if they choose not to drink they
will not become alcoholic. The same is true for drug addictions. If an
individual never smokes pot, snorts cocaine, shoots or smokes heroin, he or she
will never become a pot, coke, or heroin addict.
The bottom line is that people
with ADHD as a whole are more likely to medicate themselves with substances or
behaviours than those who do not have ADHD. In AUSTRALIA it is estimated that 2
to 3 million people suffer from ADD, some researchers estimate that as many as
30-50% of them use drugs and alcohol to self-medicate their ADHD symptoms. This
does not include those who use food, and compulsive behaviors such as gambling
or sex to self-medicate their ADD brains and the many painful feelings
associated with ADHD. When we see ADD it is important to look for substance
abuse and other addictions. And when we see substance abuse and addictions, it
is equally important to look for ADHD.
Prevention and Early
Intervention
"Just Say No!" may
sound simple, but if it was that simple we would not have millions of children,
adolescents, and adults using drugs every day. For some their biological and
emotional attraction to drugs is so powerful, that they cannot conceptualise
the risks of self-medication. This is especially true for the person with ADHD
who may have an affinity for risky, stimulating experiences. This also applies
to the person with ADHD who is physically and emotionally suffering from
untreated ADHD restlessness, impulsiveness, low energy, shame, attention and
organisation problems, and a wide range of social pain. It is very difficult to
say "no" to drugs when you have difficulties controlling your
impulses, concentrating, and are tormented by a restless brain or body.
The sooner we treat children,
adolescents, and adults with ADHD the more likely we are to help them to
minimize or eliminate self-medicating. Many well meaning parents, therapists
and medical doctors are fearful that treating ADHD with medication will lead to
addiction. Not all people with ADHD need to take medication. For those who do,
however, prescribed medication that is closely monitored can actually prevent
and minimize the need to self-medicate. When medication helps people to
concentrate, control their impulses, and regulate their energy level, they are
less likely to self-medicate.
Untreated ADHD and Addiction
Relapse
Untreated ADHD contributes to
addictive relapse, and at best can be a huge factor in recovering people
feeling miserable, depressed, unfulfilled, and suicidal. Many individuals in
recovery have spent countless hours in therapy working through childhood issues,
getting to know their inner child, and analyzing why they abuse substances and
engage in addictive behaviors. Much of this soul searching, insight, and
release of feelings is absolutely necessary to maintain recovery. Unfortunately
for some people still chronically relapse and sometimes die, even after strong
committment to recovery. Often these people have untreated ADD/ADHD.
Treating Both ADHD and
Addictions
It is not enough to treat
addictions and not treat ADHD, nor is it enough to treat ADHD and not treat
co-occurring addiction. Both need to be diagnosed, and treated for the
individual to have a chance at ongoing recovery.
A COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT
PROGRAM CONSISTS OF:
* A professional evaluation for
ADHD and co-occurring addiction.
* Continued involvement in
addiction recovery groups or Twelve Step programs.
* Education on how ADHD impacts
each individual's life, and the lives of those who love them.
* Building social,
organisation, communication, and work or school skills.
* ADHD coaching and support
groups.
* Closely monitored medication
when medication is indicated.
Stages of Recovery
It is important to treat people
with ADHD and addiction according to their stage of recovery. Recovery is a
process that can be divided into four stages, pre-recovery, early recovery,
middle recovery, and long term recovery.
PRE-RECOVERY: Is the period before a person
enters treatment for their addictions. It can be difficult to sort out ADHD
symptoms from addictive behavior and intoxication. The focus at this point is
to get the person into treatment for their chemical and/or behavioral
addiction. This is NOT the time to treat ADHD with psycho stimulant medication.
EARLY RECOVERY: During this period it is also
difficult, but not impossible to sort out ADHD from the symptoms of abstinence
which include, distractibility, restlessness, mood swings, confusions, and
impulsivity. Much of what looks like ADHD can disappear with time in recovery.
The key is in the life long history of ADHD symptoms dating back to childhood.
In most cases early recovery is NOT the time to use psycho stimulant
medication, unless the individual's ADHD is impacting his or her ability to
attain sobriety.
MIDDLE RECOVERY: By now addicts, and alcoholics, are settling into recovery. This is
usually the time when they seek therapy for problems that did not disappear
with recovery. It is much easier to diagnose ADHD at this stage; and medication
can be very effective when indicated.
LONG TERM RECOVERY: This is an excellent time to treat ADHD with medications when
warranted. By now most people in recovery have lives that have expanded beyond
intense focus on staying clean and sober. Their recovery is an important part
of their life, and they also have the flexibility to deal with other problems
such as ADHD.
Medication and Addiction
Psychostimulant medication when
properly prescribed and monitored is effective for approximately 75-80% of
people with ADHD. These medications include Ritalin, Dexedrine, Adderall, and
Desoxyn. It is important to note that when these medications are used to treat
ADHD the dosage is much less than what addicts use to get high. When people are
properly medicated they should not feel high or "speedy, instead they will
report increases in their abilities to concentrate, control their impulses, and
moderate their activity level. The route of delivery is also quite different.
Medication to treat ADHD is taken orally, where street amphetamines are
frequently injected and smoked.
Non stimulant medications such
as Wellbutrin, Prozac, Nortriptyline, Effexor and Zoloft can also be effective
in relieving ADHD symptoms for some people. These medications are frequently
used in combination with a small dose of a psychostimulant.
Recovering alcoholics and
addicts are not flocking to doctors to get psychostimulant medication to treat
their ADHD. The problem is that many are hesitant for good reasons to use
medication, especially psych
o stimulants. In most cases once a recovering
person becomes willing to try medication the chance of abuse is very rare.
Again the key is a comprehensive treatment program that involves close
monitoring of medication, behavioral interventions, ADHD coaching and support
groups, and continued participation in addiction recovery programs.
There is HOPE
For the last few years at The GATS
Program we have witnessed the transformation of
lives that were once ravaged by untreated ADHD and addiction. We have worked
with people who had relapsed in and out of treatment programs for ten to twenty
years attain ongoing and fulfilling sobriety once their ADHD was treated. We
have witnessed people with ADHD achieve recovery once their addictions were
treated.
If you or someone you love is
in the grips of Addiction and ADD/ADHD then call us TODAY for immediate
assessment PHONE 07 560 66315
ABOUT COACHING WITH SUBSTANCE (WINNER Best Not-for-Profit 2014)
We
are Australia's leading award winning addiction treatment and rehab
consultants for gambling, drugs, alcohol, sex, eating and internet
addiction, along with eating behavioural disorders and co-dependency for
Australasia and New Zealand. Call us on 07 5606 6315 if you want to
speak to an Addiction Specialist.
Our
Founder, Maria Pau is a 4x No. 1 best-selling author on the subjects of
addiction and co-dependency and spiritual wellness. She is the Program
Director of Coaching with Substance, the first of its kind in Australia
as registered public benevolent institution, charity and not-for profit
association that focuses on wellness using coaching principles of peak
performance. She is currently completing her PhD on Recovery Coaching
and is the first registered Recovery Coach in Australia.
We
run a cutting edge holistic addiction treatment program and outpatient
rehabilitation consultancy firm that ensures you are released from the
shackles of addiction once and for all. Primary
care at CWS is personalised to treat each individual using programs
that integrate mind, body and soul. CWS programs are enhanced by highly
effective group coaching and therapeutic processes as well as individual
coaching, spiritual insights, therapy and extensive aftercare
assistance.
All
clients are thoroughly assessed by a highly trained and experienced
recovery coach, registered provisional psychologist, ordained Taoist
Monk, mental health officer and certified naturopaths (including
Ayurveda and Acupuncturist). Clients may also be referred for
psychometric testing and assessment, if needed. International clients
welcome.
We welcome enquiries from all English speaking people from Asia, Europe, Africa, India and South America.
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