ADHD STUDY DISPELS LATER DRUG RISK

CHILDREN with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who take stiumulant
drugs do not have an increased risk of abusing other drugs later, according
to researchers.

A United States study found medication for such children led to an almost
twofold fall in the risk of future substance abuse.

"The present results indicate that clinicians probably need not fear that
the stimulant treatment ofchildren with attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder is predisposing those children to later drug use, dependence or
abuse," the report in the January issue of Paediatrics said.

The study, by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, also found
cocaine and the stimulants used for ADHD had different properties with
stimulants entering and leaving the brain faster than cocaine.

Parents, young people and health professionals should be reassured by the
study, said Paul Hutchins, head of child development at the Children's
Hospital Westmead, and chairman of the stimulants subcommittee at NSW Health.

"If there is any increased risk of substance-use disorder in children who
have ADHD ... it is limited to the group that have conduct disorder as
well," Dr Hutchins said.

Conduct disorder relates to antisocial behaviour such as theft, truancy and
arson.

Dr Hutchins pointed to a gap between society's view of ADHD and the
"misplaced" concerns about stimulant medication.

The reality was that medication, when properly prescribed, was an
appropriate treatment for the disorder.

The US researchers examined six studies comparing about 1000 medicated and
unmedicated young people over four years.

They found an overall reduction in the risk of drug abuse among those
receiving stimulant treatment.

Four of the six studies even showed "striking protective effects of
stimulant medications".

- SYDNEY MORNING HERALD