Treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) could reduce smoking risk, especially if the medication is taken consistently.
"Given that individuals with ADHD are more likely to smoke, our study supports the use of stimulant treatment to reduce the likelihood of smoking in youth with ADHD," senior author Scott Kollins, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and director of the Duke ADHD Program said in a news release. "The risk is further lowered when adherence to medication treatment is consistent, presumably since this increases the chances that symptoms are managed effectively."
ADHD is commonly treated with stimulants and is characterized by "hyperactivity, difficulty paying attention and impulsivity," the news release reported.
Individuals suffering from ADHD have higher smoking rates two to three times higher than those who do not have the disorder and often start smoking earlier. Forty percent of adults with ADHD smoke tobacco.
"Nicotine operates on the same pathways in the brain as stimulant medications, and the relationship between stimulants and smoking has been controversial," lead author Erin Schoenfelder, Ph.D., clinical associate and a psychologist in the Duke ADHD Program said in the news release.
"It has been suggested that some people with ADHD 'self-medicate' their attention deficits using nicotine," Schoenfelder said. "Our findings show that treating ADHD effectively with medication may prevent young people from picking up the habit."
To make their findings the researchers reviewed 14 longitudinal studies that looked at the link between cigarette smoking and ADHD treatment. The study encompassed 2,360 individuals with ADHD.
The analysis found a significant correlation between ADHD treatment and lower smoking rates. The link was larger in people with the most severe cases of ADHD.
"This study may debunk the perception that stimulants will increase one's risk for smoking," Kollins said. "It gives us more confidence when we talk with parents to reassure them that consistent ADHD treatment won't increase their children's risk of smoking, and in fact, may actually do the opposite."
"My hope is that this research can help inform our efforts to prevent negative outcomes for kids with ADHD, including cigarette smoking," Schoenfelder said. "This population hasn't been targeted for smoking prevention efforts, despite the well-known connection between ADHD and smoking."
