ADHD, Conduct Disorder, Substance Use Disorder, and Nonprescription Stimulant Use

Abstract

Objective To assess whether the relationship of an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnosis by adolescence to nonprescription stimulant use in adulthood is direct or indirect, via Conduct Disorder (CD) and/or Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Method Data was obtained from multiple waves of interviews and questionnaires completed by 551 community based participants when they were between the mean ages of 14.1 and 36.6 years. Results The results of the Structural equation model (SEM) supported both a direct association between early ADHD and later nonprescription stimulant use (B=.18, z=2.74) and the relationship from ADHD to later nonprescription stimulant use (B=.01, z=1.72) via CD and SUD. Conclusion The longitudinal data supporting these paths suggests that efforts to prevent and treat the misuse of nonprescription stimulants may be more effective if attention is paid to those with a history of ADHD, as well as to those who also had CD and SUD.