October is ADHD Awareness Month. It’s a time to shine a light on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, a condition that affects focus, energy levels, and impulse control. While many people are familiar with the basics of ADHD, fewer know how closely it connects to addiction.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with both ADHD and substance use, it’s important to understand how the two interact. This knowledge can lead to better treatment and long-term recovery.
When is ADHD Awareness Month?
National ADHD Awareness Month is every October. The goal is to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and encourage people to seek help. It’s also a time to learn more about co-occurring issues like ADHD and addiction. For more information, visit adhdawarenessmonth.org. ADHD Awareness Month helps educate and destigmatize this common condition that is often misunderstood.
Why ADHD and Addiction Often Go Together
While there is no known genetic link between ADHD and drug addiction, research shows a strong correlation between ADHD and addictive behaviors. People with ADHD are more likely to struggle with drug use, alcohol addiction, gambling, or other compulsive behaviors. This often happens because of untreated symptoms like impulsivity, restlessness, and trouble managing emotions.
A 2015 peer-reviewed study explored the connection between ADHD and addiction. It found that traits like impulsivity, reward-seeking, and anxiety may help explain why people with ADHD are more likely to develop addictive behaviors. One key finding was that people with strong ADHD symptoms, even without a diagnosis or treatment, were just as likely to show signs of addiction as those with a diagnosis. The study also found that stimulant medications did not increase or reduce the risk of addiction. This suggests that treatment should focus not only on ADHD symptoms, but also on the emotional and personality traits that can drive risky behavior.
According to Additude Magazine, “Many reasons account for addictions among adults with ADHD, however two general causes come up again and again. First, adults with ADHD are more likely to self-medicate, particularly so when they lack awareness or understanding of their ADHD biology and have not yet learned how to manage it well. Second, many adults with ADHD are drawn to thrill-seeking and novel experiences.”
This explains why conditions like ADHD and alcohol addiction, ADHD and opiate addiction, and even ADHD and meth addiction are so common. Treating only one issue without the other leaves a big gap in care.
How Great Falls Wellness Can Help
At Great Falls Wellness, we specialize in helping people who are facing both ADHD and substance use challenges. Our outpatient treatment program is designed to support recovery by treating both conditions at the same time.
We understand that ADHD and addiction can look different from person to person. That’s why we create personalized plans that may include:
- ADHD treatment and medication management
- Therapy for impulse control and emotional regulation
- Support for ADHD and drug addiction
- Treatment for ADHD and addictive personality traits
- Help with ADHD and alcohol or stimulant misuse
Everything we do is built to support long-term recovery. Whether you are just starting to explore treatment or have tried before, we are here to guide you forward with care and compassion.
At Great Falls Wellness, we recognize that traditional therapy isn’t always enough for people managing both ADHD and addiction. That’s why we offer experiential options like equine-assisted therapy as part of our outpatient treatment. According to an article in Additude Magazine, equine therapy helps individuals with ADHD build focus, regulate emotions, and improve social awareness by interacting with horses in a structured, relational setting. As therapist Beth Main explains, “horses provide non-judgmental feedback about our behaviors and emotions,” allowing clients to develop emotional control and confidence through real-time interaction (Additude Magazine, 2024). At Great Falls Wellness, we see the powerful results this kind of therapy can bring, especially when combined with targeted ADHD and addiction treatment.
If you or a loved one is dealing with addiction and ADHD, now is the time to reach out. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help during ADHD Awareness Month and beyond. Visit our outpatient services page to get started.
Work Referenced:
Davis, C., Cohen, A., Davids, M., & Rabindranath, A. (2015). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in relation to addictive behaviors: a moderated-mediation analysis of personality-risk factors and sex. Frontiers in psychiatry, 6, 47. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00047
Main, B. (2024, December 4). Horse power: Equine therapy for ADHD. Additude Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.additudemag.com/equine-therapy-adhd-treatment/?srsltid=AfmBOop2PWhBlx4YxDS_1NforOC4AcRxYSbaeWkgBdmMNHYrag6y_PxA
