this post was submitted on 23 Jul 2026
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ADHD
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I don't know what to tell you, what I'm saying is coming from actual relevant research on this very topic.
Stimulant medication does indeed reduce substance abuse risk: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9097465/
Stimulant medication use from childhood shows reduction in substance abuse risk: https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jcpp.12164
ADHD leaves you with a deficit of dopamine in some form or fashion, usually associated with structural inadequacy in parts of the brain. The dopaminergic affect is usually going to be one of the bigger factors in addictive behavior, and the dopaminergic affect works differently in people with ADHD versus a Neurotypical. For the NT, they will usually have a euphoric experience as a result of the dopaminergic release, whereas someone with ADHD is much less likely to experience this euphoric affect. Hence, the lower risk of addiction.
Sure, the risk isn't zero. And boy are them college kids abusing the shit out of stimulant medication right now regardless of ADHD diagnosis. But the consensus is that prescribed stimulant medication is low risk versus the consensus of high addiction risk for the general population.
Congratulations, you have the ability to Google terms and grab links to things that you think support your point. I'm very proud of you.
Your first link posits that low dose stimulant medications may decrease odds of substance abuse disorder, however it flat out shows that untreated ADHD carries an increased risk of substance abuse including abuse of stimulants.
Your second link.... derp. It's saying that when a person takes a measured dose of a medication with high potential for abuse from childhood on they're less likely to abuse that medication.
Neither of those say people with ADHD are magically immune to addiction or the addictive effects of stimulants. They're not.
"But the consensus is that prescribed stimulant medication is low risk versus the consensus of high addiction risk for the general population."
I never said otherwise. People try to portray those with ADHD as being immune to addiction, or having brains wired so very differently that stimulants effect them in entirely different ways when compared to people without adhd. That's what I'm arguing against. It isn't true, and it's a dangerous, stupid attitude to have about any addictive substance.
I really don't understand; I write words, I link studies, and I carefully word my arguments, then when you reply it's like you're replying to someone else completely. I mean, great job fighting that scarecrow and all, but I'm over here. No one is making the arguments you're attacking. Like, do you legitimately believe that it's my personal belief that people with ADHD have perfect resistance to addiction to stimulant medication? It really seems like you think I believe that and I have no idea how you could read what I've written above, where I'm even directly contradicting that position at times, and think I believe that. Like, what the fuck is your deal? Legitimately, I'm bewildered as to how we got here.
Also, why are you being such an abrasive asshole? You've been a dick to just about everyone in this thread. Like, seriously, what's going on? I post links to studies on the topic and your reply starts with accusational condescension? Who does that?
Because I'm annoyed as fuck. There really all I said was that medication is addictive to people with ADHD just as it is addictive to people who do not have ADHD and a whole train of Internet psychiatrists started jumping in trying to argue about it.
The bulk of your first paragraph is ironic when that's exactly what you did. I said addictive medications are addictive to everyone regardless, you jumped in trying to fucking debate that. I'm done. My only replied to this shit from this point on is being done through the block button. Goodbye now.
Because that statement is objectively incorrect. If it was addictive in the same way to ADHD as people without ADHD, then it wouldn't be allowed to be prescribed. The possible negative total outcomes wouldn't justify the treatment.
No, your first claim was that addictive medications were addictive in the same way. Which is incorrect. If you had said "regardless if you have ADHD or not there is still potential for addiction". Then people wouldn't be arguing with you.
The majority of the issue is that you keep fighting strawman arguments in your rebuttals and not what people are actually claiming is incorrect about your initial statement.
Something you are apparently unable to do.
Yes...... Because they tend to be self medicating and not able to do so properly, you know because they aren't doctors.
Think it out...... If people with ADHD are more likely to abuse substances, and treating it with a substance that is generally addictive to people without ADHD lowers the chance of people with ADHD to abuse substances.....what does that tell us?
Not the general public, it was specifically about children with ADHD . The study claims that Children with ADHD who are prescribed stimulants for treatment of ADHD gain long-term resilience to abusing all substances, not just stimulants.
That's a straw man argument of your own creation, no one has made that claim.
Lol, you say that two sentences later "having brains wired so very differently that stimulants effect them in entirely different ways when compared to people without adhd."
The reason a lot of people have ADHD can accurately be described as having brains wired differently. Specifically that they do not transmit dopamine efficiently compared to neuro typical people. You just don't know enough about physiology or pharmacology to understand what you are even saying.