Children with ADHD at Higher Risk for Alcohol-Related Problems

A joint study between the Universities of Pittsburgh and California-Berkley has found that children with ADHD are more likely to develop problems with alcohol abuse and addiction. Reasons for the increased risk include a higher tendency towards impulsive behavior, school failure, and family history.

"One of the reasons that children with ADHD might be at risk for alcohol problems is that alcoholism and ADHD tend to run together in families,' said [Brooke] Molina. 'We found that parental alcoholism predicted heavy problem drinking among the teenagers, that the association was partly explained by higher rates of stress in these families, and these connections were stronger when the adolescent had ADHD in childhood."

The study found that 15-to17-year olds with ADHD reported being drunk 14 times in the previous year, while a group who was the same age but didn't have ADHD only reported being drunk 1.8 times in the previous year. Read more at About.com.

Outdoor education programs, outdoor therapy, and brat camps can help kids with substance abuse problems and other behavioral issues. Learn more about outdoor therapy programs at Wilderness-Programs-Info.com.

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