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Questions
Do people with ADHD drink more?
Charles Li, MD
April 20, 2023
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People with ADHD are more likely to start drinking at a younger age.
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Having ADHD as a child has been correlated with a higher risk of developing alcoholism as an adult.
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Studies have found higher rates of ADHD among adults with alcohol use disorders.
ADHD and Teen Drinking
Studies have shown that those with ADHD start to drink earlier and more often than their peers as teenagers.
One study found that those with hyperactive ADHD were around 20% more likely to drink daily in high school.
ADHD is associated with a higher risk of drinking and marijuana use in teenagers. This effect is particularly strong in young women with hyperactive ADHD.
Generally, children develop ADHD first, which can lead to excessive drinking as they grow into teenagers.
Some studies suggest that children with behavioral issues at school may be at a higher risk of developing problematic drinking as teenagers.
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Several findings suggest that ADHD contributes to the development of AOD use disorders. ADHD generally precedes alcohol use and is correlated with developmentally inappropriate levels of alcohol use or abuse; conduct problems typically precede the development of alcohol use or abuse.
ADHD as a predictor of alcoholism
A study on Danish boys found that having ADHD as a child was one of the best predictors of whether a person would eventually develop alcoholism as an adult.
Having ADHD and conduct disorder as a child was correlated with a sixfold increase in alcoholism risk.
Researchers found that boys who had both ADHD and conduct disorder were six times more likely to develop alcoholism as adults.
The analysis showed that having ADHD alone is enough to significantly increase someone’s risk of developing alcoholism. Having behavioral issues as a child as well compounds this risk.
Some experts theorize that the inattention and behavioral issues that can come with ADHD may make young adults vulnerable to developing a substance use disorder.
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Worsening inattention symptoms and delinquency during adolescence are associated with increased-levels of early adult substance use; this pattern may reflect a developmental course of vulnerability to elevated substance use in early adulthood.
ADHD among adult drinkers
Many adults with an alcohol use disorder today may have undiagnosed or untreated ADHD.
One study found that around a third of adults with an alcohol use disorder may have adult ADHD. Around a quarter may have had ADHD as children as well without knowing it.
Do Alcoholics Have ADHD? A study estimated that many chronic today may have ADHD as adults, and may have had it when they were children as well.
Risks of drinking and ADHD
Heavy drinking is particularly risky for those with ADHD.
While stimulant medications such as Adderall and Ritalin are generally safe when prescribed by a healthcare professional, there are potential risks when combined with heavy drinking:
Additionally, there is some evidence that those with ADHD may be more susceptible to dangerous driving when drinking: