ADHD & Cannabis Co-morbidity.pdf

- ADHD Prevalence & Cannabis Use:
- ADHD affects 6-8% of US children (2-18), with 35-50% persistence into adulthood (4-5% of adults).
- Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug among both adolescents and adults, including those with ADHD.

- ADHD & Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) Co-morbidity:
- ADHD increases the risk of CUD and other substance use disorders (SUDs).
- Children with ADHD are 1.5 times more likely to develop SUDs, start cannabis use at a younger age, and experience more severe SUDs with greater functional impairment.
- Adults with ADHD in SUD treatment have longer durations of SUD and slower remission.

- Potential Contributing Factors & Hypotheses for High Co-morbidity:
- Neurobiological, developmental, and genetic factors may contribute to the high co-morbidity between ADHD and SUDs, including CUD.
- Current hypotheses suggest shared vulnerabilities, self-medication, and reinforcement of ADHD symptoms by cannabis use.

- Cannabis' Effects on ADHD Symptoms:
- Current evidence is limited, but some studies suggest that cannabis may acutely improve ADHD symptoms, while long-term use may worsen them.

- Assessment & Treatment Considerations:
- Clinicians should assess and treat co-morbid ADHD and cannabis use, considering the high co-morbidity and potential impacts on treatment outcomes.