WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are more at risk for addictive behavior in adolescence.
According to a study published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, children diagnosed as ADHD are linked to earlier first use of cigarettes, earlier progression to daily smoking, earlier use of illicit drugs and problems with alcohol.
The study said those children with the most severe attention problems in childhood were most at risk for alcohol and marijuana problems and cigarette smoking by their teens.
"Childhood ADHD symptoms, particularly the inattention dimension of ADHD, predicted later substance use to a greater degree than childhood antisocial behaviors," study author, Brooke S. G. Molina, said in a statement.
This suggests that the severity of ADHD is a leading factor for the early emergence of substance use behavior, said Molina.
