(Psych Central News) Researchers have found that treatment with stimulant drugs may significantly decrease the risk that girls with ADHD will begin smoking cigarettes or using alcohol or drugs. The discovery parallels the findings of several earlier studies in boys, which needed to be confirmed in girls. “Girls with ADHD actually tend to get into trouble [...]

Read the full article...

From Psych Central News.

articles paid for by drug companies:

from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/477487

MGH doctors are not doing so well with disclosure these days.
re: Dr. Biederman and MGH in general.

But Mrs. D, do you think what they are talking about is true? I find this very interesting. I'm supposed to take ritalin but haven't for quite a few months. I should go back on it as it really helps me at work.

The last major news release of this type concerned children..
and this one appears to also. That last one was funded by the makers of Concerta.

Adults with neuro problems, side effects from drugs used to treat chronic pain, patients with cognitive issues from aging
do use Ritalin and often successfully. Stimulants do not change anything however, and over time have a huge downside. Most of that is cardiovascular and patients should weigh their health to see if risk is worth the benefit. Also high dose stimulants, especially amphetamines can cause a reactive psychosis and aggression in some people.
For alerting adults with more complex problems, ProVigil appears safer (but some insurances still refuse to pay for it.).

One of the tricks that the drug companies use is to load their studies with kids who they know will respond in the way they want. Many drug studies are done this way unfortunately.

The issue here is that this study like the previous one, says that drug abuse in the FUTURE by the kids who took stimulants was averted. I personally don't think this can be claimed. In fact there are studies to show that kids who take stimulants become depressed adults. Other studies show that stimulants don't work after about two years or so as kids' brains mature.

I just don't care for this study at all, given the links the main researcher has to money from drug companies. MGH in general has been getting very bad press with revelations of professional unethical behavior in the area of drug studies.

My son took Ritalin for 5 yrs. We found another solution. A solution that was better, for him, without the horrible rebound side effects and tension. He is 27 now, and has done very well.

The medical model of stimulants for kids is flawed. We just don't know how the brain works well enough to find another answer(s).

I'll say this, our military has used amphetamines since before WWII. And it is a disgrace that some of the people who leave the armed forces left as addicts. This controversy has led to
investigating ProVigil as a substitute. The results of that are not in yet.

Research into addiction which involves many aspects of the complex nature of dopamine, and its transporters and receptors will provide the real answers, I think in the future!