Substances
Why they go together, what they do to your symptoms, and how they interact with treatment.
In one minute
Adults with ADHD are roughly twice as likely as other adults to have a problem with alcohol or drugs at some point, and more likely to smoke or vape. This is not a character flaw. An untreated ADHD brain looks for stimulation, calm or sleep, and substances deliver all three quickly.
Some of what you use may be self-medication. Nicotine and caffeine sharpen attention for a while; alcohol and cannabis quieten a racing brain. Treating the ADHD properly removes much of the reason to keep reaching for them.
This is not a lecture. It is about being honest with yourself and with us, because what you use affects how safely we can treat you.
This guide is in the section “Sleep, eating and your body”
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