Crystal Meth’s ADD Connection Part 2
Update: check out Part One and Part Three of the Crystal Meth Series of posts
More on the missing (in the public media at least) ADD connection with crystal meth.
The Journal of Addictive Diseases has an article called “Cognitive deficits among methamphetamine users with ADHD symptomatology.”
The preliminary data suggests that executive function deficits and some of the symptoms associated with long-term MA use may be due to the fact that a large proportion of MA addicts had ADHD symptomatology as children.
Here’s a word document that lists various articles. Do a search for the one called “Patterns of Initial Methamphetamine Use ” where they talk about a study of 95 meth users
“One third of the subjects (32%) who began using between the ages of 10 and 15 reported doing so because of the calming effect that methamphetamine had on them. These participants were classified using the Wender Utah Rating Scale as having ADHD symptomatology. No other age group included such a large number of participants with ADHD symptomatology.
It also helped the ADDers focus. Well that’s what ADD stimulant medications also do, only they aren’t made from drano and paint thinner and while they have some side effects, becoming psychotic, and schizophrenic aren’t part of them.
This detailed clinical article on Emedicine discusses the toxicity of Meth and mention it affects not only dopamine but 2 other neurotransmitters involved with ADD, norepinephrine and serotonin see the Pathophysiology section.
Here’s what Wendy Richardson, an addiciton specialist and the author of When Too Much Isn’t Enough: Ending the Destructive Cycle of AD/HD and Addictive Behavior 
says
The problem is that self-medicating works at first. It provides the person with ADHD relief from their restless bodies and brains. For some, drugs such as nicotine, caffeine, cocaine, diet pills and “speed” enable them to focus, think clearly and follow through with ideas and tasks. Others chose to soothe their ADHD symptoms with alcohol and marijuana.
The problem is that self-medicating brings on a host of addiction-related problems that over time make our lives much more difficult. What starts out as a “solution” can cause problems including impulsive crimes, domestic violence, addictions, increased high risk behaviors, lost jobs, relation-ships, families, and death. Too many people with untreated ADHD, learning and perceptual disabilities are incarcerated, or dying from co-related addiction.
Self-medicating ADHD with alcohol and other drugs is like putting out fires with gasoline. You have pain and problems that are burning out of control, and what you use to put out the fire is gasoline. Your life may explode as you attempt to douse the flames of ADHD.
Here’s some articles on ADD and addictions. For more info on meth see this site which has clinical articles, and presentations on it. Here’s a former users’ meth site with articles, recovery sites
I’m not suggesting that all or even a majority of meth users are undiagnosed or untreated ADDers self medicating.
What I am suggesting is that there probably is a sizeable percentage of them who are. The mainstream media, health authorities and criminal justice system should realize this and start addressing it.
It’s also a wake up call for parents who don’t want to get their kids diagnosed for ADD or don’t want to give their kids ADD medication when they’re diagnosed and don’t really give them much other treatment. Not saying everyone must have meds but if you don’t use meds you need to use something else and it’s probably going to be a longer and harder road.
If your child has ADD and you don’t use meds or deal with it effectively with some other methods, coaching, cognitive behavioural therapy, diet, exercise, tutoring, etc, you risk them dealing with it in a negative way through alcohol, tobacco, pot, or drugs like meth. There can be a heavy cost to denial.
Hi Pete,
Thanks for making this important connection between crystal meth and ADHD. A lot of food for thought there.
Comment by Jessica July 22, 2005 @
You’re welcome Jessica, hopefully someone in the media will make the connection too.
Pete
Comment by Pete Quily July 26, 2005 @
Yes, thank you for bringing up an issue that has long been on my mind when I’m looking for answers. As someone who was most likely an undiagnosed child with ADD and who has grown up in times before much attention was given to ADD, I was forced to adapt in whatever ways I could, and always felt the struggle of trying to appear normal to others. However, the very first time I used methamphetamines, I experienced not only an immediate sense of calmness but the very same sense of control that I had sought for years…and people honestly thought I was more sober than they’d ever known me to be! My focus improved so drastically that it took me literally half the time it used to to accomplish just about anything. Of course, all of this has made getting off of the drug extremely difficult and I long for people with some knowledge of dealing with the co-occurring disorders of ADD and addiction to methamphetamine. So many of my cravings and symptoms might be better managed if I could just get my ADD addressed. So thanks for bringing it up…we just have a long way to go yet to make a difference.
Comment by Christiane B. August 29, 2005 @
You’re welcome Christina, you might want to check my listing of ADD support groups for people in you area that might know of local ADD resources.
http://www.addcoach4u.com/internationaladhdsupportgr.html
Hopefully you can let others know about your experience (possibly the media ) so they can learn from it instead of repeating it. People will give more consideration to someone that’s actually gone through it than just a researcher.
Pete
Comment by Pete Quily September 2, 2005 @
Thank you for validating what had been a longtime observation of mine. My ex co-users used to comment about how meth had the entire opposite effect on me as it did on them. While the rest of the group escalated into tweaking frenzies, I was on the couch, half-asleep.They attributed it to my race but I knew better.
Comment by JamOnIt September 12, 2006 @
Hi, I am doing a research paper on the connection of ADD or ADHD and self medicating. I was wondering if you have come across a study that didn’t just focus on Meth but other substances? I need all the help that I can get.
Thank You!
Jessica J.
Comment by Jessica J. September 21, 2006 @
click on the above link that says “Here’s some articles on ADD and addictions. “
Comment by Pete Quily September 21, 2006 @
with having adhd, i find myself addicted to meth to reduce stress and allows me to be more focused. Im tring to find other means and is it true that adults with adhd use meth. thank you.
Comment by David February 13, 2007 @
I also used crank back in 1980’s. I also found that I could concentrate and that it slowed everything down for me. I was a heavy user for about 2 years. But, the weird thing was that when I quit using meth, i didn’t have withdrawels or any problems. I just stopped. I understand that for someone using it as much as I didn this is unusual.
Comment by Ruth February 14, 2007 @
Actually from what I’ve read it is rare Ruth. Seems like meth is harder to kick than heroin, but like any other drug i guess not everyone responds the same to it.
Comment by Pete Quily February 14, 2007 @
I’m 43 and last year learned from my doctor & family that my siblings and I were mis/undiagnosed with untreated ADHD since we were kids.. It explains many things but especially why my fellow PnP meth users tell how they feel on it and how it affects them - and it’s completely different for me - calming even - like the eye of the storm. They’re high and horny and I’m calm and focused… Their party goes on (right) - and I’m looking for support/treatment to quit self-medicating… I won’t say that meth isn’t a drug or I’m not addicted…We’re both at the same dance but there’s two different bands playing… Thanks for helping me (and others) understand this better…
Comment by Fuzzy April 25, 2007 @
You’re welcome, you might consider passing this info on to your doctor and drug and alcohol treatment centers so others won’t slip through the cracks too.
Comment by Pete Quily April 25, 2007 @
I can’t believe I came across this website and how it completely pertains to my situation. Meth for me was a calming effect and never a “party drug”. Besides reading the comments listed here, I have encountered maybe 2 people who have used meth that felt the exact way I did when used. Thanks to all who shared their thoughts and experiences here!
Comment by Cee February 19, 2008 @
I just wanted to share with you my quick thoughts. I used meth for 5 years and then I realize as well as others including my doctor that I had ADHD. I started with Concerta now take Adderall and I stopped using meth cold turkey. I was looking for this connection and finally google lead me to this article. I feel strongly in a correlation between people with ADHD who never delt with it and learned to self medicate with meth. I also think that it’s feeling telling how I started getting legit treatment for ADHD and stopped taking meth cause I didn’t “need” it to feel like I was acting like everyone else.
Bravo on discussing this and I really hope we pursue this question further.
Comment by Matthew June 7, 2008 @
I, for many years now, have searched the web for meth topics. I am a self medicating meth addict and have been for around ten years. I’m in my 40’s now and wish I could find help but if you even suggest that you need to use a stimulant to get by ,people, doctors, just think your making an excuse for your using. I have cronic Hep C and the everyday fatigue has made me unable to have any sort of quality life. I just keep getting put on different anti-depressants. They help with my depression but not for fatigue.
Why is it so hard for the medical prof. to understand? I have been trying to find a way to buy adderall on the web because I have at least 75% of the symptoms for ADD as well. What the heck am I going to do?
Comment by Debbie September 19, 2008 @
Hi Debbie,
that’s too bad. Some in the medical profession do but not enough and people with ADHD need to help raise awareness and demand services or things won’t change. Perhaps you might try to find a dual diagnosis clinic ie http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/dualdiagnosis.html
or someone that knows addictions and ADHD. They are hard to find but they are out there.
Comment by Pete Quily September 19, 2008 @