ADHD treatment and medication insights
No, Stimulants Don’t Cause Substance Use Problems (Additudemag)
Summary: Research presented in a July 2026 ADDitude webinar shows that stimulant medication does not increase risk for substance use disorder in people with ADHD, and may reduce risk for severe outcomes. Brooke Molina and Brian D’Onofrio reviewed multiple long-scale and longitudinal studies, finding that early and longer stimulant treatment is associated with lower substance use, and that stimulant use is linked to a roughly 30% reduction in risk for hospitalization, crime, and substance-related death. Despite this evidence, many clinicians remain hesitant to prescribe stimulants, and upcoming U.S. guidelines aim to address this.
Why it matters: This evidence directly counters the concern that stimulant medications may inadvertently increase addiction risk in ADHD brains, supporting the safety of first-line treatment and informing clinical practice.
Context: Stimulant medication is classified by the FDA as a Schedule II controlled substance due to its high potential for misuse, abuse, and dependence, which contributes to clinician hesitancy.
"“We’re not showing, on average, that stimulants increase risk for substance use disorder,” said Brooke Molina, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology, Pediatrics, and Clinical and Translational Science at the University of Pittsburgh, during her joint webinar with Brian D’Onofrio, Ph.D." — ADDITUDEMAG
Date: July 21, 2026 05:15 PM ET
URL: https://www.additudemag.com/is-adhd-medication-addictive-substance-use/
Generated Analysis Tone: Positive (40%)
Source Registry Score: 10.0/10 — High
Generated text and tone describe the analysis; the source registry score is not a factual truth rating.Post ID: d1bc00fd