Parent Q&A: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Experts at Children's Hospital Colorado have the answers parents need. In this new section, we give area parents an opportunity to ask questions about their children and receive answers from our providers. Here’s what’s on parents’ minds this issue with the answer being provided by Mary N. Cook, medical director of behavioral health at Children’s.

Question

Will my child outgrow his Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)? If not, will he become addicted to his ADHD medication, leading to the development of a drug problem later in life?

Answer

Studies vary, but most have shown that 50 to 60 percent of children with ADHD will continue to experience some symptoms into adolescence and adulthood. Hyperactivity tends to fade starting at age 10 and impulsivity symptoms begin to fade around age 12. Inattentiveness, however, is most likely to persist into adulthood.

The majority of studies suggest that treating ADHD with medication through adolescence may actually protect against developing substance abuse problems. In fact, one large study demonstrated a medication-associated risk reduction of substance abuse in ADHD youth compared to that of the general population, while non-medicated ADHD teens developed substance abuse at double the rate.

If you have a question about your child’s health that you would like answered, e-mail us at mychildshealth@childrenscolorado.org.