Alcohol and ADHD
Drugs and ADHD
Tobacco, Vapes and ADHD
Alcohol and ADHD
Alcohol affects the brain more strongly in people with ADHD, increasing impulsivity and risk-taking behaviours.
Drinking alcohol while on stimulant medication can mask the effects of intoxication, making it harder to judge how drunk you are.
Alcohol can interact with ADHD medications, leading to increased heart rate and high blood pressure.
Advice:
- Set limits before you start drinking.
- Alternate alcoholic drinks with water or soft drinks.
- Never mix alcohol with ADHD medication unless your doctor has advised you.
- Never ever drink and drive – even small amounts of alcohol impair judgment and reaction time.
More information: https://www.drugsandalcoholni.info
Drugs and ADHD
People with ADHD are at higher risk of substance misuse, particularly cannabis and stimulants.
Some illegal drugs (e.g., cannabis, cocaine) interfere with ADHD medication, making symptoms worse.
Using cannabis can increase anxiety, cause low mood and depression, affect your motivation and reduce concentration, making school and work harder.
Stimulant drugs (e.g., cocaine, MDMA) can dangerously increase heart rate, more so if combined with ADHD medication.
Staying Safe:
• Be aware of peer pressure – plan how to say no.
• Know the risks – even small amounts of drugs can have unpredictable effects, especially with ADHD.
• If you are struggling with drug use, speak to your GP or contact local support services.
• DAISY – the Drug and Alcohol Intervention Service for Youth provide treatment and support for 11-25 year olds and their families – self refer at https://start360.org
More information: www.drugsandalcoholni.info
Tobacco, Vapes and ADHD
People with ADHD are more likely to become addicted to nicotine. They also find it harder to quit.
Vapes are proving to be more addictive than cigarettes due to the high nicotine content and mixing with other substances such as menthol. There is growing concern about the cancer risk and impact on the brain caused by these. Research is still limited at present.
Advice:
It’s best not to start nicotine if you can.
For help to quit see:
www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/
www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/ready-to-quit-smoking/vaping-to-quit-smoking/how-to-quit-vaping