ADHD and Marijuana

You can read the original post, here: http://psychcentral.com/lib/2010/adhd-and-marijuana/

Recent research shows that marijuana may relieve some of the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The debate rages on, but many people, both kids and adults, are reporting the alleviation of their symptoms with marijuana usage. It helps slow down the progression of rapidly firing thoughts—something that plagues those with ADHD and makes it hard for them to focus.

Still, I take a firm stand against the use of marijuana for the treatment of ADHD and I’ll explain why. ADHD is believed to be caused by five different factors or combinations of these factors:

• genetics
• brain injuries
• environmental factors
• food additives
• sugar

Because we don’t yet really understand what causes ADHD and only have a partial understanding of its effects, we may be missing the boat in terms of treatment.

Currently the most popular treatments include Adderall XR, Concerta, Daytrana, Desoxyn, Dexedrine, Dextrostat, Focalin XR, Metadate ER, Metadate CD, Methylin, Ritalin, Ritalin SR, Ritalin LA, Strattera, and Vyvanse. Dexedrine and Ritalin, probably among the most name recognizable of these treatments, seem to have a paradoxical effect in those with attention deficit disorder. Rather than cause the brain processes to speed up and out of control, when given to those with ADHD these amphetamines may cause enhanced focus. But these and other medications come at a cost.

Some of the possible side effects include decreased appetite, sleep problems, nervous tics, and sometimes personality changes. Other treatments such as behavioral therapy have actually helped children change their behavior. Anger management, reflecting, and impulse control can be taught but therapy may not help alleviate many of the uncomfortable symptoms.

So if marijuana appears to be working, what’s the problem? Marijuana is known as a gateway drug among chemical dependency counselors. This old-fashioned term actually has quite a bit of merit. Statistics show that those who use marijuana, are far more likely to try harder drugs such as cocaine and heroin than those who don’t. Though this may be related to social rather than chemical reasons, is it a risk worth taking?

It is a myth that marijuana isn’t addictive. That has been categorically proven to be untrue. There are even withdrawal symptoms from giving it up.

Another prevailing myth is that marijuana is safe. It is considered in the popular imagination to be less harmful than cigarettes or alcohol. But that simply isn’t true. Whether it is inhaled, smoked or baked into brownies it is highly toxic. There are many poisonous chemicals in marijuana and they are dangerous to your health.

Another problem with marijuana is that it is proven to cause short-term memory loss and inattention — which are the same symptoms that many people with ADHD need to eliminate. Even if a paradoxical effect occurs and memory and attention are temporarily enhanced, the longer-term effects are proven. Marijuana “burns out the brain,” hence the term for regular marijuana users, “burnouts.”

Marijuana is classified as a hallucinogenic depressant. Depending on the individual, marijuana can cause visual and auditory hallucinations and possibly those of taste, touch and smell — that is, sensing things that simply aren’t there or sensing in a distorted fashion things that are indeed there.

The depressant piece also can be a big problem, especially for those with ADHD. Anxiety and depression often co-exist with attention deficit disorder, whether they are caused by chemical changes in the brain or by the pressure of coping with the disorder and others’ response to it. Marijuana is proven to cause both anxiety and depression over the long term as well as sleep disturbances. It also can cause kids to take dangerous risks, including risks while driving and with promiscuous sexual activity.

Another problem with taking marijuana for ADHD is that it can effectively mask other conditions that might co-exist with ADHD. Learning disabilities, conduct disorders, bipolar disorder, Tourette’s syndrome and oppositional defiant disorder are just a few. If they are masked, they cannot be differentially diagnosed or treated.

So, knowing the potential problems of marijuana use in those with ADHD, what is the illicit (not prescribed) drug of choice of those with ADHD? Marijuana! An extremely high percentage of teens who smoke marijuana have ADHD. This does support the belief of those who say that marijuana medicates ADHD symptoms. But as someone who has worked in the field of mental health and addictions for over two decades I say it isn’t worth the risk. I have seen kids and families accrue far more losses than gains due to the use of pot.