Real Dangers
of
Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Still Under Construction
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (both ADD and ADHD) increase the statistical risk for a variety of very
significant dangers.
Car Accidents,
Speeding Tickets and Suspensions
Substance Use
Criminality
Lower self esteem
Toddler Poisoning
Health and Injury
Risk with psychosexual functioning
Social Functioning
Poor Academics with High School and
College Drop out
Substance Abuse
When ADHD is untreated the risk of substance
abuse is about three times the normal rate. When treated consistently with
stimulant medications, the risk is about the same as the normal rate.
Up until about age 15, the risk for substance
abuse is about normal. After age 15, the rate of diagnosed substance abuse
triples from about 15% to 47%.
Car Accidents and
Violations
A recent study that
compared the accuracy of those with untreated ADHD on a driving simulator
indicated that they performed at about the same level as those who were legally
intoxicated. Both those with the ADHD and those who were alcohol impaired both
thought that they were "driving very well." And then add alcohol to those
with ADHD, and you get really terrible driving performance.
There is a much higher incidence of car accidents
with adolescents with ADHD. They have 400% more accidents causing injury than do
normal adolescents or adolescents who have ADHD, but regularly take their
medication. They have 300% more motor vehicle violations than do normal
adolescents.
3 times as many vehicle accidents
3 times as many associated injuries
4 times more likely to be at fault
5 times more speeding violations
7 times more likely to have license suspended
This last factor is amazing. Adolescents with
ADHD really get nailed, and lose their license even more than they might
deserve. Why? Perhaps because they forget the court date, speak
disrespectfully, appear to be functioning poorly to the court or don't
follow-through with requirements of the court.
Criminality
Many people with ADHD also have severe behavioral
problems. When those with ADHD have comorbid Oppositional Defiant Disorder or
Conduct Disorder, there is an increased risk for legal problems of all sort.
This is complicated by impulsivity, a high-risk life style, failure to learn
from the past, and poor executive functions.
One long-term study in New York indicated that
those with ADHD were more likely to be arrested.
Many experts believe that the prisons are filled
with a very high proportion of people who have ADHD. One of the key aspects of
people with ADHD is that they "don't learn from experience."
Low Self Esteem
People with ADHD and ADD have many failures in
life. They frequently become discouraged. They have poor self confidence. This
often leads to depression, sometimes severe. And thus they often suffer from low
self esteem.
Imagine what it is like to be told as a child
that your behavior is almost always wrong. Imagine failures in school, even when
you try hard. Imagine studying hard, only that you do worse than if you don't
study. Imagine failure after failure after failure. Imagine being told you are
just lazy. Imagine being told that if only you should try harder. Imagine the
feeling of never being organized. Imagine never being able to listen or
concentrate for more than a few minutes. Imagine having few friends.
Not everyone with ADHD or ADD have all of those
problems, but they likely have some of them. It is hard to feel good with ADHD.
| 
Swank Counseling
