Substance and Alcohol Misuse, Drug Pathways, and Offending Behaviors in Association With ADHD in Prison Inmates

TY - JOUR

T1 - Substance and Alcohol Misuse, Drug Pathways, and Offending Behaviors in Association With ADHD in Prison Inmates

AU - Young, Susan

AU - González, Rafael A.

AU - Wolff, Kim

AU - Xenitidis, Kiriakos

AU - Mutch, Laura

AU - Malet-Lambert, Isabella

AU - Gudjonsson, Gisli H.

N1 - Funding Information: The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study was funded by Shire Pharmaceutical Development Limited. Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2017.

PY - 2020/11/1

Y1 - 2020/11/1

N2 - Objective: The objective of the study is to quantify the extent of specific polysubstance use, drug transitions to current substances, and describe the association with alcohol use disorders among inmates with ADHD. We also examined health risk behaviors and patterns of offending in relation with ADHD. Method: A total of 387 male British prison inmates were screened and interviewed via the Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults 2.0 (DIVA-2). Results: Male prisoners with ADHD endorse more methadone and amphetamine use. There was a significantly higher linear trend among those with ADHD for the number of substances ever used. ADHD was positively associated with increasing levels of alcohol use disorder severity, and with alcohol dependence. Transition along the pathways of substance misuse and persistence of drug misuse was better explained by the presence of conduct disorder/antisocial personality traits. Conclusion: Higher rates of alcohol dependence and stimulant–cocaine misuse suggest these inmates have maladaptive coping mechanisms, such as self-medication behaviors.

AB - Objective: The objective of the study is to quantify the extent of specific polysubstance use, drug transitions to current substances, and describe the association with alcohol use disorders among inmates with ADHD. We also examined health risk behaviors and patterns of offending in relation with ADHD. Method: A total of 387 male British prison inmates were screened and interviewed via the Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults 2.0 (DIVA-2). Results: Male prisoners with ADHD endorse more methadone and amphetamine use. There was a significantly higher linear trend among those with ADHD for the number of substances ever used. ADHD was positively associated with increasing levels of alcohol use disorder severity, and with alcohol dependence. Transition along the pathways of substance misuse and persistence of drug misuse was better explained by the presence of conduct disorder/antisocial personality traits. Conclusion: Higher rates of alcohol dependence and stimulant–cocaine misuse suggest these inmates have maladaptive coping mechanisms, such as self-medication behaviors.

KW - ADHD

KW - alcohol dependence

KW - antisocial personality

KW - prison

KW - self-medication

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85091760971&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/1087054716688532

DO - 10.1177/1087054716688532

M3 - Article

C2 - 28135882

AN - SCOPUS:85091760971

SN - 1087-0547

VL - 24

SP - 1905

EP - 1913

JO - Journal of Attention Disorders

JF - Journal of Attention Disorders

IS - 13

ER -