Women with ADHD and substance use disorders started cannabis earlier and used it longer than those without ADHD
Among 185 adults in substance abuse treatment, those with co-occurring ADHD used more cannabis overall, and women with ADHD started cannabis use earlier and used for longer than any other group.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
The SUD+ADHD group showed increased cannabis consumption compared to the SUD-only group. Notably, women with SUD+ADHD started cannabis use at an earlier age and used for a longer period compared to women without ADHD and compared to men in both groups. No significant differences in alcohol use were found between ADHD and non-ADHD groups.
Key Numbers
185 patients (52 with ADHD, 128 without). SUD+ADHD group used more cannabis overall. SUD+ADHD females had earlier cannabis onset and longer duration of use than all comparison groups.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional study of 185 post-detox inpatients at rehabilitation centers in South Africa. ADHD diagnosed using DIVA 2.0. Groups compared: SUD+ADHD (n=52) vs. SUD-ADHD (n=128) by gender on alcohol and cannabis use patterns.
Why This Research Matters
The specific vulnerability of women with ADHD to cannabis use suggests they may use cannabis to manage ADHD symptoms, highlighting the need for gender-specific approaches in treatment.
The Bigger Picture
ADHD is underdiagnosed in women and associated with greater substance use when present. Identifying and treating ADHD in women with substance use disorders could reduce cannabis-specific vulnerability.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Small sample, especially for gender subgroup analyses. South African treatment-seeking population limits generalizability. Cross-sectional design. DSM-IV criteria used (DSM-5 now standard). Self-reported substance use.
Questions This Raises
- ?Do women with ADHD use cannabis specifically for symptom management?
- ?Would ADHD treatment reduce cannabis use in this population?
- ?Are these patterns similar in non-treatment-seeking populations?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Women with ADHD+SUD had earliest cannabis onset and longest use duration
- Evidence Grade:
- Cross-sectional study with validated ADHD diagnosis, but small sample and treatment-seeking population.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022.
- Original Title:
- Differences in alcohol and cannabis use amongst substance use disorder patients with and without comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
- Published In:
- The South African journal of psychiatry : SAJP : the journal of the Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa, 28, 1786 (2022)
- Authors:
- Coetzee, Corné, Truter, Ilse, Meyer, Anneke
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03763
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a link between ADHD and cannabis use?
In this study, substance use disorder patients with ADHD used more cannabis than those without ADHD, with women showing the strongest pattern of earlier onset and longer duration of use.
Why might women with ADHD be more vulnerable to cannabis use?
The researchers suggest women with ADHD may use cannabis to self-medicate attention and emotional regulation difficulties. ADHD is also commonly underdiagnosed in women, potentially leaving symptoms untreated.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03763APA
Coetzee, Corné; Truter, Ilse; Meyer, Anneke. (2022). Differences in alcohol and cannabis use amongst substance use disorder patients with and without comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.. The South African journal of psychiatry : SAJP : the journal of the Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa, 28, 1786. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v28i0.1786
MLA
Coetzee, Corné, et al. "Differences in alcohol and cannabis use amongst substance use disorder patients with and without comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.." The South African journal of psychiatry : SAJP : the journal of the Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa, 2022. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v28i0.1786
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Differences in alcohol and cannabis use amongst substance us..." RTHC-03763. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/coetzee-2022-differences-in-alcohol-and
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.