Cannabis misuse predicted arrest history in women more strongly than in men, while ADHD did not predict arrests in either sex
A Canadian population survey of 5,196 adults found that ADHD did not predict arrest history in either sex, but cannabis misuse and conduct disorder symptoms were significant predictors, with both exerting stronger effects on arrest history for women than men.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Researchers surveyed 5,196 Ontario adults to examine whether ADHD predicted arrest history after controlling for other criminogenic factors.
In the combined sample, conduct disorder symptoms, problematic alcohol use, and problematic cannabis use all predicted arrest history. ADHD did not.
Sex-specific analyses revealed important differences:
- For men: conduct disorder symptoms, alcohol problems, cannabis problems, and general distress predicted arrests.
- For women: only conduct disorder symptoms and problematic cannabis use predicted arrests.
Notably, conduct disorder symptoms and cannabis misuse had stronger effects on arrest history for women than for men.
ADHD did not predict arrest history in any model, suggesting that earlier studies linking ADHD to criminality may have been confounded by co-occurring conduct disorder and substance use.
Key Numbers
5,196 adults surveyed. Cannabis misuse and conduct disorder were significant predictors of arrest in the combined sample. Both had stronger effects for women than men. ADHD was not significant in any of the three models.
How They Did This
Telephone population survey of 5,196 Ontario adults. ADHD screened with ASRS-V1.1. Cannabis misuse assessed with ASSIST. Conduct disorder assessed with MINI. Three separate logistic regression analyses (combined, male, female).
Why This Research Matters
This challenges the commonly cited link between ADHD and criminality by showing it disappears when conduct disorder and substance use are properly controlled. The sex-specific finding that cannabis misuse was a stronger predictor of arrests for women than men adds nuance to understanding gendered pathways to criminal justice involvement.
The Bigger Picture
The finding that cannabis misuse specifically predicted female arrest history (while alcohol did not) suggests different substances may play different roles in criminal justice involvement by sex. This has implications for gender-responsive prevention and intervention programs.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional self-report survey. Arrest history is self-reported and may be subject to recall or social desirability bias. Ontario-specific findings may not generalize to other jurisdictions. Cannabis "misuse" as defined by screening tools may capture a wide range of use patterns.
Questions This Raises
- ?Why does cannabis misuse show a stronger relationship with arrests for women?
- ?Is this about cannabis-specific behavior, or does cannabis misuse in women correlate with other unmeasured risk factors?
- ?Would decriminalization change this pattern?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Cannabis misuse predicted arrest history more strongly in women than men
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate. Large population-based sample with appropriate statistical controls, but cross-sectional design and self-report measures limit causal conclusions.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2018. The intersection of cannabis policy, gender, and criminal justice continues to evolve.
- Original Title:
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and arrest history: Differential association of clinical characteristics by sex.
- Published In:
- International journal of law and psychiatry, 58, 150-156 (2018)
- Authors:
- Kolla, Nathan J(3), van der Maas, Mark(2), Erickson, Patricia G(2), Mann, Robert E, Seeley, Jane, Vingilis, Evelyn
- Database ID:
- RTHC-01722
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does ADHD really not increase crime risk?
In this study, ADHD did not predict arrest history once conduct disorder symptoms and substance use were accounted for. This suggests that earlier findings linking ADHD to criminality may have been driven by these co-occurring conditions rather than ADHD itself.
Why would cannabis affect arrest risk differently by sex?
The study found the association was stronger in women but did not establish why. Possible explanations include gender differences in cannabis use patterns, social contexts of use, or the relationship between cannabis misuse and other risk-taking behaviors.
Read More on RethinkTHC
- cannabis-dependence-physical-psychological-addiction-science
- cannabis-perception-vs-evidence-gap
- cannabis-use-disorder-test
- cross-addiction-quit-weed-start-drinking
- is-weed-addictive
- is-weed-addictive-science
- quitting-weed-and-alcohol
- rehab-for-weed-addiction-necessary
- signs-of-cannabis-use-disorder
- weed-vape-pen-addiction
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-01722APA
Kolla, Nathan J; van der Maas, Mark; Erickson, Patricia G; Mann, Robert E; Seeley, Jane; Vingilis, Evelyn. (2018). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and arrest history: Differential association of clinical characteristics by sex.. International journal of law and psychiatry, 58, 150-156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlp.2018.04.006
MLA
Kolla, Nathan J, et al. "Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and arrest history: Differential association of clinical characteristics by sex.." International journal of law and psychiatry, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlp.2018.04.006
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and arrest history:..." RTHC-01722. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/kolla-2018-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder
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.