University Students With ADHD Had Higher Rates of Cannabis Use and Multiple Addictions
Among 1,517 French university students, those with ADHD (5.6% prevalence) had significantly higher rates of cannabis, alcohol, and tobacco use as well as behavioral addictions including gambling and compulsive buying.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Students with ADHD had significantly higher scores on substance use measures (alcohol, cannabis, tobacco) and behavioral addictions (gambling, compulsive buying, eating disorders, internet addiction) compared to non-ADHD students. ADHD students also repeated classes more often and rated their academic performance lower.
Key Numbers
1,517 students, mean age 20.6. ADHD prevalence: 5.6%. 42.2% of ADHD students had repeated a year vs 25.7% overall. Sex ratio M:F was 0.46.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional survey of 1,517 university students at two French universities using validated screening tools for ADHD, substance use, and behavioral addictions.
Why This Research Matters
ADHD is a common but often undiagnosed condition in university students. Understanding that it is linked to elevated cannabis use and multiple other addictive behaviors can help universities target screening and support services more effectively.
The Bigger Picture
The connection between ADHD and substance use is well-established, but this study shows the pattern extends to behavioral addictions as well. This suggests a common underlying vulnerability rather than substance-specific risk.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design. ADHD was screened, not formally diagnosed. Two French universities may not be representative of all student populations. Self-reported substance use.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does treating ADHD reduce substance use and behavioral addictions?
- ?Are ADHD students self-medicating with cannabis?
- ?Would early ADHD screening in universities reduce addiction rates?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 5.6% of students screened positive for ADHD, and these students had elevated rates across all substance and behavioral addictions measured.
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate - large sample size with validated measures, but cross-sectional and based on screening rather than clinical diagnosis.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2018.
- Original Title:
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and addictions (substance and behavioral): Prevalence and characteristics in a multicenter study in France.
- Published In:
- Journal of behavioral addictions, 7(3), 743-751 (2018)
- Authors:
- Romo, Lucia(2), Ladner, Joel, Kotbagi, Gayatri(2), Morvan, Yannick, Saleh, Dalia, Tavolacci, Marie Pierre, Kern, Laurence
- Database ID:
- RTHC-01816
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Is ADHD linked to higher cannabis use?
This study of 1,517 university students found that the 5.6% who screened positive for ADHD had significantly higher cannabis use scores, along with higher rates of alcohol, tobacco, and behavioral addictions.
Does ADHD affect academic performance in college?
Yes. In this study, 42.2% of students with ADHD had repeated a year compared to 25.7% of non-ADHD students. ADHD students also rated their own academic level as lower.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-01816APA
Romo, Lucia; Ladner, Joel; Kotbagi, Gayatri; Morvan, Yannick; Saleh, Dalia; Tavolacci, Marie Pierre; Kern, Laurence. (2018). Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and addictions (substance and behavioral): Prevalence and characteristics in a multicenter study in France.. Journal of behavioral addictions, 7(3), 743-751. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.7.2018.58
MLA
Romo, Lucia, et al. "Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and addictions (substance and behavioral): Prevalence and characteristics in a multicenter study in France.." Journal of behavioral addictions, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.7.2018.58
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and addictions (sub..." RTHC-01816. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/romo-2018-attentiondeficit-hyperactivity-disorder-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.