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| Adolescents and adults that suffer from
ADD/ADHD and leave their condition untreated often turn
to drugs and alcohol as an “easier way” out.
For some people addictive substances make it easier to
handle the anxiety and problems of life, and for others
it is just a way to numb out and make the problems go
away in the short-term. When a person turns to drugs or
alcohol as a way to manage problems, this is called self-medicating.
There is no set period of time for which self-medication
works, however at some point it is bound to fail. Substance
abuse is very commonly a co-occurring condition, meaning
it happens in addition to another mental or emotional
condition a person may have. Because ADD/ADHD is highly
identified as a type of manic disorder, drugs such as
stimulants and uppers make sufferers feel like they can
manage their lives. One of the major problems with self-medicating,
is that both the substances and self-medication are addictive.
Once a person gets hooked on a substance or a number of
substances it is very difficult to stop. There are many
ways to combat addictive behavior using prevention, intervention
and treatment strategies. If a person becomes addicted
to substances and needs help there is treatment in programs
that deal specifically with ADD/ADHD and addiction together.
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