Posted by kelv on January 19, 2007, at 20:09:41
In reply to Re: ADD/HD more likely to abuse Stims-, posted by linkadge on January 19, 2007, at 13:39:36
> >I am quite sure that it is just the opposite, >those treated with stimulants for adhd are less >likely to abuse drugs."
>
> "It has been argued both ways. One side also argues that stimulant drugs are inducing drug seeking behavior by activating addiction genes in patients."I'v read this can happen to SOME people, while others take stims during childhood, adolescence, discontinue and don't go on to use drugs.
"Ritalin and dexedrine, in clinical doses can turn on genes that moderate the addiction process. These genes can remain activated for years after the drug has been discontinued."
SOME people may feed this early exposure to stim activated gene exposure, if similar drugs are around them while others don't.--from Remedyfind.com-Ritalin in ADD/HD.
Is Ritalin a Gateway Drug?
Interesting essay which argues that other factors are more likely to lead to future drug or alcohol abuse than childhood use of Ritalin.
> "Some argue that ex-ritalin users are more likely to abuse cocaine bacause when they use it they feel at home with the substance. That it is satisfying latent cravings induced by early stimulant treatment."SOME may if they have access to Coke and experiment with it.
>
> "Mice treated with stimulants during adolecence also develop symptoms of depression and reward dysfunction for the remainder of their lives when the drugs are discontinued. These are otherwise normal mice treated with the drug so it is fair to conclude that long term use of the drug might set somebody up for depression."If that person is prone to depression, and they have never fully recovered from stimulant use-found it allowed them to function better, mood and otherwise, yes.
>
> "This may also be a factor in why the disease now is continuing on into adulthood. Perhaps it needs to continue into adulthood because the brain does not function properly without the stimulants."There is evidence of exposure to a developing brain to stims may change it's functioning.
>
> This is just what some researchers feel.
>
> "I don't know wheather the data indicates that stimulant treatment decreases addictive behaviors or not."There are many reports on Remedyfind.com of folks who abused drugs/alcohol when younger, then being diagnosed and treated, drug and alcohol use/desire ceased.
>
> Linkadge
poster:kelv
thread:721931
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070119/msgs/724188.html