ADHD and other conditions
ADHD and addiction
People with ADHD are more likely to have problems with alcohol or drugs. Research in addiction care shows that between 1 in 7 and almost 1 in 4 clients have ADHD.
What research shows
Alcohol
1 in 10 adults with alcohol misuse has ADHD.A shared factor
Impulsivity and heredity play a role in both.Medication
ADHD medication does not make addiction more likely. In large studies, problems with substances actually occurred less often in periods with medication. Stimulants can, however, be misused; that is why the practitioner makes clear agreements.
What comes first?
Addiction care first
Treatment of the addiction starts first, for example at an addiction care organisation.ADHD assessment as soon as possible
The ADHD assessment starts as soon as possible, once there is no longer any serious intoxication or withdrawal.Treating both together
After that, the addiction and ADHD are treated in as coordinated a way as possible.
At our clinic
If there is an active addiction that is not yet stable or not yet being treated, we cannot start yet. We can if the situation is stable, or if there is a treatment programme at an addiction care organisation.
Who is our care for?Need help?
Discuss it with your GP, or call the Alcohol Infolijn or DRUGSinfo line of the Trimbos Institute, the Dutch institute for mental health and addiction: 0900-1995 (€0.10 per minute, weekdays 9:00–17:00).
Are you thinking about suicide? Call 113 or 0800-0113 free of charge, or chat via 113.nl. If you are in immediate danger, call 112.
Questions about ADHD and addiction
- If there is an active addiction that is not yet stable or not yet being treated, we cannot start yet. If the situation is stable, or if there is a treatment programme at an addiction care organisation, we can.
- Research shows that treatment with ADHD medication does not increase the risk of later addiction problems. If you have or have had an addiction, your practitioner will make extra clear agreements about careful use.
Sources
- Van Emmerik-van Oortmerssen et al. (2012) – ADHD in substance use disorders (opens in a new window)
- Trimbos – Alcohol and ADHD (in Dutch) (opens in a new window)
- Humphreys et al. (2013) – Stimulants and later addiction, JAMA Psychiatry (opens in a new window)
- Quinn et al. (2017) – ADHD medication and substance use, Am J Psychiatry (opens in a new window)
- Crunelle et al. (2018) – International consensus statement on ADHD and addiction (PDF) (opens in a new window)
- Guideline on ADHD in adults (NVvP) – Misuse and addiction (in Dutch) (opens in a new window)
- Alcohol Infolijn – Contact (in Dutch) (opens in a new window)
Checked in October 2026.
ADHD and other conditions
Read more
- ADHD and autismADHD and autism: a lot of overlap, different causes. Since 2013, both may be diagnosed together. About the differences and where you can go.
- ADHD and anxiety & depressionPeople with ADHD are more likely to develop anxiety and depression, and concentration problems can also be part of depression. This is how you can tell the difference.
- ADHD and traumaAfter a distressing event, you may develop symptoms that resemble ADHD, such as concentration problems and poor sleep. This is how you can tell the difference, and how we look at it in the assessment.
- ADHD and personality problemsADHD and personality problems, such as borderline, can look alike and also occur together. Where they look alike, how the difference is identified and what this means for the assessment.
Still have a question?
Call us on 020 303 34 65 or email info@adhdmc.nl. You can reach us by phone Monday to Saturday, 9.00 – 17.00.