Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Medication Treatment, and Substance Use Patterns Among Adolescents and Young Adults Himanshu P. Upadhyaya, MBBS, M.S., 1 Kelly Rose, B.S., 3 Wei Wang, MSPH, 2 Kathleen O’Rourke, Ph.D., 2 Brian Sullivan, Psy.D., 4 Deborah Deas, M.D., MPH, 1 and Kathleen T. Brady, M.D., Ph.D. 1 ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between current active at- tention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, medication treatment, and substance use patterns among college students. Method: Three hundred and thirty-four students at a local college were surveyed for cur- rent ADHD symptoms and psychopharmacological treatment. The survey was conducted in conjunction with an annual national survey that probes students about their substance use patterns and attitudes. Results: Participants with ADHD as ascertained by medication treatment of ADHD had greater past-year tobacco and marijuana use. Among those with ADHD, participants with ac- tive ADHD symptoms were more likely to have past-year tobacco and other drug (besides to- bacco, alcohol, and marijuana) use as compared to those without active ADHD symptoms. In addition, participants with active ADHD symptoms were more likely to have past-month “other” drug use as compared to those without active ADHD symptoms. Among those pre- scribed medications for ADHD, 25% reported ever using their medication to “get high” and almost 29% reported ever giving or selling their medication to someone else. Conclusions: Results of our preliminary study indicated that ADHD symptom control may be important to protect against increased risk of substance use (particularly tobacco and drugs other than alcohol and marijuana) among college-age students with ADHD. Further studies of misuse/diversion of prescription stimulant medication among college students are needed. 799 JOURNAL OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY Volume 15, Number 5, 2005 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Pp. 799–809 INTRODUCTION A TTENTION-DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD) is a common behavioral disorder affecting approximately 3–7% of the school-age population (APA 2000). Moreover, studies ex- amining the relationship between ADHD and substance use suggest that ADHD may be as- sociated with substance use (Barkley et al. 1990; Barkley & Murphy 1998; Biederman et al. 1997; Gittelman et al. 1985; Loney et al. 1981; Man- nuzza et al. 1991; Mannuzza et al. 1993; Molina Departments of 1 Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 2 Biometry and Epidemiology, and 3 College of Medicine, Med- ical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC. 4 Department of Counseling and Substance Abuse Service, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC. Wei Wang, MSPH, Department of Biometry and Epidemiology at the Medical University of South Carolina, was the statistical consultant for this study.