Putting Out Fires With Gasoline

The problem is that self-medicating works at first. It provides the person with AD/HD relief from their restless bodies and brains. For some, drugs such as nicotine, caffeine, cocaine, diet pills and "speed" enable them to focus, think clearly and follow through with ideas and tasks. Others chose to soothe their AD/HD symptoms with alcohol and marijuana.

People who abuse substances, or have a history of substance abuse are not "bad" people. They are people who desperately attempt to self-medicate their failings, and AD/HD symptoms. Self-medicating can feel comforting. The problem is that self-medicating brings on a host of addiction-related problems that over time will make life much more difficult. What starts out as a "solution" can cause problems including impulsive crimes, domestic violence, addictions, increased high risk behaviors, lost jobs, relation-ships, families, and death. Too many people with untreated AD/HD, learning and perceptual disabilities are incarcerated, or dying from co-related addiction.

Untreated AD/HD contributes to addictive relapse, and, at best, can be a huge factor in recovering people feeling miserable, depressed, unfulfilled, and suicidal. Many individuals in recovery have spent countless hours in therapy, working through childhood issues, getting to know their inner-child, and analyzing their behaviors and why they abuse substances.

Much of this soul searching, insight and release of feelings is absolutely necessary to maintain recovery. But what if after years of group and individual therapy, and continued involvement in addiction programs, you still impulsively quit jobs and relationships, cannot follow through with your goals and dreams, and have a fast, chaotic or slow energy level? What if, along with you addictions, you also have AD/HD.

Wendy Richardson has released two videos, The Truth About AD/HD and AD/HD and Addiction and authored two books on AD/HD and addiction: The Link Between ADD & Addiction, Getting the Help You Deserve, (1997) Piñon Press, and my new book When Too Much Isn't Enough, Ending The Destructive Cycle of AD/HD and Addictive Behavior, released in January (2005) Piñon Press.)