Child Mental Health Problems Increase Risk of Addiction, Study Finds
A new study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP) suggests there to be a correlation between childhood psychiatric disorders and an increased risk of developing addiction in adulthood.
Specifically, the researchers identify attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)/conduct disorder (CD), and depression as linked with a greater likelihood of developing addictions.
The lead authors of the investigation comment that the results indicate “the importance of early detection of mental health problems”, while “the next step is to make parents, clinicians, and the government aware of the [associated] risks and work together in reducing the risks for addiction and its debilitating consequences."