Children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treated with psycho stimulants do not display increased risk of drug abuse in later life, a study notes.

Research, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, assessed 112 males ten years after they were first treated for ADHD.

All males were between six and 17-years-old at their initial assessment.

The team from the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston carried out analyses controlling for comorbid conduct disorder.

They found the participants were not at any increased risk for alcohol abuse (hazard ratio, 1.1), alcohol dependence (HR, 1.0), drug abuse (HR, 1.6), drug dependence (HR, 1.0), or nicotine dependence (HR, 1.1).

"The results should reassure clinicians who might be hesitant to treat ADHD because of concerns about future substance abuse," study co-author Michael Monuteaux said.

"Some previous studies showed an increased risk of substance abuse associated with stimulant treatment, and other studies showed both no association and also a protective effect from treatments."

Previous studies in this field have shown inconclusive findings due to methodological limitations, he added.

The boys will now be followed for an additional five years.

"That will give us a more definitive answer, since many of these boys have not reached the age where they are at the greatest risk for substance abuse," Mr Monuteaux told WedMD.

Register now to access our FREE educational library

• Undiagnosed ADHD costing adults working days 27/05/08
• ADHD heart tests 'should precede stimulant drug treatment' 23/04/08
• ADHD stimulant link to substance abuse 'unlikely' 04/04/08
• ADHD in young females linked to adolescent bulimia nervosa 15/03/08