Intervention for Teens With ADHD and Substance Use

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Trial end date: 2022-08-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

Individuals with ADHD are at markedly high risk for increased substance use and Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Given the strong evidence for the negative trajectory of individuals with co-occurring ADHD and substance use initiation, the goal of this study is to conduct a controlled examination of a brief, early intervention (BEI) for substance modified for adolescents with ADHD. Importantly, this intervention will address individuals who are at risk for problems with substance use, but do not yet meet criteria for severe SUD.

Although brief interventions have been found to be effective in other populations, their efficacy in an ADHD population with emerging risk for substance use problems remains uninvestigated. This study aims to understand why some adolescents with ADHD and elevated risk for SUD respond to (BEI) and others do not. The investigators will test whether situational and individual characteristics predict substance use development and response to treatment. Further, this study will assess which types of additional treatment are most effective for youth who do not respond to the initial BEI. It is hypothesized that rates of adolescent substance use will be lower among adolescents who participate in study treatments.

• Phase: Phase 3
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Florida International University
• Treatments: Methylphenidate

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of ADHD

• At elevated risk for substance use problems as evidenced by at least one general risk factor (e.g., elevated symptoms of ODD or CD, elevated conflict with parents, low parental monitoring, or academic failure) and at least one substance use specific risk factor (e.g., non-normative use of alcohol or other drugs, use of cigarettes or e-cigarettes, parental substance use problems, family history of substance use problems, peer or sibling substance use).

Exclusion Criteria:

• IQ < 80

• Current substance use disorder meeting DSM-IV criteria for the severe qualifier

• Psychotropic medications for ADHD or any other condition

• Active medical conditions that could be worsened by stimulants unless approved for participation by the treating physician

• Diagnosis of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and/or other psychotic disorder

• Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with a severity level of 2 or 3 or significant intellectual or language impairment