Relation of substance use to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder among undergraduate students: a cross-sectional survey

Background: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity. Previous studies had reported a significantly higher lifetime risk for psychoactive substance use disorders in the ADHD adults than the non-ADHD adults. The current study aimed to examine the correlation between ADHD symptoms and substance use among engineering college students. Methodology: This cross-sectional survey included a sample of undergraduate engineering students (N=711). The college students were screened using the Alcohol, Smoking and substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) version 3.0. The ADHD symptoms such as inattention and hyperactivity were assessed by the Adult ADHD self-report scale, Symptom Checklist (ASRS-v1.1) and impulsivity by the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). Results: The symptoms of ADHD were found to be higher in students with substance use. The pattern of substance use in the study sample: tobacco (12.8%), alcohol (19.3%), marijuana (3.1%), sedatives (2.0%), cocaine (1.3%), opioid (0.7%), amphetamine (0.6%), inhalant (0.6%) and hallucinogens (0.4%). Conclusion: With the bidirectional data on ADHD and substance use disorder (SUD), the present study shows a significant relationship between the symptoms of ADHD and substance use in students.