A new study published in the journal Cannabis explores how different types of ADHD symptoms in young adults are linked to distinct problems from cannabis use.
ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is a condition that affects a person’s ability to pay attention, control impulses, and manage activity levels. It is generally divided into two main symptom types: inattentive (IN) and hyperactive/impulsive (HI).
People with inattentive symptoms often struggle to focus, stay organized, remember tasks, or complete work on time. They may appear distracted or forgetful, even when they want to pay attention. On the other hand, those with hyperactive/impulsive symptoms may feel restless, fidget, act without thinking, interrupt others, or have trouble staying still.
The researchers wanted to examine whether these ADHD symptom types were linked to different problems caused by cannabis use, and whether the amount of cannabis consumed played a role in these outcomes.
The study involved 160 young adults, aged 19 to 25, who regularly used cannabis. Participants completed self-report questionnaires about their ADHD symptoms and cannabis-related consequences. They also recorded how much cannabis they used each day over the past 90 days and underwent structured interviews to assess cannabis use disorder (CUD).
Researchers looked at multiple areas of cannabis-related consequences. These included social and interpersonal problems, impaired control over use, negative self-perception, self-care issues, risky behavior, academic or work problems, physical dependence, and blackouts or memory impairment.
Results showed that the two ADHD symptom types influenced cannabis problems in different ways. Inattentive symptoms were directly associated with academic or work difficulties, poor self-care, and blackouts or memory problems. Importantly, these links were independent of how much cannabis was used, meaning that even people with lower cannabis consumption could face these problems if they had inattentive ADHD symptoms.
On the other hand, hyperactive/impulsive symptoms were connected to greater risk of physical dependence, impaired control, and cannabis use disorder, but mainly because these individuals tended to use more cannabis. In contrast, inattentive symptoms were indirectly linked to lower risk of these same outcomes because people with inattentive ADHD generally consumed less cannabis.
The study highlights that ADHD does not affect cannabis-related risks in the same way for everyone. Functional problems such as issues with work, school, or self-care are more directly tied to inattentive ADHD. In contrast, heavier cannabis use and dependence are more common among those with hyperactive or impulsive symptoms.
These findings have important implications for prevention and intervention strategies. Understanding the type of ADHD symptoms a person has could help tailor programs aimed at reducing cannabis-related harms. For example, strategies for those with inattentive symptoms might focus on managing daily responsibilities and memory issues, while interventions for hyperactive/impulsive individuals could prioritize controlling cannabis use and preventing dependence.
Story Source: Understanding the Relationships between ADHD Symptoms and Cannabis-Related Consequences among Young Adults, published in the journal Cannabis.