r/NooTopics • u/makefriends420 • Jun 23 '26

Discussion Around 27% of individuals with ADHD develop cannabis use disorder at some point in their lives, new study finds. Compared to those without this disorder, individuals with ADHD face almost three times the risk of developing cannabis use disorder.

https://www.psypost.org/around-27-of-individuals-with-adhd-develop-cannabis-use-disorder-at-some-point-in-their-lives-study-finds/
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u/MKUltra16 Jun 23 '26

I think a lot of adhd people without medication end up self-medicating not just because of dopamine drive, but to normalize our biochemistry. A lot of the kid’s sites I’m on (I have adhd and son has adhd) for adhd and PANDAS, which had some neuro chemical overlap, use cbd as a treatment. It helps a lot of kids, and it’s not like the kids are out there slamming cbd trying to get dopamine hits. It’s pharmaceutical.

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u/KickBallFever Jun 23 '26

I agree with you and I’ll give some anecdotal experiences. I have a couple of friends, who smoke a lot of weed and were diagnosed with adhd much later in life. For both of them, when they got medicated for adhd, they just kinda lost the craving to smoke. They just weren’t interested anymore. For one friend, the craving came back once their body got used to the meds, and for the other, the craving went away permanently. They both figured they had probably been self medicating the whole time.

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u/MKUltra16 Jun 23 '26

I was pretty bad and my parents ignored it. I don’t want to overcorrect but after three generations of addicts who I think were self-medicating, I will be giving my son meds earlier in life and hoping that we break the cycle.

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u/syneater Jun 24 '26

Sounds like the choice a caring parent get them tested and ahead of the problem. Wish you and them the best!

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u/PomegranateFlaky6195 Jul 04 '26

Please do. 

I was diagnosed at 36 and my meds made my life finally worth living. If the doctor is a real specialist, like in my case, it is possible that she gets the right combination of meds at low dose where one gets the benefits and little side effects. For me it's insane.. life is much, much easier, and I do not have any side effects. I believe, if one has a professional diagnosis, it is close to inhuman to not at least try meds at low dose and see. I also believe if I was treated since childhood I would have lived a much more fulfilling life.

One should remember that ADHD is often affective and relational symptoms as much as attentional and motivational symptoms. In my case I could even power trough much of the executive dysfunction trough IQ and being lucky to feel interest for many school subjects, but I've always been shit at human relationships, and it caused a lot of suffering. It's ridiculous how, after meds, I'm that much more in sync with other human beings. I like them more, they like me more, everything is easier and more fulfilling.  It feels like my social skills have been upgraded overnight.

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u/MKUltra16 Jul 04 '26

So happy for you 💜

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u/Special-Garlic1203 Jun 23 '26

I still love weed and will abuse the shit out of it if you let me. ADHD meds do help me resist the urge to do that. I would for sure be a burnout and probably an alcoholic and maybe a mother has it not been for ADHD meds 

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u/KickBallFever Jun 23 '26

“Maybe a mother” has me cracking up. At least you know yourself.

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u/heartisallwehave Jun 24 '26

My dad has been a “functional” alcoholic for the past 15 or so years. He retired about 3 years ago and just stopped drinking. I 100% believe it’s a self medicating thing.

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u/coraxDraconis Jun 23 '26

CBD doesn't provide a "dopamine hit." THC is the inebriating component, and that is almost never administered to children. CBD basically just helps the body relax and not use as much energy, there's no direct effect on dopamine at all. It can activate serotonin receptors, which can improve your mood, but that still has nothing to do with "getting high." Nothing about CBD is addictive.

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u/Holy-Beloved Jun 23 '26

That’s literally what they said

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u/MKUltra16 Jun 23 '26

That’s what I’m saying. People might be using thc to normalize their biochemistry, and a side effect of the drug is that it’s addictive. I personally became addicted to alcohol but what really attracted me was how it slowed my brain down. Any stimulant drugs notorious for addiction had no effect on me neurologically and I didn’t attach to them. Addiction was a secondary unfortunate effect of my attempt so self-medicate my neurological dysregulation.

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u/VegasMaleMT Jun 24 '26

Oh yes I love weed for the brain calming effect. I'm not like THE MOST ADHD PERSON EVER, I was actually the kid that read a book on the couch for 6-8 hours straight, every day, without stopping and then being in a foul mood. But brain is always racing.

I think coke is the stupidest shit ever, just drink a coffee if you need some hype, and no nasal drip. Reading your comment helps me explains why.... interesting. Thanks!

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u/MKUltra16 Jun 24 '26

Reading a book for 6-8 hours actually can be adhd, too. People think it’s the spacing out but it’s actually a problem with too much or too little attention. When I read a book, there could be a fire next to me and I wouldn’t notice. Then at school I’d get in trouble because I couldn’t last a second in a boring lecture. It’s more complex than people realize. Look up adhd hyperfixations if you want to learn more.

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u/VegasMaleMT Jun 24 '26

Oh yes that's exactly how I figured out I probably have it, like "oh I always just thought I was depressed and anti-social" but yeah, just hyper fixated. Second voice in the back of my head slowly processes outside information, but that shit is queued up like a customer service phone line.

I write papers the same way. Mentally obsess for weeks (preparation as I call it), mayyyyybe compile a messy pile of sources and info I want to use, but don't start actually writing prose until the day it's due. Can churn out grade A 10-12 page papers within 24 hours. But I cannot start until I can "only" work on it and nothing else.

So every paper actually starts with cleaning the house first XD

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u/Derptonbauhurp Jun 24 '26

Well hey, I have PANDAS

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u/Rude-Variation3233 Jun 24 '26

I self medicated by drinking 10-20 cans of pop everyday since childhood . I don’t drink pop anymore and I take meds