alcohol and adhd
Written by: THE BALANCE
Medically reviewed by Dr. Sarah Boss, MD
Last updated: January 19, 2026
Fact checked
Quick Summary
  • According to research, there is a substantial link between ADHD and binge drinking.
  • Patients with ADHD are more prone than their counterparts to begin drinking earlier or to drink more heavily.
  • According to one study, more than 15 percent of individuals with ADHD fulfill the definition of a substance use disorder, compared to approximately 5 percent of adults without ADHD.
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According to research, there is a substantial link between ADHD and binge drinking. Patients with ADHD are more prone than their counterparts to begin drinking earlier or to drink more heavily. According to one study, more than 15 percent of individuals with ADHD fulfill the definition of a substance use disorder, compared to approximately 5 percent of adults without ADHD.

In the US, a little more than 4 percent of adults have been diagnosed with ADHD. People with ADHD struggle to stay focused and control their feelings, and they may be more agitated and energetic than those without the illness.

In fact, not everybody who has ADHD will have a harmful relationship with alcohol, but adults with ADHD have a two to three times higher chance of having alcohol use disorder than those that don’t.

ADHD and alcoholism are two prevalent co-occurring disorders that have a strong association. Both conditions are characterized by poor decision-making, impulsivity, and a lack of regard for the consequences. People with ADHD frequently struggle with social, behavioral, academic, and occupational issues, which can contribute to alcohol abuse. (source: NIMH, n.d.)

How To Treat ADHD Without Medication

Individuals with ADHD may consume alcohol to deal with their symptoms or to try it for recreational purposes, which can lead to addiction. The combo of ADHD and alcohol usage is harmful, as it can evolve to addiction to alcohol and dependency. It can be difficult to treat co-occurring alcohol abuse and ADHD because many stimulant drugs used to treat ADHD have a significant risk for abuse.

Alcohol abuse disorder is not caused by ADHD. Alcoholism is not a certain outcome for those with ADHD. The condition, however, is associated with AUD and raises one’s chances of developing it.

The following are some of the linkages between ADHD and alcohol use disorder: (source: CDC, 2024)

  • As per a 2018 study, serious ADHD is linked to alcohol usage early in life. Additionally, there is an increased risk of binge drinking.
  • According to a 2009 study, those with ADHD are more susceptible to alcohol and report speedier health impairment after drinking.
  • In adults and children with ADHD, drinking can increase typical symptoms such as impulsivity and attention.
  • Memory, cognition, and decision-making are all affected by alcohol. These are challenges that people with ADHD face, and drinking can exacerbate them.

The most frequent substance use issue in individuals with ADHD is alcohol use disorder.

According to one study, over 42 percent of adults with ADHD drank at least four to six alcoholic drinks on every occasion they drank alcohol, compared to roughly 21 percent of the adult population without ADHD. This is described as binge drinking.

Though it is acceptable to consume alcohol in moderation if you have ADHD, you are more likely to develop alcohol abuse if you have this disorder. The link between alcohol consumption and ADHD has been studied extensively. The following are some of the findings:

Earlier alcohol consumption. People with severe childhood ADHD have greater rates of early alcohol use (consuming alcohol at an early age), as well as excessive and regular alcohol consumption, according to a twin study. (source: NIAAA, n.d.)

The chances of binge drinking are higher. According to studies, individuals with ADHD are more likely to engage in unhealthy drinking or binge drinking in their early adult years.

An increased risk of developing an alcohol consumption disorder. As per a 2011 study, having ADHD as a child raises the risk of having an alcohol use disorder in adulthood.

In the short to mid-term, alcohol may seem to be a remedy to the unrest and anxiety that are common symptoms of ADHD. Heavy alcohol intake over a longer duration, on the other hand, can exacerbate ADHD symptoms.

Individuals with ADHD are more likely to engage in impulsive actions, which can have negative repercussions. Again, while it may appear that drinking alcohol is a strategy to manage ADHD, this is not the truth. (source: NIAAA, n.d. (binge))

Because long-term alcohol consumption is linked to problems in the following areas, drinking is not an appropriate coping mechanism to help focus and concentrate more on routine tasks.

  • Decision-making
  • Cognition
  • Memory

Each of these consequences of alcohol abuse may exacerbate your ADHD symptoms.

People with ADHD have an increased propensity to develop an addiction at some stage of their lives. This link could be due to the fact that ADHD and addiction have similar symptoms, such as:

  • Anxiousness
  • Difficulties with emotion management
  • Impulsivity
  • Reward-seeking

Individuals with ADHD are more likely to acquire addictive behaviors as a result of these variables. A co-occurring disorder, often known as a dual diagnosis, occurs when you have both an alcohol use disorder and ADHD. (source: NIDA, 2022)

Because the two illnesses can interact, it’s essential to address both your ADHD symptoms and your addiction through ADHD treatment and drug use disorder therapy. While both conditions can be managed at the same time, the one that is more detrimental and has an impact on the functionality or life quality will be treated first.

If you’re unsure about the therapy you’ll receive, many rehab facilities and treatment centers treat comorbid disorders like alcoholism and ADHD. After you’ve stopped drinking, you’ll most likely be treated for alcohol withdrawal before starting maintenance medication for your alcohol use disorder.

Support groups and behavioral therapy are two options for treatment. Later on, you may be provided drugs to help you control your ADHD symptoms and lower your risk of addiction.

Medications, both stimulants, and non-stimulants may be provided to people with ADHD to help them control their symptoms. Alcohol may interfere with your ADHD meds, but this is dependent on the type of treatments you are on. (source: SAMHSA, 2023)

Alcohol and ADHD meds are a risky combo. Stimulant medicines boost norepinephrine and dopamine levels in the brain, which speeds up the central nervous system. Alcohol, on the other hand, has a depressive effect on the central nervous system, which causes the body to slow down. Despite their conflicting effects, ADHD medicine and alcohol enhance each other’s effects instead of canceling each other out.

Alcohol with ADHD drugs (for example, alcohol and Adderall) can have serious consequences for the cardiovascular system.

Alcohol and stimulant ADHD drugs can both put a burden on the heart by raising heart rate and blood pressure. Certain stimulants, like Adderall or Vyvanse, can lead to binge drinking because ADHD drugs can make the patient feel resistant to the effects of alcohol. An individual who is resistant to the effects of alcohol may consume more than they normally would.

When ADHD drugs like Adderall are combined with alcohol, the negative effects can be amplified, and the danger of alcohol poisoning increases. Alcohol may induce the rapid biological distribution of the medicine in certain long-acting stimulants, like methylphenidate, resulting in hazardous adverse effects or toxicity. (source: NICE, 2018)

This can result in undesirable side effects and unforeseen outcomes, such as:

  • Dehydration
  • Elevated blood pressure
  • A heart rate that is too fast or too slow
  • Hindered decision-making
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Sleeping problems
  • An increase in body temperature
  • Seizures

You may raise your chance of a cardiac event, including a stroke or heart attack if you are using both drugs for a long time.

As a result, it’s critical to understand how your body will respond to these chemicals.

Although stimulants are commonly administered to treat ADHD, there are a number of non-stimulant drugs that may be given if: (source: NCBI/StatPearls, 2025)

  • Stimulants have no effect on your ADHD.
  • Whilst on stimulants, you had adverse side effects
  • Have a history of heart problems or drug addiction

Non-stimulant ADHD drugs include:

  • Buproprion
  • Atomoxetine
  • Venlafaxine

When atomoxetine and alcohol were combined, there was only a minor increase in side effects, such as nausea, according to one study.

Despite its current notoriety, understanding and knowledge of ADHD have not progressed as expected. In 2010, over one million kids and teens were misdiagnosed as having ADHD. ADHD, which had been blown out of proportion by the media, was touted as the easy fix for any youngster having academic issues. True ADHD, on the other hand, is more complicated.

People with ADHD are constantly in need of stimulation. Because the component of their illness that causes them to be “hyperactive” makes it difficult for them to focus on things that aren’t stimulating, many of them generate their own stimuli. This is commonly shown in children as an inability to think about anything other than play. This is especially obvious in a classroom situation when they must sit silently for long periods of time. (source: NIH/MedlinePlus, n.d.)

Adults are naturally less supervised, so they can act on their desire for excitement without suffering the same repercussions. One of the main reasons why people turn to alcohol is because of this. Yet, because of the way alcohol and ADHD interact, a deadly door of impaired control and memory gaps opens. As they get older, they’re more likely to become addicted to drugs or alcohol.

ADHD is identified in 25 percent of persons receiving treatment for alcohol and substance abuse disorders. Kids with ADHD are more susceptible to alcohol abuse during their adolescence and develop a dependency by maturity. Because alcohol and ADHD have similar effects, those with ADHD who start drinking may find it difficult to stop.

While drinking may appear to benefit persons with ADHD, especially if they have confidence problems, the negative effects of regular usage will mount with time. When somebody tries to self-medicate with alcohol, they are far more prone than others to develop a dependency and eventually addiction.

FAQs

Does Alcohol Make ADHD Worse
To reduce ADHD symptoms, patients with ADHD may “self-medicate” with alcohol. It’s a risky mix that makes healing more difficult and symptoms more severe. This often escalates to binge drinking, which increases the risk of long-term abuse and addiction.
Alcohol consumption to alleviate ADHD symptoms starts a self-destructive loop that can be stopped with adequate treatment. Even when prompted to do tasks that generally reduce impairment, ADHD people were more prone to show evidence of alcohol impairment, according to a 2009 study.
ADHD symptoms that are more severe Impaired judgment, impulsivity, and difficulty concentration are all characteristics of ADHD. Long-term alcohol consumption is also linked to cognitive, decision-making, speech, and memory problems. These side effects may aggravate ADHD symptoms.
Can You Drink While On ADHD Medication?
Even those who are aware of the dangers of taking alcohol with ADHD medications do so nevertheless. It’s possible that people will do it to extend their partying. Others drink to cope with the side effects of their medications. Excessive drinking can occur in either case.
Another issue is that both ADHD medications and alcohol are potentially addicting. Mixing the two can impair your ability to focus, recall, and handle problems in the long run. It also has the potential to cause depression or other mental health issues.
When you are on ADHD medication, it’s better to avoid alcohol. However, if you want to party carefully, consult your doctor for advice on how to stay safe.

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