However, whilst many children do suffer from it, millions of adults also live with the distressing effects of ADHD, and many have been able to experience it, without the need for medication. Although, it should also be pointed out that a significant amount of adult patients do take powerful stimulants on a daily basis, and some have become addicted to them.
There is much controversy in the medical community regarding the effectiveness of medications used to treat ADHD, and some have proven to completely harmless and have also had a positive impact on sufferers.
As a person with ADHD makes the transition from child to adult – their symptoms and extreme behaviour is likely to intensify. This starts to become more serious during adolescence, when behaviour can become more reckless in a potentially harmful manner. Sometimes, the overwhelming sensations that a person with ADHD can suffer as the result of intense impulsivity and hyperactivity, can lead to criminal and violent behaviour – such as recreational drug use, heavy-drinking, theft and assault. This tends to be more the case in late-teenage and adult ADHD sufferers than with children, as when you get older you tend to be less supervised and are therefore more empowered to exercise your impulses. This can make it very challenging for adult ADHD sufferers to experience the condition, without risk to themselves or those around them – which is why research continues on how to create an effective and harmless medical treatment for ADHD.
