Despite the increase in cardiac risks, stimulant medications remain the most effective treatment for ADHD in adolescents. “Treatment with ADHD medications reduces accidental injuries, traumatic brain injury, substance abuse, cigarette smoking, educational underachievement, bone fractures, sexually transmitted infections, …”
ADHD is associated with a litany of negative consequences if left untreated. An increase in the risk of a rare cardiac issue seems trivial next to the well documented risks of not treating this condition as effectively as possible.
The "Oh, well everyone has a little bit of ADHD..." opinion seems to be fairly popular, perhaps due to the increasing ubiquity of digital distractions we all encounter daily, but reading just a small amount of actual research led me to the conclusion that this is completely misguided and "real" ADHD (whatever that is) has likely left a significant amount of its victims dead, in prison, or terminally drug-addicted.
One simple example that supports this conclusion can be found in driving (the most dangerous routine activity most people engage in?), where stimulant medication significantly improves outcomes for those with ADHD. I don't have specific links handy, but a simple Google search (https://www.google.com/search?q=adhd+medication+driving+safe...) will offer ample confirmation.
Haha yeah, it's funny. I take a little stimulant and suddenly the insatiable urge to go over 200 km/h is completely gone, I don't scream at anyone, I don't rage at all any more. Now I just wait a little and listen to my music, no problem at all.
The funniest thing is how it all comes back once I'm 2 days off the meds, though.
Yeah I produced 3 car accidents off-meds. The last of them almost killed my girlfriend at the time. Since that, I don't drive off-meds anymore (and have had no further issues). Sadly, the authorities would rather have the reverse, with driving under the influence of MPH being in a legal grey zone (at least where I live.) This IMHO needs to be fixed ASAP.
ADHD is associated with a litany of negative consequences if left untreated. An increase in the risk of a rare cardiac issue seems trivial next to the well documented risks of not treating this condition as effectively as possible.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33549739/