Princess Health and Princess Health andStudy finds ADHD treatment might discourage smoking; Kentucky ranks high in both.Princessiccia

Princess Health and Princess Health andStudy finds ADHD treatment might discourage smoking; Kentucky ranks high in both.Princessiccia

ADHD research smoking tobacco youth

Gusty 14:03 Add Comment

Stimulant medications used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder might also reduce smoking risk, particularly if the medication is taken regularly, according to an analysis performed by Duke University. The study, online in the journal Pediatrics, has special signifcance for Kentucky, which first among the states in smoking and percentage of young people diagnosed with ADHD.

"Given that individuals with ADHD are more likely to smoke, our study supports the use of stimulant treatment to reduce the likelihood of smoking in youth with ADHD," said senior author Scott Kollins, Ph.D., a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke.

ADHD, which causes hyperactivity, impulsivity and difficulty paying attention, is often treated with stimulant medication, behavior therapy or both. The smoking rates are much higher for people who have ADHD than for the rest of the population. "Studies have shown that youth with ADHD are two to three times mores likely to smoke cigarettes than their peers, and 40 percent of adults with ADHD smoke regularly, more than twice the rate" among adults without the disorder, a Duke release says.

Some studies regarding potential connections between the using stimulant medications and smoking showed that taking stimulant medications increases smoking, and others didn't reveal any effects. "It has been suggested that some people with ADHD 'self-medicate' their attention deficits using nicotine," said lead author Erin Schoenfelder, a Duke psychologist. "Our findings show that treating ADHD effectively with medication may prevent young people from picking up the habit."

So far, the Duke study is the largest meta-analysis about the effects of stimulant medications on smoking habits. It looked at 14 longitudinal studies about smoking and ADHD treatment. The study found a "significant association between stimulant treatment and lower smoking rates. The effect was larger in those with more severe ADHD and when participants took stimulant medications continuously," the release says. The researchers said more studies are required to figure out the nature of the stimulant treatment needed to assist in reducing smoking risk.

"This study may debunk the perception that stimulants will increase one's risk for smoking," Kollins said. Schoenfelder said, "My hope is that this research can help inform our efforts to prevent negative outcomes for kids with ADHD, including cigarette smoking. This population hasn't been targeted for smoking prevention efforts, despite the well-known connection between ADHD and smoking." (Read more)

Princess Health and Princess Health andKentucky leads nation in percentage of children who have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactive disorder.Princessiccia

Princess Health and Princess Health andKentucky leads nation in percentage of children who have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactive disorder.Princessiccia

ADHD attention deficit children disabilities hyperactivity pediatrics poverty research

Gusty 05:55 Add Comment

Kentucky leads the nation in the percentage of children who have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactive disorder, according to the latest available data, which "showed that ADHD levels have risen steeply in the past decade across the nation," Laura Ungar reports for The Courier-Journal.

Ungar writes that "19 percent of Kentucky children ages 4-17 have been diagnosed with ADHD at some point, compared with 11 percent nationally and 16 percent in Indiana." Almost 15 percent of Kentucky children had the diagnosis in 2011, based on polling by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"We're probably over-diagnosing it to a certain extent," Dr. Christopher Peters, a psychiatrist and assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Louisville, told Ungar. "But these numbers indicate a problem. There are many kids in need."

The high numbers could "reflect the state's rampant poverty, since ADHD is identified more frequently in the poor," Ungar writes. "Others say more children here may be genetically prone to the disorder or face other risk factors. . . . Studies show that at least a third of parents who had ADHD as children have kids with the diagnosis."

Any over-diagnosis may stem from "overworked primary care doctors who aren't experts in the disorder" and may be over-diagnosing � and possibly over-prescribing � both locally and nationwide," Ungar writes. "Roughly 8 percent of of school-aged boys nationally and nearly 4 percent of girls took ADHD medications in 2012, according to data from the pharmacy benefit management firm Express Scripts."

There are "financial incentives" for an ADHD diagnosis, Ungar notes. "A diagnosis may translate into disability payments if a child has measurable and serious problems, and students with ADHD can get extra help in school. . . . Experts say the higher numbers may also indicate greater awareness of the disorder, meaning the truly needy are getting the medication, therapy and support they deserve."

However, Dr. Carmel Wallace, pediatrics chairman at the University of Kentucky, "said parents rarely push for a diagnosis to get a disability check," Ungar reports. "And the threshold for disability is high."

Still Kentucky has high rates of children and adults getting Social Security disability payments, and ranks high in some risk factors for ADHD.

"Scientists also have linked ADHD to alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy � although doctors said it's unclear whether smoking is a cause or simply occurs more often in families with afflicted children," Ungar reports. "Kentuckians smoke at the nation's highest rate and also have high rates of substance abuse overall."

Ungar's example of an ADHD child was, in preschool, "a tiny tempest � at times defiant, other times bouncing distractedly from toy to toy at daycare, while other children were absorbed in play," but as a second-grader "is doing well . . . with a mild stimulant and counseling." Here's a C-J video of another ADHD child and her mother discussing how they deal with it:

Princess Health and At least one in eight teens, and perhaps one in five, have a mental-health issue; ADHD tops, substance abuse also high.Princessiccia

Princess Health and At least one in eight teens, and perhaps one in five, have a mental-health issue; ADHD tops, substance abuse also high.Princessiccia

ADHD alcohol abuse Centers for Disease Control children children's health depression drug abuse drugs mental health mental illness substance abuse

Gusty 11:55 Add Comment

The most comprehensive report yet on mental disorders in children shows attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed problem in those aged 3-17, and the most common health issues for teenagers include addiction to drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

An estimated 13 to 20 percent of U.S. children experience a mental disorder in a given year, says a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and children are increasingly suffering from and being hospitalized for mood disorders like depression; that hospitalization rate has increased 80 percent from 1997 to 2010, says the report. And, while 3.5 percent of children under 18 have behavioral problems, almost 7 percent of them are diagnosed with ADHD.

About 4.7 percent of teens, or 1.7 million children aged 12�17, have disorders involving abuse and dependence upon alcohol, drugs or tobacco, says the report. Alarmingly, two-thirds of teenagers had an illicit drug use disorder, one million teenagers abused drugs or alcohol, and more than 695,000 were addicted to tobacco.

�This first report of its kind documents that millions of children are living with depression, substance use disorders, ADHD and other mental health conditions,� CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden said. �No parent, grandparent, teacher or friend wants to see a child struggle with these issues. It concerns us all. We are working to both increase our understanding of these disorders and help scale up programs and strategies to prevent mental illness so that our children grow to lead productive, healthy lives.�

Princess Health and Childhood obesity is linked to more immediate health problems than doctors formerly realized.Princessiccia

Princess Health and Childhood obesity is linked to more immediate health problems than doctors formerly realized.Princessiccia

ADHD allergies asthma child obesity childhood obesity depression disabilities headaches learning disorders obesity research

Gusty 12:39 Add Comment

While a plethora of research on childhood obesity has linked it to long-term health problems, a new UCLA study focuses on the condition's more proximate consequences, showing that obese children are at a greater risk for immediate health problems than previously thought. That's important for Kentucky, which ranks poorly in many health measures and is third highest in child obesity. (Photo by Tara Kaprowy)

"This study paints a comprehensive picture of childhood obesity, and we were surprised to see just how many conditions were associated with childhood obesity," said lead author Dr. Neal Halfon, a professor of pediatrics, public health and public policy at UCLA.

Compared to kids who are not overweight, the study found that obese children have nearly twice the risk of having three or more reported medical, mental or developmental conditions. Specific medical conditions included bone, joint and muscle problems; asthma; allergies; headaches; and ear infections. Obese children also reported a greater tendency toward emotional and behavioral problems, higher rates of grade repetition, missed school days and other school problems, ADHD, conduct disorder, depression, learning disabilities, and developmental delays.

The study provides the first comprehensive national profile of associations between weight status and a broad set of associated health conditions, a UCLA release said. Halfon said these findings should serve as a wake-up call to physicians, parents and teachers, who should be better informed of the risk for health conditions associated with childhood obesity. (Read more)