Early ADHD Treatment Could Prevent Smoking and Vaping Habits Later: Study

Teens dealing with chronic ADHD symptoms may turn to vaping and smoking cigarettes to self-medicate, researchers note.

A new study shows that teens who experience chronic symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be more likely than their peers to become addicted to tobacco products.

According to findings published in the journal JAMA Network Open on February 11, symptoms such as forgetfulness, inattention and impulsivity can make teens more likely to take up harmful habits like smoking and vaping, which can lead to long-term health side effects.

Teen Vaping Risks

A large body of research already indicates that teens who vape face health risks similar to those posed by smoking tobacco cigarettes.

E-cigarettes expose teens to toxic chemicals that can lead to a range of side effects, including cancer. Data published in 2024 indicates vaping causes the same DNA damage that smoking tobacco cigarettes does, which can increase the risk of cancer later in life. Vaping also increases the risk of heart disease among users.

Many have placed blame for the vaping epidemic on manufacturers who make e-cigarettes highly appealing with candy-like flavors and high levels of nicotine, attracting a new generation of users.

Researchers from the University of Michigan, led by Dr. Sean Esteban McCabe, studied more than 13,000 teens between the ages of 12 and 17 years old. They used data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Study from September 2013 to December 2014 and October 2014 to April 2023, involving more than 1,800 participants with ADHD.

The data indicates that teens who suffer symptoms of ADHD have a significantly higher risk of using nicotine and tobacco products. If they experienced three or more symptoms, they were 50% to 60% more likely to either smoke tobacco cigarettes, vape, or use both cigarettes and vapes.

Symptoms of ADHD included impulsivity, inattention and forgetfulness. Students described the symptoms as having a hard time paying attention, difficulty listening to instructions, feelings of restlessness, or rushing to give answers before questions had been finished.

People with ADHD may be more likely overall to use smoking and vaping as a method of self-medicating, researchers suggest. A study published by the University of Michigan last year indicated that more than half of teens in the U.S. who vape begin using e-cigarettes to help deal with stress and anxiety.

The data in the new study also emphasized this link. The research showed that about 20% of teens who took ADHD medication and suffered three or more symptoms tried smoking compared to about 8% of participants taking ADHD medication but who did not have symptoms. Researchers suggest that experiencing symptoms makes users more likely to try to self-medicate.

Researchers concluded that it is important to get teens diagnosed early and take ADHD medications when appropriate. However, they said the real key is for doctors to work with patients to reduce their symptoms as much as possible, which may, in turn, help reduce their likelihood of using tobacco products.