Mental health disorders in childhood would put them at a greater risk of addiction in adulthood, according to a study published in Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Researchers at Vrije University in Amsterdam in the Netherlands reanalyzed the results of 37 studies involving children with ADHD (attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity), oppositional defiant disorder, behavioral disorders , depression or anxiety.
Scientists focused on the fate of the 762,000 people involved in this research, to determine if their mental health during their childhood could have an influence on their adult life. They found that with the exception of anxiety, these mental disorders lead to a greater risk of substance abuse later in life.
Act upstream
For researchers, these results highlight the importance of early detection of these disorders in order to manage them and reduce the risk of addiction. They believe that this study should be a starting point to make parents, doctors and government aware of this reality. “Addiction is a major burden for the person, his family and society, which is why prevention is an important goal,” recalls Dr. Annabeth P. Groenman, researcher at the Center for Child Psychiatry and of the teenager in Groningen, the Netherlands.
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