Oct 28, 2025 12:30:00

Research results show that ADHD medication not only improves concentration but also reduces the risk of traffic accidents, suicide, and criminal activity

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, affecting various aspects of life and work. Research has shown that taking ADHD medication not only improves focus in patients with ADHD, but also reduces the risk of traffic accidents, suicide, and criminal behavior.

ADHD drug treatment and risk of suicidal behaviors, substance misuse, accidental injuries, transport accidents, and criminality: emulation of target trials | The BMJ
https://www.bmj.com/content/390/bmj-2024-083658

ADHD Drugs Do Much More Than Help You Focus, Study Reveals : ScienceAlert
https://www.sciencealert.com/adhd-drugs-do-much-more-than-help-you-focus-study-reveals

It is estimated that approximately 5% of children and 2.5% of adults worldwide have ADHD, and many people with ADHD experience daily stress and inconvenience due to their difficulty with tasks that require concentration and planning.

ADHD is not just a condition that makes it difficult to concentrate; it also means that people are more likely to face various challenges. In fact, it has been found that adults with ADHD are at higher risk oftraffic accidents , injuries from traffic accidents , traffic violations, and sudden braking .

Previous studies have shown that people with ADHD who take the ADHD medication methylphenidate (Concerta) live longer , possibly because the drug increases the production of key neurotransmitters in the brain, improving attention, impulse control, and decision-making skills.

To investigate the effects of taking ADHD medication, a research team at

the Karolinska Institute in Sweden conducted a survey of 148,581 patients aged 6 to 64 who were diagnosed with ADHD between 2007 and 2018. Of the subjects, 84,282 (56.7%) started taking ADHD medication within three months of diagnosis, and 88.4% of them were prescribed methylphenidate.

The analysis revealed that patients taking ADHD medications had a 15% reduced risk of first-time substance abuse and a whopping 25% reduced risk of second-time or subsequent substance abuse. They also had a 17% reduced risk of first-time suicide attempts and a 15% reduced risk of second-time or subsequent suicide attempts. They also had a 13% reduced risk of first-time criminal activity and a 25% reduced risk of recidivism. They also had a 12% reduced risk of first-time traffic accidents and a 16% reduced risk of second-time or subsequent traffic accidents.

The research team concluded that 'pharmacotherapy for ADHD showed beneficial effects in reducing the risk of suicidal behavior, substance abuse, traffic accidents, and criminal activity, taking into account the incidence of first-time events.' 'The risk reduction was even more pronounced for recurrent events, with a reduction in the incidence of all five events.'