UKAAN expert meeting on ADHD and Substance Abuse

17/01/2011

UKAAN (UK Adult ADHD Network; also see http://www.ukaan.org/index.htm) organized an expert meeting on ADHD and Substance Abuse.

UKAAN is a very young organization working on the topic of adult ADHD. Their executive committee works on several issues related to adult ADHD. A few months ago they organized an expert meeting on ADHD and crime. And now the topic of ADHD and Substance Abuse was reviewed in a very interesting day. In due course UKAAN will document on the content of the day. Very interesting was a lecture on the most difficult cases in adult psychiatry: Lots of psychiatric disorders (very often ADHD), social distress and Substance Abuse causes about 70-80% of costs in only 10-20% of patients.

A new program was developed in the UK where the first two steps of treatment are: solid housing and finances. Via this route a relationship was build between patient and caregiver, from where they worked on other issues.

A very interesting way of working with these difficult clients. I am sure that for many patients having both ADHD and Substance Abuse, treatment options like these are very important. Not only in the UK, but in many other countries as well.

UKAAN intends to write research statements on the current state of research on ADHD and Substance Abuse. I will keep you posted on this.