Abstract:
Drug use choice and pattern is often initiated from childhood and gradually increases through
adolescence and adulthood, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a substantive
predictor of substance use. This paper analyzed ADHD and substance abuse: its effects and
implications on prison inmates. Data was collected from 70 (66 males and 4 females) prison
inmates who use and abuse substances. Out of them 54% admitted to being gainfully
employed and 34% were unemployed. The 25 items Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) was
adopted to assess the ADHD. Chi square was used to test our hypothesis and Content
analysis was used to explore the drug use choice and subsequent relationship between
ADHD and drug choice. Results revealed that there was a significant relationship between
AD/HD and methamphetamine (y? = 12.323, p = 0.006), cocaine use (x2 = 12.712, p =
0.005), and crack cocaine (x2 = 13.899, p = 0.003). Alcohol, cannabis, solvent, heroin, LSD,
ecstasy, tranquilizers, cough syrup and Raquinol however showed no significant relationship
with ADHD.
