Dr. Brendan Doody:

There is evidence that untreated ADHD increases one's risk of developing the very conditions and difficulties you have described, Chairman. There is a cost to the individual of not being diagnosed and not being properly treated. We know that young people who are not diagnosed and treated are more likely to experience difficulties at school and to drop out of school. What we are about is how we help young people to achieve their full potential. It is important that if children have conditions such as ADHD, they are detected, diagnosed and treated. That will improve their chances of achieving their potential. It will also decrease the likelihood of their developing addiction problems, so there is a link. It is not that every young person who has ADHD will go on to develop those problems; it is just that those young people are more likely to do so.