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Medication Helps Teen Drivers with ADHD
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| Wednesday, November 15th, 2006 | Kristen DiPaolo | CWK Producer |
“Teenagers who have ADHD are more likely to be involved in collisions, and more likely to be involved in collisions with fatalities. So it really is a very serious situation.”
– Leslie Rubin, M.D., Developmental Pediatrician, Emory School of Medicine
19-year-old Cherise was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder…and that makes driving difficult.
“One of the biggest things that happens is confusion,” she says, “because you have a lot of things coming at you at once…you don’t know what to focus on first.”
Studies show teen drivers are up to four times more likely to get into an accident if they have ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
“Did you see that car about to back out?” asks Cherise’s dad Eric, as he supervises her driving.
“Actually, no, I didn’t,” she admits.
“Teenagers who have ADHD are more likely to be involved in collisions, and more likely to be involved in collisions with fatalities,” says developmental pediatrician Dr. Leslie Rubin, with the Emory School of Medicine. “So it really is a very serious situation.”
Every year, more than five thousand teens die in car crashes.
But according to research from the University of Virginia, for teens with ADHD, medication can greatly improve their concentration while driving.
“It helps more in the way in which it allows an individual to filter out those distracting influences,” says Dr. Rubin.
And research shows that long-acting medication works the best.
“If they took the short-acting medication three times a day, it did not work as well as if they were on the long-acting medication,” says Dr. Rubin, “and what the long-acting medication does is it is designed to deliver a constant dose to the body over the course of the day.”
Cherise and her dad have worked long and hard to make her a safer driver.
“We started her off just driving around in parking lots and in light traffic,” says Eric, “and my goal is to have her drive at least 100 hours before she solos.”
What We Need To Know
- Long before a child reaches driving age, children with ADHD should work closely with a pediatrician to develop a treatment plan. (Leslie Rubin, M.D., Developmental Pediatrician, Emory University School of Medicine)
- Each child responds differently to ADHD medication. Work with your doctor to find a brand and dose that work best for your child. (Leslie Rubin, M.D., Developmental Pediatrician, Emory University School of Medicine)
- Some parents prefer to put their child on short-acting medication, because they only want to medicate the child for a few hours during school. However, if kids are going to drive, they need to be on long-acting medication. (Leslie Rubin, M.D., Developmental Pediatrician, Emory University School of Medicine)
- If your teen has ADHD, delay them driving for as long as possible. Before allowing the teen to get a license, be sure that he or she exhibits good concentration, judgment and impulse control in other areas of their life. (Leslie Rubin, M.D., Developmental Pediatrician, Emory University School of Medicine)
- There can never be enough preparation before teens get a license. Parents should consider enrolling teens in a defensive driving course. These are more expensive than a basic driver’s education course and not required in many states. However, they are extremely valuable. (Leslie Rubin, M.D., Developmental Pediatrician, Emory University School of Medicine)
- Practice driving with your teen. Constantly offer advice. For example, say things like: “Be careful when you approach a hill – you won’t be able to see oncoming traffic.” (Leslie Rubin, M.D., Developmental Pediatrician, Emory School of Medicine)
Resources
- University of Virginia Health System
- Relative Benefits of Stimulant Therapy With OROS Methylphenidate Versus Mixed Amphetamine Salts Extended Release in Improving the Driving Performance of Adolescent Drivers With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Pediatrics 2006;118;704-710
- Impact of Methylphenidate Delivery Profiles on Driving Performance of Adolescents With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Pilot Study, Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 43(3):269-275, March 2004.
