A NEW APPROACH TO SUBSTANCE-ABUSE TREATMENT - ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS WITH ADHD

Adolescents and young adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Diso rder (ADHD) are not only at risk for drug and alcohol dependence, but are also difficult to maintain in a chemical dependency facility due t o disruptive behaviors. Such patients may be ''hyperaroused,'' a term coined by the field of occupational therapy, but oppositional behavior s hide their physical and emotional overreactivity. Thirty years ago, occupational therapist Dr. Jean Ayres developed Sensory Integration (S I) techniques that are traditionally used with children under 21 years of age who are diagnosed with learning disabilities, autism, and ADHD . Many of the chemically dependent adolescent and young adult patients with ADHD who are in treatment display characteristics similar to tho se of children traditionally targeted for this therapy. Techniques use d by occupational therapists trained in SI were adapted to treat hyper arousal and overreactivity to the environment in chemically dependent adolescents and young adults, in order to maintain them in the treatme nt environment until they were ready to graduate. The techniques were successful in maintaining and educating patients about ADHD and chemic al dependency. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.