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Does This Drug Really Curb Criminal Behavior?

Nov. 21, 2012 10:57pm

(AP) — Older teens and adults with attention deficit disorder are much less likely to commit a crime while on ADHD medication, a provocative study from Sweden found.

It also showed in dramatic fashion how much more prone people with ADHD are to break the law – four to seven times more likely than others.

The findings suggest that Ritalin, Adderall and other drugs that curb hyperactivity and boost attention remain important beyond the school-age years and that wider use of these medications in older patients might help curb crime.

“There definitely is a perception that it’s a disease of childhood and you outgrow your need for medicines,” said Dr. William Cooper, a pediatrics and preventive medicine professor at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. “We’re beginning to understand that ADHD is a condition for many people that really lasts throughout their life.”

He has researched ADHD but had no role in the new study, which was led by Paul Lichtenstein of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. The findings were published in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine.

About 5 percent of children in the U.S. and other Western countries have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which can cause impulsive behavior and difficulty paying attention. Many youngsters are given medication to help them sit still and focus in school. Some people have symptoms into adulthood.

“It’s well known that individuals with ADHD have much higher rates of criminality and drug abuse than people without ADHD,” but the effect of treatment on this is not well known, Lichtenstein said.

Using Swedish national registers, researchers studied about 16,000 men and 10,000 women ages 15 and older who had been diagnosed with ADHD. The country has national health care, so information was available on all drugs prescribed.

Court and prison records were used to track convictions from 2006 through 2009 and see whether patients were taking ADHD drugs when their crimes were committed. A patient was considered to have gone off medication after six months or more with no new prescription.

For comparison purposes, researchers matched each ADHD patient with 10 similar people without the disorder from the general population.

They found:

- About 37 percent of men with ADHD were convicted of at least one crime during that four-year period, compared with just 9 percent of men without ADHD. For women, the crime rates were 15 percent with ADHD and 2 percent without it.

- Use of ADHD medicines reduced the likelihood of committing a crime by 32 percent in men and 41 percent in women.

The crimes were mostly burglaries or thefts. About 4,000 of more than 23,000 crimes committed were violent. ADHD medication use reduced all types of crime, Lichtenstein said.

Cooper called the results striking. “I was surprised by the magnitude of the effect of the medications and the fact that it was so consistent across all the analyses they did,” such as the type of drug being used and the types of crimes committed, he said.

The Swedish Research Council, the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the Wellcome Trust and other agencies paid for the research.

ADHD medicines may help people organize their lives better and reduce impulsive behavior. They also bring a patient into counseling and health care, said Philip Asherson, a professor at the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London.

“It’s not necessarily just the medication” that is reducing the likelihood of crime, he said.

Still, Asherson said the study should lead to wider use of the drugs: “It firmly establishes the link between ADHD and criminality and establishes that medication has an impact on that criminality.”

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Comments (60)

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  • RDavis49
    Posted on November 22, 2012 at 10:01pm

    Where do we buy this stuff and how do we get it to our elected elite in Washington….

    Report this comment

    RDavis49  
  • Gremlin1974
    Posted on November 22, 2012 at 8:14pm

    I think a better cure for criminal behavior is to actually punish criminals for their crimes instead of looking for excuses for them to use to justify their crimes.

    Report this comment

    Gremlin1974  
    • Lt_Scrounge
      Posted on November 22, 2012 at 10:50pm

      I agree. Start off by returning corporal punishment to the Schools, and go from there. Few things will end a criminals career like an inter cranial 115 grain cupro lead injection with a 1200 fps push.

      Report this comment

      Lt_Scrounge  
  • classic.american.therapist
    Posted on November 22, 2012 at 6:36pm

    Applied behavior analysis & therapy to address underlying cognitive deficits is just as or more effective than meds in most cases. It seems that many children with an ADD/ADHD diagnosis were never taught the underlying skills to pay attention, have some level of self-discipline, etc. during their early years of life. And when they’re babysat by the TV, that’s going to teach them to have a short attention span only engaged in the presence of a hyperstimulating environment! Ultimately, the way to curb America’s ADHD problem is not with stimulant drugs, but with a return to effective parenting.

    There are some kids who are going to have ADD/ADHD symptoms due to other underlying brain problems, such as learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, or PTSD. For those children & adults, for heaven’s sake, they need effective treatment from competent professionals. There are too many morons out there with lots of letters behind their names who blame the child and their “hyperactivity” for their lack of ability to teach them anything.

    Report this comment

    classic.american.therapist  
  • ECOMCON
    Posted on November 22, 2012 at 6:04pm

    Try dosing them with Cyproterone Acetate, brand name Androcur. That’ll put a crimp in any criminal’s life and change him for sure.

    Report this comment

    ECOMCON  
  • HumbleCitizen
    Posted on November 22, 2012 at 9:05am

    ADHD meds are over prescribed. Having said that, please consider the kids whose brains are defective because mom drank or did drugs while pregnant. Consider all the toxins the developing child is exposed before birth (and after) like chloride, floride, pesticides, herbicides, chemtrails, etc. a coc.ktail of synthetic chemicals all affecting a fetuses developing brain.

    Then consider these infants born into, and fed a constant diet of, a toxic culture of violence, drugs and disrespect. When they get to school, these kids are a mess. Without meds these students can not function to learn anything.

    Each generation is more vulgar, more disrespectful, more selfish. I do not see that changing.

    Report this comment

    HumbleCitizen  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on November 22, 2012 at 8:50am

    I may need to steal some of that stuff.

    Report this comment

    Gonzo  
    • DadRocked
      Posted on November 22, 2012 at 9:21am

      hey Gonz-
      Why ?

      Because you think you’re ready for a crime spree or for the black market value down the road?

      Report this comment

      DadRocked  
  • chips1
    Posted on November 22, 2012 at 8:16am

    Criminals are criminals. ADHD is just and excuse the government gives to justify the actions of the radical Democrats. Doesn’t compute!!!

    Report this comment

    chips1  
  • soybomb315_II
    Posted on November 22, 2012 at 8:06am

    Guarantee you they will try to put it in our drinking water supplies

    Report this comment

    soybomb315_II  
  • rickroland
    Posted on November 22, 2012 at 8:03am

    Any drug, like Ritialin, that makes people feel “… dead inside…” and has warning labels on it for one of it’s side effects being “… suicidal ideation…,” would (and does) reduce crime and reduces the physical, emotional and intellectual well being of all that take it.

    It is, factually, tantamount to the idea of soma in “Brave New World” — not something that society (or any one in it) should even remotely consider as a “solution” to crime, in any way, shape or form.

    Report this comment

    rickroland  
  • soybomb315_II
    Posted on November 22, 2012 at 7:45am

    everyone loves to pump our kids full of drugs

    Report this comment

    soybomb315_II  
  • Sicialian Eyeball
    Posted on November 22, 2012 at 7:30am

    Little pills made of lead delivered at 1300 feet per second work quite well at deturring crime. Very inexpensive,too.

    Report this comment

    Sicialian Eyeball  
  • Eastinfection
    Posted on November 22, 2012 at 6:25am

    This is soooo wrong.. What we really need to do is be NICER to criminals… try to UNDERSTAND them.. Perhaps NASA needs to start a “Criminal-Outreach” program?

    End the “Criminal-phobia” in America !!

    Report this comment

    Eastinfection  
    • soybomb315_II
      Posted on November 22, 2012 at 8:15am

      What we need to do is making criminals out of everyone. Our society does indeed have Criminal-phobia

      Vices are not crimes. I bet you the majority of the criminals this article refers to are not crimes that involved violence or theft…..So basically the government is pushing a drug in order to keep people off drugs?

      Report this comment

      soybomb315_II  
  • Impenitent
    Posted on November 22, 2012 at 5:26am

    lobotomies curb crime

    Report this comment

    Impenitent  
  • DrKev
    Posted on November 22, 2012 at 3:43am

    better put it in the water supply of white house n union bosses

    Report this comment

    DrKev  
  • Ghandi was a Republican
    Posted on November 22, 2012 at 2:50am

    Weed also tends to keep people mellow and out of trouble. Funny how they made THAT illegal.
    Imagine a World where you can shove a joint in a crackheads mouth about the time they want to rob a 7-11 or late night fast food joint to get another fix. That would go a long way to fixing quite a few social issues right there.

    Report this comment

    Ghandi was a Republican  
  • calmandcents
    Posted on November 22, 2012 at 2:28am

    If this stuff prevents criminality it should be required of all members of the United States government, especially the President and his cronies, who to date have proven crimes against America and Americans.

    Report this comment

    calmandcents  
  • elderbat
    Posted on November 22, 2012 at 12:59am

    had to read through this twice just to see if I was reading it correctly…Adderall reduces crime in older people??? this hits too close to home because I have a family member in her 40s who is an addict and denies it. started with adderall, then meth, now she’s freebasing opiates and looks at death’s door. this is one heartbreaking situation for my family and she is so deep in denial that detox is no option so far. this is just too, too frightening to think about. she’s not out doing any violence or anything but will either end up in jail for possession or dead from an overdose. cannot believe that this would be seen as beneficial to anyone or anything except big pharma.

    Report this comment

    elderbat  
    • justangry
      Posted on November 22, 2012 at 1:13am

      It isn’t helpful. I mean essentially what they give adults now for ADHD is uppers during the day and downers at night. Hey worked out well for Elvis….

      Report this comment

      justangry  
    • Eastinfection
      Posted on November 22, 2012 at 6:02am

      Hey JUST…

      not just Elvis… Many politicians (including presidents) have used this crap to help with “time management” as well.

      Report this comment

      Eastinfection  
    • soybomb315_II
      Posted on November 22, 2012 at 8:16am

      If its good enough for Rush Limbaugh, its good enough for my kids

      Report this comment

      soybomb315_II  
    • Eastinfection
      Posted on November 22, 2012 at 9:28am

      lol SOY…

      i hope my kid goes deaf and gets married four times.

      Report this comment

      Eastinfection  
  • castious
    Posted on November 22, 2012 at 12:41am

    So stoned, so stoned ,now what where you saying , am so stoned ,so stoned

    Report this comment

    castious  
  • TSUNAMI_22
    Posted on November 22, 2012 at 12:22am

    ADHD is an acronym for :

    Attention
    Deficit
    Hyperactivity
    Oh, look at the pretty Butterfly.

    ;-)

    Report this comment

    TSUNAMI_22  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on November 22, 2012 at 12:20am

    It’s funny that when I was a Child it was normal for Children to be hyperactive.

    Now the “normal” needs to be resolved with drugs. Not funny at all.

    And when your Children grow up and have a record of mental illness……

    …. no guns for them. It’s already in the “books” as law and the UN is just waiting to enforce it.

    Report this comment

    The-Monk  
    • DADDYWOREAWHITEHAT
      Posted on November 22, 2012 at 12:48am

      Hey monk
      My son was “required” to take ADHD meds when in school but he still was able to get concealed carry permit. So it must be working okay.

      Report this comment

      DADDYWOREAWHITEHAT  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on November 22, 2012 at 1:17am

      Hi DADDYWOREAWHITEHAT,

      Check what the law says. It’s just not being enforced at present.

      Also, why was your Child “required” to take drugs in school?

      Was it a “school nurse” along with a “guidance counselor” that made that decision for you without you having any input? Look up and read who is not allowed to purchase firearms.

      The mentally ill are on that list. As far as I am concerned your son did not need any drugs. Kids will be kids…. until the progressives get a hold of them…. then they are the property of the State.

      I’ll look up some of this and get back to you. You are in my nightly blessings. : )

      Report this comment

      The-Monk  
    • chips1
      Posted on November 22, 2012 at 8:25am

      MONK:
      It’s the schools practicing medicine without a license. It’s just the government trying another way to follow the movie “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”. Remove peoples ability to have emotions or feelings towards others. Programing the mind.

      Report this comment

      chips1  
    • Lt_Scrounge
      Posted on November 22, 2012 at 11:09pm

      They had a way of dealing with hyperactivity in kids, it was called RECESS and Playgrounds and Games where the kids actually ran and kept score. Funny how spending a few minutes every couple of hours getting exercise (which releases endorphins the same as these drugs) works wonders at burning off extra energy. Combine that with a couple of hours a night a couple of nights a week at games and practices for things like Little League and Peewee football and the kids don’t have the ADHD issues or the obesity problems.Of course one factor that isn’t considered is how many of the problem children have parent(s) that are too busy getting stoned to act as parents. I actually saw one welfare queen on 20/20 smoking pot with her 18 yr old in front of her 12 yr old. She considered it family time. Then she got teary eyed when the court took her 12 yr old and put him into foster care. He went from being a juvenile delinquent to being an honor roll student within a couple of months. As for her 18 yr old? He was pending sentencing for drug dealing and was sent away. Of course, once the 12 yr old was moved to foster care, his worthless welfare queen mother lost her welfare checks, and the bulk of her food stamps. Of course taxpayers were still on the hook for her rent and utilities.

      Report this comment

      Lt_Scrounge  
  • drs1969
    Posted on November 22, 2012 at 12:14am

    This is a Cop-out article. The gov. would rather prescribe than imprison. It’s a whole lot cheaper.

    Report this comment

    drs1969  
    • justangry
      Posted on November 22, 2012 at 1:15am

      The government isn’t worried about costs or how many people it puts in its prisons.

      Report this comment

      justangry  
  • Walkabout
    Posted on November 21, 2012 at 11:49pm

    Why use drugs? Proper socialization starting with the family works. Take school for example. In school many teachers want to medicate kids because they go to school & yet somehow, they don;t understand physiology. They expect kids with twice their metabolism to sit still for long periods. Then you have societies that want to corral people in cities per Agenda 21 & look down on any sport or hobby Like NASCAR & it is no wonder young people have no outlets.

    Report this comment

    Walkabout  
    • GUAPOKOVSKI
      Posted on November 22, 2012 at 12:03am

      Huhhh?

      Report this comment

      GUAPOKOVSKI  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on November 22, 2012 at 12:12am

      Hi Walkabout,

      You got the whole “teachers want to medicate students” thing wrong.

      Teachers want to medicate students so they will have records of mental issues when they grow up.

      Having records of “mental illness” they will not be able to own guns. (True, the laws are there but not enforced presently)

      But when those laws enforced and not only criminal but “mental” records are available a whole generation of Americans will not be allowed to purchase or own firearms.

      Agenda 21 at its finest. : (

      Report this comment

      The-Monk  
    • Eastinfection
      Posted on November 22, 2012 at 6:16am

      Hi WALK and MONK..

      I think you’re both right…
      The teachers want kids sedated for ignorant, selfish reasons. Unlikely they are culpably complicit in the larger conspiracy… but there is little doubt that they are systematically encouraged to adopt these protocols by a system that is increasingly guilty of pursuing Napoleonic results ala Agenda 21 and similar NWO ideals.

      Report this comment

      Eastinfection  
  • ChongRRMC
    Posted on November 21, 2012 at 11:23pm

    The cure for ADHD in MY family growing up…was my fathers BELT. And it worked every time !!!

    Report this comment

    ChongRRMC  
    • neverending
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 11:33pm

      And it works everytime and long overdue to be used again!

      Report this comment

      neverending  
    • GUAPOKOVSKI
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 11:44pm

      Right on! When I was in elementary and junior high school I saw many cases of what today are called ADD and ADHD cured within moments during recess and lunch break.

      Report this comment

      GUAPOKOVSKI  
    • eek
      Posted on November 22, 2012 at 1:21am

      So true! It was a definite cure! We understood that we did wrong! Now some consider even yelling at a child, child abuse. So just medicate them! It’s a lot more humane.

      Report this comment

      eek  
  • flyoverbob
    Posted on November 21, 2012 at 11:08pm

    Put some in the water in Washington DC

    Report this comment

    flyoverbob  
  • joony
    Posted on November 21, 2012 at 11:02pm

    How about hydrogen cyanide? It curbs criminal behavior – guaranteed.

    Report this comment

    joony  
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