ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a neurological condition that can have a huge impact on an individual’s mental health. It is true that levels of ADHD are increasing in children and adults throughout the United States. It is reported that 11% of all children ages 4-17 have been diagnosed with ADHD, and this can really make it hard for those kids to pay attention in schools and get the education they need. Not to mention, it is important to those children who have ADHD not to fall behind the rest of their peers in education and development, but this can often be a hard task for those struggling with a mental health disorder. 5% of adults in the United States also have ADHD, which can make it extremely difficult to stay focused at work or school as well.
One of the other problems with ADHD is that it usually comes paired with other forms of mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorders that can just add to the mental health mess in patients. While ADHD is not a behaviour problem, it still can make things tough for individuals who are dealing with impaired brain self-management and functional operation. Thankfully, overtime, we have come to know more about ADHD and are able to better diagnose and treat it, as opposed to labeling children with ADHD as delinquents and problem children.
However, not everyone really outgrows ADHD into their adulthood, as I mentioned earlier that this is something adults also struggle with. In some cases, individuals do not actually get diagnosed with ADHD until later in their life. There is also research that points to ADHD being a genetic trait that can run in families. It is also made worse by things like smoking, drinking, and various other factors during the human development process.
The other thing about ADHD is that treatment can vary from person to person. Sort of like depression or anxiety disorders, not all treatment options will work the same for every person, and each case needs to be treated uniquely. With 36 states in the United States now legalizing medical marijuana, it makes sense that people have begun to show interest in using cannabis as a potential treatment option for ADHD. While there is not a whole lot of evidence to back it up (since scientific and medical research into marijuana was hard to come by until the last decade or so), people will often testify that medical marijuana can be an effective way to treat their ADHD. Even more impressive, medical marijuana does not make them experience the same unwanted side effects that are commonly found in other prescription medications and treatment options for individuals with ADHD.
So what about medical marijuana could actually be helpful to patients? Is there anything scientific about it? Well, like I mentioned earlier, the research has not been adequately done yet, but there is definitely merit to using cannabis to help with ADHD. First of all, it is important to keep in mind that people who have ADHD tend to deal with problems processing the brain’s neurotransmitter dopamine. One of the great effects of cannabis is that the cannabinoids it contains are believed to help with correcting and balancing dopamine levels in the brain if it is used correctly.
Also, it can be helpful at slowing down the mental process of people who have ADHD, making it easier for them to pay attention. Sour Diesel, one of the most popular cannabis strains, contains 26% THC and 2% CBD. It is known for giving an uplifting high and has significantly helped people that deal with ADHD.
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