Driving under the influence of ADHD

The University of Virginia wished to test whether ADHD medication helps young adults while facing driving distractions.

Research suggests that ADHD drivers have a greater likelihood of having or causing an accident. Obviously, hallmarks of the ‘disorder’ are inattention, distractibility, and sometimes hyperactivity. So, when their cell phone rings and they answer, bad things tend to happen.

According to Daniel Cox, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and neurosciences at the University of Virginia Health System, as a group young ADHD drivers are two to four times more likely to have a car accident than non-ADHD drivers. Cox’ research will examine the effects of methylphenidate (MPH), a controlled-release stimulant worn as a patch, on young ADHD drivers facing real-life distractions.

This is rather clever marketing as the research is funded by Shire Pharmaceuticals, the pharmaceutical mega-giant who makes Adderall and the MPH patch. As I’ve stated before, it’s always questionable when a pharmaceutical giant funds a university study on its own medications. In this instance, it will make great marketing if the good Dr. Cox finds that young adults drive better while on meds! But, heck, since stimulant medication has the same effect on non-ADHD people, shouldn’t we all take it prior to driving? Regardless of that fact, if young ADHD people can wear a patch and drive better, that’ll sell millions of dollars worth of medicine!

The study would likely be significantly more impressive if Dr. Cox used unmedicated non-ADHD young adults and medicated non-ADHD young adults as control groups. I’d be more than eager to see those results.

Or maybe, just maybe, ADHD or not, we should put our cell phones away, put out our cigarettes, not eat in the car, put our pet in a pet carrier, and focus on driving. Shouldn’t we demand that of our ADHD teens before placing a stimulant patch on their arms?