A major new study published in the British Medical Journal suggests that ADHD medications could do more than improve focus, they might also save lives, curb crime, and prevent accidents.
Researchers found that people newly diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder who began drug treatment saw striking reductions in risks linked to the condition: a 15% drop in suicide attempts, 25% lower risk of substance misuse, 16% fewer transport accidents, and a 25% decrease in criminal behaviour.
For a condition affecting an estimated 5% of children and 2.5% of adults worldwide, these findings could reshape conversations between doctors, patients, and families about whether to start medication.
“Oftentimes there is no information on what the risks are if you don’t treat ADHD,” said Prof Samuele Cortese, lead author and professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Southampton. “Now we have evidence they can reduce these risks.”
More Than Just Restlessness
ADHD often associated with hyperactivity, impulsive behaviour, and trouble focusing, alters the way the brain functions. Symptoms can disrupt school, work, and personal relationships, and in severe cases, lead to dangerous decision-making. While demand for ADHD assessments is surging, experts stress that the disorder itself is not becoming more common.
However, a recent BBC investigations have revealed that in the UK, waits for diagnosis and treatment can stretch into years. And even after diagnosis, access to the right medication is far from guaranteed, with supply shortages affecting some countries.
Why the Benefits Might Happen
Researchers believe medication can reduce impulsivity and improve concentration, which may, in turn, cut the risk of accidents, substance abuse, and confrontations that could lead to arrest.
Prof Stuart Kinner, head of the Justice Health Group at Curtin University in Western Australia, called the findings proof of the “diffuse benefits” of diagnosis and treatment:
“Failure to diagnose and treat ADHD can lead to self-medication with alcohol or other drugs, poor mental health, injury, and incarceration. Too many people with undiagnosed ADHD end up in the criminal justice system.”
The study, one of the most comprehensive of its kind, analysed recurrent events and attempted to account for genetic, lifestyle, and severity differences. Still, researchers caution that other factors may influence the results.
The most widely prescribed ADHD drugs stimulants are known to improve daily symptoms. But side effects like headaches, appetite loss, and sleep disturbances remain a concern, and evidence of long-term behavioural benefits has been limited until now.
Prof Ian Maidment, a clinical pharmacy expert at Aston University, said the new data “adds to our understanding of the potential benefits,” but warned that the study did not track whether patients actually took their medication consistently or how different dosages might influence outcomes.
For now, the findings could mark an important shift reframing ADHD treatment not only as symptom management, but as a public health intervention with the potential to reduce self-harm, crime, and accidental injury.
