Addiction and ADHD: Understanding a Powerful Connection in Recovery
- Robert Hammond
- 22 hours ago
- 6 min read
Many people seeking addiction counselling in the Vancouver and Fraser Valley area are also living with undiagnosed or untreated ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder). When these two conditions show up together, they can intensify each other and make recovery feel confusing, frustrating, and overwhelming.
At Metric Addiction Services, we work with adults and families in Burnaby, Vancouver, and the Tri-Cities area who are navigating both substance use and mental health concerns, including ADHD and other co-occurring disorders. By understanding how addiction and ADHD interact, we can build smarter, more sustainable treatment plans that truly fit each person’s brain, history, and goals.
How ADHD Increases the Risk of Addiction
ADHD affects attention, impulse control, and the brain’s reward system, all of which play a major role in substance use. People with ADHD may experience low boredom tolerance, restlessness, emotional intensity, and difficulty slowing their thoughts, which can make drugs or alcohol feel like a quick way to cope or “take the edge off.”
Some common pathways from ADHD to addiction include:
Using substances to focus, calm down, sleep, or “feel normal” (self-medication).
Seeking stimulation or relief from chronic boredom through alcohol, cannabis, or other drugs.
Acting impulsively in social situations where substances are present.
Struggling with school or work performance, then using substances to manage stress, shame, or low self-esteem.
Studies show that having ADHD significantly increases the likelihood of developing a substance use disorder, and when both are present, symptoms tend to be more severe and relapse risk is higher.
Why ADHD Often Goes Unrecognized in Adults with Addiction
ADHD is sometimes seen as a “childhood issue,” but for many, it continues into adulthood and impacts work, relationships, and daily functioning. In adults who are also struggling with drugs or alcohol, ADHD symptoms are often misread as “just addiction” or “personality,” which means the underlying condition is never properly addressed.
You might be living with ADHD if you notice:
Lifelong patterns of disorganization, procrastination, or “chaotic” routines.
Difficulty sitting through meetings, groups, or appointments without zoning out.
Making fast decisions in the moment, then feeling regret afterwards.
Emotional “storms” or intense reactions that feel hard to control.
Feeling chronically behind, overwhelmed, or “lazy,” despite trying hard.
When ADHD is missed, people may be told to “try harder” in recovery, instead of receiving support that actually matches how their brain works.
How ADHD Makes Addiction Recovery More Challenging
Recovery asks a lot from the brain: focus, planning, patience, and emotional regulation. For someone with ADHD, these are exactly the areas that already feel challenging, even without cravings or withdrawal. When treatment doesn’t account for ADHD, people may blame themselves, feel like they’re failing, or drop out of services that weren’t designed with them in mind.
ADHD can complicate addiction recovery in several ways:
Impulsivity: Saying “yes” in the moment to a drink or drug, even when you’re committed to staying sober.
Distractibility: Missing key parts of counselling sessions or group meetings, then feeling like tools “don’t work.”
Time blindness: Losing track of time, missing appointments, or forgetting tasks that support recovery.
Emotional intensity: Strong emotions that trigger urges to use just to calm down or escape.
This doesn’t mean recovery is out of reach. It means recovery must be adapted, intentional, and ADHD-informed.
Why Integrated Treatment for Addiction and ADHD Matters
Trying to treat addiction first and ADHD later often leads to revolving-door experiences in treatment and frequent relapse. Integrated care looks at the full picture and treats ADHD and substance use at the same time, so each condition stops fueling the other.
At Metric Addiction Services, our approach to co-occurring ADHD and addiction includes:
Recognizing ADHD traits as part of a neurodevelopmental condition, not a character flaw.
Exploring how ADHD symptoms have shaped your substance use story over time.
Building coping strategies that work with your brain, not against it.
Coordinating care with physicians or psychiatrists for safe and appropriate medication support when needed.
This style of treatment is especially valuable for people searching online for “ADHD and addiction counselling near me”, “dual diagnosis ADHD and substance use Vancouver”, or “co-occurring disorder therapy Pitt Meadows / Maple Ridge.”
Our Clinical Approach at Metric Addiction Services (Pitt Meadows / Maple Ridge / Vancouver)
Our work with clients who have both ADHD and addiction is grounded in evidence-based, practical strategies that can be used in real life, not just on paper. We support adults and families across Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, Tri-Cities, and the Greater Vancouver region through secure virtual sessions and, where appropriate, in-person options.
Your treatment plan may include:
Comprehensive assessment: Clarifying substance use patterns, ADHD symptoms, trauma history, and other mental health concerns.
ADHD-informed CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy): Short, focused interventions that target thoughts, behaviours, and habits related to both ADHD and substance use.
Skill-building for daily life: Practical tools for planning, routines, reminders, and structure to support recovery and functioning.
Relapse prevention for ADHD brains: Identifying high-risk situations like boredom, emotional overwhelm, or unstructured time and building specific, realistic responses.
Family and partner support: Helping loved ones understand ADHD and addiction so they can respond with boundaries and compassion instead of blame.
We aim to offer addiction counselling that feels validating, clear, and grounded in real-world experience, whether you’re searching from Vancouver, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, or nearby communities.
Medication, ADHD, and Addiction: Careful, Collaborative Decisions
Medication can be an important part of ADHD treatment, but it must be approached thoughtfully when there is a history of substance use. Stimulant medications can be helpful and appropriate for some clients when prescribed and monitored carefully, while non-stimulant options may be a better fit for others.
At Metric Addiction Services, we do not prescribe medication directly, but we:
Help you prepare to speak with your family doctor, nurse practitioner, or psychiatrist.
Clarify your substance use history and current recovery goals so prescribers have accurate information.
Support you in monitoring how medications impact cravings, mood, sleep, and functioning.
Integrate medication decisions into your broader counselling plan, always with safety and wellbeing at the centre.
When ADHD and addiction are treated together with coordinated care, people often experience more stability, fewer relapses, and a stronger sense of control over their lives.
Living in Recovery with ADHD: Practical Strategies That Work
Recovery with ADHD is not about becoming a different person; it is about learning how to work with your brain instead of against it. Many people find that once ADHD is named and understood, shame decreases and self-compassion increases, which is a powerful foundation for long-term sobriety.
Some strategies we often explore with clients include:
Using visual schedules, alarms, and reminders instead of relying on memory alone.
Breaking tasks into very small steps to reduce overwhelm and procrastination.
Building movement, creativity, or interest-based activities into the day as healthy sources of stimulation.
Creating “if–then” plans for high-risk situations (for example, “If I feel bored and restless in the evening, then I will text a support person or use a coping skill before making any decisions.”).
Learning grounding, mindfulness, or breathwork techniques that are short and practical enough for a busy, fast-moving mind.
When these strategies are combined with addiction counselling that understands ADHD, people often feel more hopeful and capable of maintaining change.
Getting Help: ADHD and Addiction Counselling in Vancouver, Burnaby, and the Tri-Cities
If you’ve ever thought, “There has to be more going on than just addiction,” you may be right — ADHD or another co-occurring condition could be part of the picture. You don’t have to figure this out alone, and you don’t have to choose between treating your mental health and your substance use; both can be addressed together in a respectful, confidential space.
Metric Addiction Services offers addiction counselling and support for co-occurring ADHD and substance use for adults and families across:
Vancouver
Burnaby
Tri-Cities and Greater Vancouver (via secure online sessions)
If you’re searching for “addiction and ADHD counselling in Vancouver,” “co-occurring disorder support Burnaby,” or “substance use and ADHD therapist near me,” we invite you to reach out and learn how integrated, personalized care can support your next steps in recovery.
You can contact Metric Addiction Services directly to book a confidential appointment or to ask questions about how we work with ADHD, addiction, and other co-occurring mental health concerns.
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