If Your Adolescent Has ADHD: An Essential Resource for Parents (Adolescent Mental Health Initiative)

by Thomas J. Power

•Juvenile delinquency. Impulsivity can lead to making poor choices in other areas of life as well. This may result in trouble with the law, especially when coupled with conduct disorder. Youth with ADHD are three times more likely to be involved with the justice system, compared to their peers without ADHD. •Dropping out of school. Students with ADHD are more likely than those without the condition to repeat a grade or drop out of high school. A study from the University of California, Davis, found that about one-third of students with the combined form of ADHD failed to graduate high school on time—more than double the rate for students with no mental health disorder. To help your teen avoid these perils, resist the urge to let go too soon. Adolescents with ADHD continue to need close monitoring and loving guidance. They also need parents who advocate for them at school and in the community. Being there for your teen takes time and energy. But the demands may feel less overwhelming once you’ve learned how to use some proven strategies and where to turn for assistance and support.