Do you know that you are not alone if you experience the symptoms of ADHD and addiction together? About 20% of people with alcohol use disorder report having symptoms of ADHD. The most effective therapy for ADHD and addiction near you includes:

Experiencing ADHD does not mean you can’t have substance use disorder. Whether you are dependent on ADHD meds or other prescription medications, ChoicePoint can help you. Our simple admission process helps you talk to addiction professionals in New Jersey instantly 844.445.2565.

Table of Contents

How Are ADHD And Addiction Connected?

ADHD is a mental health disorder that makes you inattentive, impulsive, and sometimes irrational. Research suggests that ADHD is the result of your brain making less dopamine than usual. Dopamine is the reward-inducing chemical that gives you pleasure in day-to-day activities. Therefore, most people abuse drugs or alcohol to get the dopamine rush. Then it wouldn’t be wrong to say that it is the inability to control their emotions that leads people with ADHD to abuse meth, mix Adderall and alcohol, or snort Adderall.

Read what Gerami, a 42-year-old man, shared with us:

I was diagnosed with ADHD in my early teens but haven’t ever been educated about its real impacts except Adderall prescription, which I believe wasn’t enough. I used to binge drink to regulate my ADHD-induced dysregulated emotions. Alcohol used to calm me and helped me feel less stimulated. And as it grew on, I also found myself relying on Adderall to overcome hangovers and post-drinking depression. I was trapped in a vicious cycle of abusing Adderall and alcohol.

How To Overcome Addiction As An ADHD Patient?

You can overcome addiction and ADHD only when you are diagnosed with co-occurring disorders through dual diagnosis. Dual diagnosis helps identify the presence of substance use disorder (SUD) and ADHD, so a plan of action can be created that best suits your needs. Whether you need outpatient rehab or inpatient ADHD treatment, cognitive behavior therapy and DBT techniques are the first line of treatment to help you overcome the symptoms, but sometimes other therapeutic interventions can also prove to be effective.

1. Cognitive-behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavior therapy for ADHD and addiction works on the principle that your beliefs influence your feelings and behavior. Using CBT exercises for ADHD, your addiction therapist can help replace your problematic behavior with constructive, positive actions.

Here is an example of how one of the exercises can help build your confidence:

ADHD and Addiction Symptoms	What Techniques Does CBT Use?	How Can Therapy Help?
Low self-esteem and self-doubt	Implies thoughtful journaling	Restructure your thoughts e.g. Instead of saying: I am a failure. Write: Although I am failing at the moment, I will improve.

2. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

DBT for the co-occurring disorder can help you overcome emotional chaos and instill coping skills to manage stress. Here is how DBT techniques and DBT Addiction Counselors in NJ can play an important in overcoming mental disorders:

ADHD and Addiction Symptoms	Techniques Used by Dialectical Behavior Therapy for ADHD and Addiction Use	How Can Therapy Help?
Anxiety and stress	Allows you to accept negative emotions so you can learn to tolerate them	Can use splashing cold water to provide anxiety relief

DBT can take about 6–12 months to help you address the symptoms of addiction and ADHD and recover from both conditions with minimum chances of relapses. If the long duration of DBT sessions makes you worry about the expenses, then know that your insurance can cover DBT sessions.

3. Group Therapy

The good thing about CBT and DBT is that they can occur either in individual sessions or group sessions. Group counseling is most helpful in building relationships, and learning social skills that both addiction and ADHD can severely affect. Here is an example of how CBT group activities can inculcate some important life skills:

Addiction and ADHD Effects

Group Therapy Technique

How Does it Help?

Inability to complete your tasks and isolation

Coping skills charades

Coping skills are guessed that help:

Learn tolerance
Stress management

4. Family Therapy

The co-existence of ADHD and addiction can disrupt your family dynamics. Family therapy involves meeting your therapist as a family for counseling sessions. This helps your spouse, children, and other family members understand your condition and learn ways to support you. Talk to an ADHD addiction therapist near you to know if family therapy would help you recover better.

5. Equine Therapy

As the name indicates, this therapy for ADHD and addiction involves interacting with a horse in the presence of a therapist. Equine therapy is based on the fact that horses understand human senses, and spending time with a horse can help shut off negative thoughts and promote comfort.

Substance Abuse and ADHD Effects	Equine Therapy Technique	How Does it Help?
Inattentiveness and looking for your drug for euphoria	Saddling the horse	Helps improve attention and focus while also distracting from abusing drugs and alcohol

Jessica Plonchak

Executive Clinical Director at ChoicePoint.

“Although CBT and DBT are our first choice of treatment sometimes our therapists combine them with Equine therapy to help regulate the emotions of their clients. Spending time with horses does not only put their stress in the back seat but also reduces agitation and impulsiveness”.

Factors To Consider When Identifying the Right ADHD and Addiction Therapist Near You in NJ

Besides looking for a qualified behavior therapist in NJ, it is important to consider a few factors that can help you overcome addiction and ADHD effectively. Some of these could be:

1. Great Reviews

Reading reviews can give you useful insights into practice, techniques, and the admission process. Reviews can also help you understand if you are eligible to work with a particular ADHD psychiatrist and the time it can take to recover.

2. Authorization To Prescribe Medications

While therapy for ADHD and addiction near you can be effective in mitigating the symptoms of ADHD and substance abuse, it is not enough. Even for ADHD, the first line of treatment is medicines. Adderall and Vyvanse are the two common prescription medicines for ADHD.

Similarly, for many types of substance use disorders (SUD), medications are equally important to relieve withdrawal symptoms and curb cravings. For instance,

Naltrexone is used in treating alcohol abuse
Suboxone Round Orange Pill for opioid use disorder
Subutex Orange Pill is used to prevent relapse from opioid addiction
Vivitrol to control alcohol and opioid urges
Brixadi injection to administer to maintain opioid abstinence

You can get prescribed Suboxone and Adderall at the same time in case you are diagnosed with ADHD and opioid addiction.

3. Availability of Telehealth Treatment Services

With ever-growing inflation, traveling expenses have become one of the reasons people opt out of quality care. But this should not stop you from living your life to the fullest. Luckily, many therapists do provide virtual treatment, prescriptions, and therapy for mental health issues including alcohol abuse, opioid use disorder, and ADHD. You can either find these therapists through addiction and ADHD treatment centers or individual practices.

Jessica Plonchak

Executive Clinical Director at ChoicePoint

“Honestly, it depends on a case-to-case basis. There is no one-size fit for all when treating any condition, let alone co-occurring disorders. Therapists work with their patients, understand their needs, and then take necessary interventions. Since substance abuse can also cause inattention, hyperactivity, and other ADHD symptoms, for certain individuals, treating substance abuse comes first. However, if a client wants their ADHD to be addressed first, then therapists certainly do that too.”

ADHD Triples Risk of Substance Abuse

How To Find Certified ADHD and Addiction Therapists Near You in NJ

Here is the step-by-step guide to finding an online therapist who can provide you with the much-needed help to beat ADHD and substance abuse:

Step 1: Reach Out To The Addiction Treatment Center

Most addiction rehabs address substance abuse and mental health disorders, including ADHD. So, seeking help from an addiction treatment center such as ChoicePoint can be your best bet. Rehabs consist of experienced addiction professionals and therapists who provide a space to:

Deal with withdrawal symptoms from drugs and alcohol
Prevent a relapse
Prescribe medications
Recover from ADHD, anxiety, and other mental health issues

Step 2: Take Reference From Your Insurance Company

Got your insurance covered? You are in luck. Your insurance company would know about local New Jersey therapists who could help with addiction and inattention.

Step 3: Search Online Forums And Google

One secret to finding the results you are looking for is searching Google or forums such as Quora or Reddit by typing “addiction like alcohol therapists in NJ or ADHD psychiatrist near me”. You will get plenty of options to choose from. Research them thoroughly, look at their reviews, and choose the one that can help you with both conditions.

Please note this assessment is an initial self-screening, and it is not meant to be a medical assessment or clinical diagnosis of addiction. For proper diagnosis and treatment, schedule an appointment with ChoicePoint.

Choose ChoicePoint for Insurance Covered Online Therapy in NJ

ChoicePoint is a drug & alcohol rehab and mental health treatment facility in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. Our DEA-certified addiction professionals specialize in treating co-existing addiction disorders that ensure long-term sobriety for our clients. Some of the treatment approaches that we deal with include:

To help make treatment accessible for you, we are in-network with the following insurance, so you don’t have to pay out-of-pocket or back out of the treatment because of the expenses:

We accept several other commercial and government insurance plans. Verify your insurance here.

Get in touch with ChoicePoint’s NJ therapists today to kick-start your substance use disorder and ADHD treatment 844.445.2565.

Therapy for ADHD and Addiction Near Me in NJ: You Asked, We Answered

Here are the answers to the most asked question relating to the treatment for ADHD and addiction simultaneously:

What Strategies Are Used To Treat ADHD and Addiction?

Treating co-occurring disorders like ADHD and addiction requires a combination of medications, counseling, support groups, and educational services. While medication can help bring your brain chemistry to normal levels, counseling is crucial for behavior management.

Can I Self-Medicate For ADHD?

No, you should never self-medicate for any condition, let alone ADHD. ADHD puts you in a vulnerable position making you prone to abusing drugs and alcohol and developing substance use disorder. On the other hand, not every medication works differently for every individual. Even though Adderall is a common prescription for ADHD, you don’t know if it really will work for you. So, always work with your therapists to know what medication you can take.

Can Long-Term Use of Adderall For ADHD Lead To Addiction?

Taking Adderall according to your prescription is safe. However, misusing Adderall either by snorting Adderall, mixing it with alcohol, or taking it without a prescription can result in dependence leading to addiction.

Additional Resources

References

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2021. Alcohol use disorders and ADHD
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0149763421003092
Clinical Neuropsychiatry. 2024. quine Assisted Occupational Therapy for Children with Adhd (Astride): Protocol Development and Preliminary Study
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10979790/
The American Journal on Addictions. Treatment Strategies for Co-Occurring ADHD and Substance Use Disorders
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2676785/
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd#:~:text=The%20main%20features%20of%20this,and%20may%20be%20accident%2Dprone

Medical Disclaimer:

ChoicePoint aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use disorder and mental health issues. Our team of licensed medical professionals research, edit and review the content before publishing. However, this information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For medical advice please consult your physicians or ChoicePoint's qualified staff.

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Aimen Arshad

(Master’s In Biomedical Science)

Medical Content Writer

Aimen Arshad holds a Master’s in biomedical sciences and a year’s experience in medical writing. As a medical writer, she has worked in multiple niches, including mental health, detox, and addiction treatment. She strives to communicate the intricate details of medical concepts in clear language so that people can make informed decisions about their health.

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Jessica Plonchak

(LCSW, MBA, LCADC)

Executive Clinical Director

Jessica Plonchak serves as Executive Clinical Director at ChoicePoint. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Social Work. She is a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC). With 17 years of relevant experience, she has helped several clients in their journey to recovery from addiction.

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How Are ADHD And Addiction Connected?

Read what Gerami, a 42-year-old man, shared with us: