by Weiss RD, Pope HG Jr, Mirin SM
Drug Alcohol Depend 1985 May;15(1-2):69-72
ABSTRACT
Research suggests that attention deficit disorder (ADD) may persist into adulthood, perhaps predisposing certain individuals to stimulant abuse. The authors describe two adults with chronic cocaine abuse and apparent residual ADD. After failing to respond to conventional treatment modalities, these patients were administered magnesium pemoline. Both displayed a sustained reduction in their cocaine use, without abusing pemoline. This finding suggests that the diagnostic assessment of cocaine abusers should include a search for a history of ADD. A carefully selected subgroup of this population may benefit from treatment with other stimulant medications.