Possible Sensitization Effects of Amphetamine Treatment in Drug-Naive Youth With ADHD

Emerging evidence of sensitization following stimulant administration in humans represents a challenge for understanding the relationship between stimulant treatment for ADHD and the subsequent development of substance use disorders (SUD). We have proposed a hybrid model that the majority of youth with ADHD greatly benefit from treatments with stimulants, which are in turn protective against the development of SUD; however, a much smaller number may have heightened vulnerability, based on altered responsiveness of the brain reward system either at baseline or in response to stimulant treatment.