A new BMJ study tracked 148,581 people with ADHD, comparing those who started medication to those who didn’t.
The results, after adjusting for age, education, mental and physical illnesses, and other drug use:
• 17% fewer suicidal behaviors
• 15% less substance misuse
• 13% fewer criminal convictions
• 12% fewer transport accidents
• Reduced accidental injuries
Stimulant medications (methylphenidate, dexamphetamine) showed stronger effects than non-stimulants.
The benefit was largest for people with the most severe symptoms.
The likely mechanism is simple: better attention and lower impulsivity mean less distracted driving, less self-medicating with alcohol or drugs, and fewer impulsive decisions that lead to harm.
ADHD affects ~7% of children and ~2.5% of adults. For decades the conversation around stimulant medication has been dominated by myths about “drugging kids” and “shortcuts.”
This is the largest study yet showing the opposite, that for people who actually have ADHD, treatment doesn’t just help with school or work.
Medication isn’t the only treatment, and it doesn’t work for everyone.
Psychological therapy for emotional regulation and executive function matters too, especially in combination.
But the evidence that medication, when indicated, saves lives is now very hard to argue with.
Medications for ADHD can measurably reduce the chance of dying- no doubt. Before you dismiss starting medication for ADHD, do your research and speak with a psychiatric provider.
Source: BMJ, August 2025.
