The facts:
- People with ADHD are twice as likely to commit a crime
- People with ADHD commit three times as many offences as those without the disorder
- People with ADHD are more susceptible to problematic drug use
- People with ADHD are more likely to attempt to take their own life
Phillip Anderton spoke at the recent ADDISS conference about ADHD and crime. He spoke to parents and professionals about their role if their child or someone they care for is taken into police custody.
One factor Mr Anderton addressed was being prepared with an “elevator pitch.” This is a short explanation to give to another person quickly and succinctly explaining what ADHD is and how it affects the individual. This can be given to teachers, parents or carers of the individual.
Another factor that was discussed was the need for an appropriate adult. While in police custody, in conjunction with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, an individual with ADHD or other neurodevelopmental condition, can nominate an appropriate adult. This appropriate adult is responsible for ensuring the detainee understands what’s happening during the interview and instigative stages, to provide support for the detainee, to help communicate between the detainee and police and to ensure that the police act fairly. It is important to consider who the appropriate person is, as often the parents are too emotionally involved or have ADHD themselves and consequently, will struggle to keep calm in the stressful situation. For more information on this, please see www.adhdjustice.co.uk
A recent study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, has examined the relationship between ADHD, medication and crime. The study found that when individuals took their medication for ADHD symptoms, they were 32-41% less likely to be convicted of a crime compared to when they were not taking medication. Dr Fazel, an author of the study, explained that medication for ADHD can help to improve impulsive behaviour and allow the individual to make more appropriate choices. This helps them to stay in employment and maintain relationships. Fellow author, Professor Lichtenstein noted that approximately 30 to 40% of long serving criminals have ADHD. If the ADHD difficulties were treated, it would significantly affect the total number of crime activities in society.
