23

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a more and more diagnosed psychiatric affective disorder in children as well as in adults. The prevalence of ADHD in individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) is known to be higher than in the general population, and medications for ADHD (mainly psychostimulants) are known to have a high abuse liability. These data suggest a close and complex link between ADHD and substance abuse and, more particularly, stimulant abuse. That is why this paper aims at describing the link between ADHD and cocaine, using epidemiological data, and more particularly the possibility of treatment for cocaine dependence using ADHD psychostimulant medications. This approach meets the hypothesis of self-medication of stimulant users with ADHD. It also provides an argument to all clinical trials which aim at demonstrating evidence for the efficacy of psychostimulants for stimulant dependence.