Legal Repercussions of Untreated ADHD in Adults

The teen driver, who had stopped taking her ADHD medication, was heading to a friend’s house after school. She wasn’t paying attention when the vehicle ahead of her slowed down to turn a corner.

She crashed into the car, causing it to veer into traffic. The elderly driver and passenger were severely injured. Arrested for reckless driving, the teen now faces charges that could escalate to vehicular manslaughter if the victims do not survive.At a crowded pub, a man with ADHD and a history of emotional volatility attacked a patron who he believed was flirting with this girlfriend.

The beating left the victim with serious injuries. The attacker is now serving a five-year prison sentence for aggravated assault.These cases stem from my work as a clinical psychopharmacologist in the criminal justice system and they reveal a harsh reality: Untreated ADHD can lead to life-altering legal consequences.

This reality is reflected in the makeup of the U.S. prison population: An estimated 25% to 40% of incarcerated individuals are believed to have ADHD.1 While most people with ADHD never face legal trouble, it’s critical to know that impulsivity, impaired decision-making, and poor self-control contribute to risk-taking or criminal behaviors for some.Susan Young, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist who has worked with offenders in prison and mental health settings in London, says that untreated ADHD “can derail lives.”“Impulsivity, poor emotional regulation, and low tolerance for frustration mean many young people with ADHD are constantly in trouble, often misunderstood, and quick to react without thinking,” she says. “It’s not hard to see how that can spiral into police contact, especially when no one’s ever helped them make sense of their.