Nicotine and ADHD: What’s the Link?
Some users wonder: does nicotine help with ADHD? Research shows that nicotine affects dopamine and other brain chemicals linked to focus and impulse control, with some short-term effects on ADHD-related symptoms. Find out how, and why people with ADHD are more likely to use nicotine, in this article.
Key Takeaways
- Nicotine affects dopamine and norepinephrine, brain chemicals involved in attention and impulse control.
- Some studies suggest nicotine may temporarily affect focus, memory, and impulsivity in people with ADHD.
- These effects are short-term and the exact biological mechanisms are not fully understood.
- People with ADHD are more likely to start using nicotine and develop dependence.
- Nicotine is addictive and is not a recommended treatment for ADHD.
ADHD and Nicotine Use
Both nicotine and ADHD involve dopamine and norepinephrine, brain chemicals that are linked to attention and behavioural control.
Research has explored how nicotine affects the brain systems involved in attention and behavioural control and why nicotine use is more common among people with ADHD.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- How ADHD affects the brain
- How nicotine influences ADHD symptoms
- Why people with ADHD are more likely to use nicotine
- Why nicotine is not a recommended treatment for ADHD
What Is ADHD?
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a disorder that can cause issues with attention, energy levels, and impulse control.1
Research suggests that ADHD is associated with differences in how dopamine functions in brain regions involved in executive function.2
Executive function refers to the brain’s ability to plan, focus, remember instructions, and control impulses.
Typical ADHD symptoms include:1
- Forgetfulness
- Getting easily distracted
- Feeling restless
- Making quick decisions without considering consequences
What Research Says About Nicotine and ADHD Symptoms
Nicotine is a natural stimulant that is found in cigarettes, vapes, snus, and tobacco-free nicotine pouches.
Some people ask whether nicotine helps you focus or if nicotine helps concentration.
Research suggests that nicotine may temporarily influence certain ADHD-related symptoms, including impulse control, movement, attention, and memory.
| Study 1 | Study 2 |
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A large review of 41 studies found that nicotine was linked to short-term improvements in areas such as:4
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One small study of 15 non-smoking young adults with ADHD found that a low dose of nicotine led to short-term improvements in recognition memory and impulse control.3 It also reduced the tendency to avoid waiting. |
The authors of the second study write:
“The significant effects of nicotine on motor abilities, attention, and memory likely represent true performance enhancement because they are not confounded by withdrawal relief.”
In other words, the short-term improvements seen in the studies were likely genuine effects of nicotine itself, rather than simply the result of relieving withdrawal symptoms.
Nicotine In the Long Term
Although nicotine may temporarily affect some ADHD symptoms, it’s important to note that:
- The effects are brief
- Tolerance develops quickly
- The risk of dependence is high
- Withdrawal can worsen ADHD-like symptoms
For these reasons, nicotine is not recommended as a treatment for ADHD. If you are curious about ADHD, you should speak with a healthcare professional about appropriate treatment options.
How Does Nicotine Interact With ADHD Symptoms?
Research suggests that nicotine may temporarily influence certain ADHD-related symptoms.
However, scientists do not yet fully understand the exact biological mechanisms behind these effects.
Nicotine, Dopamine, and Norepinephrine
It’s common to ask whether nicotine gives you dopamine or whether nicotine increases dopamine.
The process goes like this:
- Nicotine activates specific receptors in the brain.
- When these receptors are stimulated, the stimulated neurons release dopamine and norepinephrine.
- Dopamine and norepinephrine are two chemical messengers involved in focus, motivation, alertness, reward, learning, memory, and impulse control.
Where Nicotine Acts in the Brain
Nicotine also acts in brain regions that regulate attention, memory, and impulse control.
ADHD is linked to differences in how these same brain areas function, which may help explain nicotine’s short-term effects on symptoms.
However, these brain pathways have not been extensively studied in people with ADHD.3 As a result, the exact way that nicotine affects the ADHD brain remains unclear.
A More Effective Brain?
Because of its effect on ADHD-related symptoms, it might seem like nicotine simply “turns up” dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain.
But research suggests it’s not that simple. Nicotine does not always increase overall brain activity.
In some studies, better attention was linked to reduced activity in certain brain areas, suggesting the brain may have been working more efficiently rather than harder.4
This has led some researchers to propose that nicotine may help the brain work more efficiently–by improving how different brain regions coordinate and communicate–rather than just increasing activity everywhere.
Are People With ADHD More Likely To Use Nicotine?
In addition to how nicotine affects the brain, researchers have also looked at patterns of nicotine use in people with ADHD.
Compared with people the same age, people with ADHD are more likely to start smoking, start smoking earlier, and progress more quickly to regular nicotine use and dependence.3,2
Researchers have proposed several explanations for this pattern:
- Self-medication theory
- ADHD-related traits
- Genetics and environment
- Peer pressure
Self-Medication Theory
The self-medication theory suggests that people with ADHD may use nicotine to manage their symptoms.2
As discussed earlier, nicotine has been shown to influence some ADHD symptoms in the short term, because it affects dopamine activity in the brain.
In their systematic review, Amsterdam et al. conclude that self-medication is “very likely to play a causal role” in why people with ADHD take up smoking.
However, they also note that the self-medication effects of nicotine are moderate and that the theory has not been definitively proven.
The self-medication theory explains why some search for ways to self medicate ADHD.
An Increased Risk of Dependence
Dopamine is also central to the brain’s reward system.
If the dopamine system in a person with ADHD responds more strongly to stimulation, nicotine may also produce a stronger sense of reward.
Over time, this can increase the risk of nicotine dependence.
ADHD-Related Traits
Certain traits commonly associated with ADHD may also increase the likelihood of nicotine use.2
Research suggests that some of the characteristics associated with ADHD make experimenting with or regularly using nicotine more likely, including:
- Inattention
- Impulsivity
- Novelty-seeking
People with ADHD may also struggle with coping strategies and emotional regulation, which can increase vulnerability to nicotine dependence.
Additionally, nicotine withdrawal symptoms can resemble or worsen ADHD symptoms, making it harder for some individuals to stop using nicotine.
Genetics, Environment, and Peer Pressure
Genetic and environmental factors, as well as peer pressure, may also influence nicotine use in people with ADHD.2
According to the review by Amsterdam et al., these factors seem to contribute less than self-medication, and the overall evidence remains mixed.
Final Thoughts
Research suggests that nicotine may temporarily influence certain ADHD-related symptoms, such as attention and impulse control.
However, its effects are short-lived and the exact biological mechanisms are not fully understood.
The self-medication theory proposes that nicotine’s effect on ADHD symptoms may partly explain why nicotine use is more common among people with ADHD.
However, ADHD-related traits, as well as genetic, environmental, and social factors, likely also play a role.
FAQs Nicotine and ADHD
Does nicotine help ADHD symptoms?
It’s common to ask about nicotine’s effects on ADHD symptoms.
Nicotine may temporarily influence some ADHD symptoms, such as attention and impulse control, due to its interaction with the chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine.
However, nicotine is not an approved treatment for ADHD.
Why are people with ADHD more likely to smoke or vape?
Studies have found that people with ADHD are more likely to smoke than people without ADHD.
There are several theories to explain why this is:
- Nicotine seems to help with some ADHD symptoms.
- ADHD-related traits might make individuals more likely to take up smoking or vaping.
- People with ADHD might have a stronger reward response to nicotine.
Does nicotine help you focus or concentrate?
Nicotine can temporarily affect focus and concentration, which is why people often ask whether nicotine helps you focus or increases concentration.
However, these effects wear off quickly and do not make nicotine a recommended strategy for focus.
Does nicotine release dopamine?
Yes, nicotine activates receptors in the brain that influence dopamine release in certain areas of the brain. Dopamine is a chemical that plays a role in reward, motivation, and focus.
Does vaping help with ADHD or focus?
Most research on nicotine and ADHD focuses on smoking rather than vaping.
Because vaping also delivers nicotine, people often ask whether vaping helps ADHD, if vaping makes ADHD worse, or if vaping improves concentration.
The short-term effects of vaping are likely to be similar to smoking, but nicotine is not a recommended treatment for ADHD.
Do nicotine pouches help with ADHD?
Research on nicotine pouches and snus in people with ADHD is very limited.
Because the active ingredient is nicotine, it could be expected that it has similar short-term effects.
However, nicotine from snus and nicotine pouches is delivered more slowly than vapes and cigarettes, which means that their effects are often felt more gradually.
As mentioned above, nicotine is not an approved treatment for ADHD.
References
- ADHD in adults. NHS (National Health Service).
- Causal Factors of Increased Smoking in ADHD: A Systematic Review. Amsterdam et al.
- Acute nicotine improves cognitive deficits in young adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Potter and Newhouse.
- Meta-analysis of the acute effects of nicotine and smoking on human performance. Heishman et al.
