August 2, 1999

A new study out today suggests there's little connection between stimulants used to treat hyperactivity, and substance abuse.

The study appears in the August edition of "Pediatrics." It says giving children potentially addictive drugs such as Ritalin doesn't necessarily promote harmful habits later in life.

The report says hyperactive boys treated with the stimulants were one third as likely to abuse alcohol and other drugs as teenagers, compared to similar boys who hadn't been treated.

The study involved 212 boys, including 75 with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

There has been widespread thought that the use of the stimulants could lead children to become addicts in the future.

However, some experts not involved in the study say it was flawed and too small to advance meaningful conclusions on the matter.