A condition characterized by impulsivity and a lack of concentration, it affects an estimated 2 million U.S. school-age youngsters, most of them boys. Medicated ADHD participants were at a significantly reduced risk for such problems compared with their untreated peers. Those who weren't medicated were three times more likely to have a drug or alcohol dependency four years later, said Dr. Joseph Biederman, one of the authors. The results show that adequate treatment of the disorder with medication can reduce the risk of subsequent drug and alcohol abuse, Dr. Biederman said. The federal law, which was passed in 1994, requires a public school district to expel any student who brings such a weapon to school.
Noncompliance can mean the loss of federal aid.
Read about the DARE Program for Educators , from the official DARE site. 1999 Editorial Projects in Education Vol.