ADHD blamed for illegal drug use and crime

<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3282423.stm>
Wednesday, 19 November, 2003, 02:46 GMT

CPS plea on hyperactive juveniles
 
By Sarah Sturdey 
BBC correspondent  

The number of young offenders with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD) is increasing, says the Crown Prosecution Service. 
Youth court solicitors are calling for more training to make sure
juveniles with ADHD are treated fairly. 

CPS spokesman Harry Ireland said 300 staff do not have enough
knowledge in this area to do their job properly. 

He said: "We don't have enough experience of the mental health
disorder to make sure they get a fair trial or to decide whether
prosecution is in the public interest. 

"There is more awareness but not enough knowledge in the courts. These
children often don't understand the court process". 

In June, a murder charge was reduced to manslaughter because the judge
accepted that ADHD was a factor. 

ADHD is an inherited problem with how the brain works and one of its
features is hyperactivity. Between 3 and 6% of children have the
condition. 

But not all children who suffer from ADHD are hyperactive. 

Drugs such as Ritalin are effective in improving concentration and
impulsiveness and reducing hyperactivity. 

Alice Mortimer's son Paul is a juvenile offender with ADHD. She told
BBC Radio 5Live: "Some magistrates don't accept the condition exists
let alone understand it". 

She provided her solicitor with a booklet on ADHD as mitigation the
last time her son appeared in court. 

She said "ADHD is not an excuse, it's a reason". 

Pilot schemes 

Two Lancashire police officers are establishing a pilot scheme to
improve screening for ADHD among young offenders to help reduce
juvenile crime. 

After a recent facting finding trip to the United States, Inspector
Phil Anderton told 5Live: "This condition exists, it's blighting
people's lives and disrupting whole families. 

"We need to get on top of ADHD. There are also strong links to
addiction, particularly drugs and alchohol as a way of self
medication. 

"If we can get on top of ADHD we can get on top of a significant
amount of juvenile crime." 

In the United States various intervention projects have been
established. 

Dr Dwaine McCallon used to run a pilot scheme at a US prison. 

He said: "It showed that with intervention only one in 20 former
inmates with ADHD went on to reoffend. 

"The rate would normally be much highter. One offender told me, "Dr
McCallon I never learned to learn." 

In Britain, the Youth Justice Board has commissioned research based at
young offender institutions and youth offending teams to see how
prevalent ADHD is. 

Youth offending teams introduced a new assessment tool called 'ASSET'
this month, which includes identifying ADHD symptoms.