” Indeed, a large percentage of adults with untreated ADHD develop alcoholism, and a disproportionate number of incarcerated offenders havd ADHD.  This complex relationship of addiction and criminality to ADHD has both neurophysiological and social causes.  Assume for a moment that a young adult male, let’s call him Michael, has a moderately severe form of CADD.  Michael has most likely been unsuccessful in school, has concluded that he is stuped, has developed deep resentments, and finds that the only way to gain relief from the negative feelings about himself is to be aggressive and antisocial.  He might, however, become shy and withdrawn to avoid the feared humiliation of being judged inept and stupid.  In either case, escape into alcoholic, addictive, or criminal behavior (or some combination of these) can blunt the pain of self-loathing and social humiliation.  To focus for a moment on alcoholism, the link between alcoholism and ADHD is not direct.  For some alcoholics the demoralizaing effects of the ADHD make escape into an alcoholic haze appealing.  This condition feeds on itself as the consequences of alcoholism further erode a person’s self-esteem.  In addition, chronic alcohol abuse results in significant brain damage and a brain deficiency that creates a physical and psychological dependence.  In neuropathy, the link between ADHD and substance-abuse disorders is found in a deficiency of slow brainwave amplitudes or an excess of beta amplitude (or both) in the back of the brain.  The key measure is the theta/beta ratio.  When this ratio is low (well below a value of two), the brain lacks the ability to quiet itself, but alcohol or another drug does temporarily quiet the brain and offers the person some relief.  Yet the abuse of alcohol exacerbates the problem because it further depletes the theta waves and thus increases alcohol dependence.  As a form of ADHD, a deficient theta/beta ratio in the back of the brain can be considered a genetic predisposition to addiction.  In children, this deficiency is characterized by edginess, poor stress tolerance, marked fidgetiness, racing thoughts, squirming while seated, and often sleep disturbances.  My patient Craig, 8 years old, had the telltale theta deficiency that is correlated with a predisposition for alcohol or substance abuse.  Craig’s behavior gave new meaning to the term fidgety:  his mother said that he “drove his teachers nuts.”  Fortunately, Craig had a wonderful, sharp brain.  In such cases, we pull out all the stops and assertively increase theta amplitude in the back of the brain.  Craig was treated and we were able to markedly increase the theta amplitude rapidly so Craig calmed down quickly.  I subsequently learned that Craig’s father and grandfather were alcoholics and likely were the genetic sources of the theta deficiency.  In young children, the genetic predispositon to alcoholism often causes severe agitation and restlessness.”  pp. 148-151 Biofeedback For The Brain by Paul G Swingle Ph. D.  Questions?  Treatment begins with a brain map qEEG.  Call Fort Wayne Neurofeedback to set an appointment and ask questions.  Ph. 260 432-8777