First of all, in defense of ADDers and all that is holy,
untreated ADD worsens addiction. Second, alcohol use worsens ADHD. Stimulants work very differently on the brains of ADDers than people without ADHD. We just have a different neurological response to stimulants because we are dopamine deficient 24/7 (unless we are treated). People who don't have ADHD and who abuse much-needed prescribed medications intended for ADDers can kill themselves from dopamine toxicity (we have a different reactions, wiring, size and brain area responses). My medication evens me out and calms me down - whereas a person with a neurotypical brain would feel euphoric, agitated or hyperactive. My p. doc says that stimulant addiction is not an issue for people with real ADHD
I have ADHD and I take medication every day. I slipped a few days ago when I stopped taking it. It sucked. I also forgot the other necessary medications because my ADD was not being treated. I got worse. It is so common for ADDers to be substance abusers as well. It is critical to treat ADHD with medication (if indicated), OT and cognitive behavioral therapy - especially while recovering from substance abuse.
That said, I was a person who consistently drank with Vyvanse. It was really a bad habit and not safe. Stimulants prevent you from feeling the full effects of alcohol; one is more likely to get alcohol poisoning because they cannot feel alcohol's effects as much. Drinking lessens the effectiveness of ADHD medication, so I was doubly agitated because my ADHD was out of control.
Alcohol put me in a bad mood, always. The more I drank, the more the addiction progressed and I was an a***ole, because I was drunk. If your hubs really has ADD and this is a confirmed, life-long illness for him, he will have to pay very close attention to working on improving ADHD coping skills. Also, treatment differs according to the subtype. I have inattentive type without hyperactivity, so my coping skills are close to what a person would do if they were recovering from a brain injury that affected their memory, for instance.
So sorry, everyone. I will leap off of my soapbox now.
Is Adult ADHD Linked to Addiction? | Psych Central