Association of Internet Addiction in High School Students with ADHD and Tobacco/Alcohol Use

Objective: Our study aims at assessing the association between internet addiction (IA) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and tobacco and alcohol use/experimentation in high school students living in the province of Zonguldak. Method: The study included 771 students enrolled in three high schools. They were assessed with a sociodemographic data form prepared by the researchers, the Chen Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS), and the Adult Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) Diagnostic and Assessment Inventory based on the DSM-IV. Results: In 61 cases (7.9%), IA was established, in 90 cases (11.7%) ADHD. Of the cases with IA, 40 (65.6%) were male, 21 (34.4%) female. Internet access from home (p<0.001) and tobacco (p<0.001) or alcohol (p<0.001) use/experimentation history were found to be associated with higher CIAS scores. The rate of ADHD was found to be higher among those with IA (36.1%) than those without IA (9.6%). There was a significant correlation between ADHD scale scores and CIAS scores (r=0.38, p<0.001). Conclusion: According to our results, IA is associated with ADHD and alcohol/tobacco use. There is a need for follow-up studies to assess the causality of the association between ADHD, tobacco or alcohol use, and IA.