ADHD

What is ADHD?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects the way the brain manages attention, activity and behaviour. While it is often associated with childhood, ADHD can continue into adulthood, with its effects often changing as responsibilities and circumstances evolve.

ADHD looks different for everyone. Some people primarily struggle to maintain attention, organise tasks, or remember important information. Others may experience restlessness and impulsivity, while many have a combination of these characteristics.

In adults, the signs are not always immediately recognised as ADHD. Difficulties with time management, unfinished tasks, forgetfulness or maintaining focus may instead be interpreted as disorganisation or an inability to cope with everyday responsibilities. For some people, receiving an assessment provides important context for challenges they have experienced for many years.

ADHD can affect study, employment, relationships and daily routines, but appropriate support can help people understand their individual needs and develop practical strategies for managing them. ADHD treatment begins with a thorough assessment and considers the person’s symptoms, circumstances, overall health and any other conditions that may be present.

ADHD is generally described according to patterns of predominantly inattentive symptoms, predominantly hyperactive and impulsive symptoms, or a combination of both. The way these characteristics present can also change with age.

Individuals who experienced obvious hyperactivity during childhood, for example, may experience this differently later in life. Rather than constantly moving, they might describe an internal sense of restlessness or difficulty slowing down. Attention-related difficulties may become more noticeable as work, family and other responsibilities place greater demands on planning and organisation.

Understanding how these patterns affect you is an important part of determining what support may be appropriate.

How do I know if I need ADHD treatment?

Social Anxiety Disorder affects everyone differently. Some people experience anxiety only in specific situations, such as public speaking or performing in front of others, while others feel anxious during everyday interactions, such as making phone calls, meeting unfamiliar people or expressing their opinions in a group.

Recognising the impact these symptoms are having on your daily life is often the first step towards seeking appropriate support. Working with qualified healthcare professionals can help you better understand your symptoms and determine the most appropriate approach to your care.

How do I know if I need ADHD treatment?

Occasional distraction, forgetfulness and difficulty staying organised are part of everyday life. ADHD becomes more significant when these challenges persist and begin interfering with work, study, relationships, or the practical demands of daily living.

For adults, this may include education about ADHD, behavioural strategies, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), social skills support and practical changes that make everyday organisation and planning more manageable.

Experiences that may warrant further assessment include:

Missing deadlines despite making an effort to stay organised
Frequently arriving late or forgetting appointments and commitments
Finding bills, paperwork and household administration difficult to keep on top of
Struggling to follow longer conversations, meetings or instructions
Becoming overwhelmed when several tasks or priorities compete for attention
Regularly starting projects but having difficulty seeing them through
Finding work or study increasingly difficult as responsibilities become more complex
Experiencing recurring relationship or workplace difficulties associated with acting or speaking impulsively
Needing significant effort, reminders or routines to manage everyday responsibilities
Feeling that longstanding difficulties with organisation or time management are affecting your quality of life

These experiences can have many possible causes, so they do not establish that someone has ADHD. An appropriate assessment looks beyond individual difficulties to understand how long they have been present, where they occur and how they affect day-to-day functioning.

Symptoms of ADHD in Adults

These are generally grouped into two areas: inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. Some adults experience one pattern predominantly, while others show characteristics of both. These can also change over time.
Inattentive symptoms may include:

Difficulty sustaining attention during tasks or activities
Becoming easily distracted by surroundings or unrelated thoughts
Frequently overlooking details or making avoidable mistakes
Difficulty following through on instructions or completing tasks
Problems organising activities and responsibilities
Frequently losing items needed for everyday activities
Forgetfulness during routine tasks or commitments
Avoiding or postponing activities that require sustained mental effort

Hyperactive or impulsive symptoms may include:

Feeling restless or finding it difficult to remain still
Finding prolonged periods of quiet or inactivity uncomfortable
Talking excessively or answering before someone has finished speaking
Difficulty waiting for a turn
Interrupting or intruding on conversations or activities
Acting quickly without fully considering the consequences

Having some of these does not mean you have ADHD. No single test can confirm the condition, and similar symptoms can occur with other physical, mental health, or neurodevelopmental conditions.

A comprehensive assessment considers the pattern and persistence of symptoms, whether they occur across different areas of life, their impact on everyday functioning and whether relevant markers were present during childhood

How common is ADHD in Adults?

ADHD is not limited to children. For many people, it is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition, although its presentation may change considerably over time.

Current New Zealand information estimates that ADHD affects around one in 20 adults. Some adults were diagnosed during childhood, while others reach adulthood without recognising that ADHD may be contributing to difficulties they have experienced with attention, organisation or impulsivity.

Greater awareness of ADHD in adulthood has encouraged more people to seek assessment and better understand difficulties that may have been present since childhood. However, because attention, organisation, and restlessness can also be affected by other conditions, an appropriate clinical assessment remains important.

How is ADHD commonly treated?

ADHD treatment is tailored to the individual. Managing ADHD often involves combining different forms of support rather than relying on one intervention. What is appropriate depends on how ADHD presents, the areas it affects, coexisting conditions, and the individual’s broader wellbeing.

For adults, management may include education about ADHD, behavioural strategies, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), social skills support and practical changes that make everyday organisation and planning more manageable. Management may also involve addressing other mental health issues or substance use concerns where these are present.

Adult ADHD medication is another established option. In New Zealand, medicines used for ADHD include methylphenidate, dexamfetamine, lisdexamfetamine and atomoxetine. The first three are stimulant medicines, while atomoxetine is a non-stimulant. Medication does not cure ADHD and is generally considered as one part of a broader approach that may also include behavioural and lifestyle strategies.

The suitability of ADHD drugs for adults needs to be assessed individually. Factors such as cardiovascular health, current medicines, potential interactions and pregnancy or breastfeeding may influence whether a particular medicine is appropriate.

Ongoing monitoring can also incorporate reviewing symptoms and side effects and checking factors such as blood pressure, heart rate and weight.

Evidence-Based Care for ADHD

Good ADHD care starts with an appropriate diagnosis. Difficulties with attention, memory, motivation or restlessness can have several possible causes, and experiencing these does not necessarily mean someone has ADHD.

There is no single diagnostic test. For adults, assessment considers symptoms and their effect across different areas of life, as well as evidence that relevant markers were present during childhood. Other potential explanations or coexisting conditions also need to be considered.

Once ADHD has been diagnosed, care can be adapted to the individual’s needs. This may involve behavioural and psychological support, practical strategies and medication where clinically appropriate.

For someone already managing ADHD, our doctors look at the complete clinical picture. This includes any existing diagnosis, the care you currently receive, medicines you take, relevant physical and mental health conditions, and what you hope to discuss during the consultation. Existing evidence-based ADHD care remains an important part of this wider picture.

Book a consultation

Current Evidence

Research into medicinal cannabis, cannabinoids and ADHD is continuing to develop. While more high-quality studies are needed to better understand their potential role specifically in ADHD care, growing interest in this area is helping to expand our understanding of how cannabinoid-based medicines may fit within individual treatment plans.

ADHD can also be part of a much broader health picture. People may experience sleep difficulties, anxiety, mood concerns or other symptoms alongside ADHD, and these can be just as important when considering whether medicinal cannabis could be suitable.

At CannaPlus+, our doctors take a whole-health approach. We look at the symptoms affecting you, your physical and mental health, current medicines, previous treatments and what you are hoping to achieve from treatment rather than considering your ADHD diagnosis in isolation.

If you are interested in medicinal cannabis, a consultation gives you the opportunity to explore whether it could have a place in your wider care. For some patients, medicinal cannabis may be considered as an additional treatment option based on their individual symptoms, health history and treatment needs.

Your CannaPlus+ doctor can discuss the options available, consider potential benefits and risks, and determine whether medicinal cannabis is appropriate for you. If it is suitable, they can develop an individual treatment plan and provide ongoing medical oversight.

If you are currently taking prescribed ADHD medication, continue taking it as directed unless you have discussed a change with the healthcare professional responsible for your treatment.

Further research will continue to build our understanding of medicinal cannabis and ADHD, but you do not need to wait for the evidence base to be complete before having an informed conversation with a doctor about whether it may be appropriate for your individual circumstances.

Research and studies

Is a consultation with CannaPlus+ appropriate?

People may come to a CannaPlus+ consultation with different questions about their ADHD and wider health. Some already have an established diagnosis and plan, while others want to understand how their existing care fits within their broader health needs.

A consultation gives our doctors an opportunity to understand your medical and mental health history, current experience, existing diagnoses, medicines, and previous experiences. This information helps determine whether particular options within our clinical scope are appropriate to discuss.

A CannaPlus+ consultation should not be considered a replacement for a comprehensive ADHD assessment or established ADHD care. Where diagnosis, specialist assessment or management with conventional ADHD medicines is required, appropriate care with a healthcare professional experienced in ADHD remains important.

Whether an option is suitable can only be determined after reviewing the individual’s health and existing ADHD care. Certain physical or mental health conditions, current medicines, substance use history, pregnancy or breastfeeding may affect whether particular options are appropriate.

Where you are already receiving care for ADHD, our doctors may recommend that you continue working with your existing healthcare provider. Any proposed changes to prescription already in place should be discussed with the clinician responsible.

Talk to CannaPlus+ today

Living with ADHD can raise questions about symptoms, medicines and how different aspects of your health interact. If you would like to discuss these concerns, CannaPlus+ provides a confidential setting to speak with a qualified doctor.

Book a consultation to discuss your health, existing ADHD care and the options that may be appropriate for you.

Important Safety Information

Some symptoms that resemble ADHD can also occur with other physical or mental health conditions. New, sudden or significant changes in concentration, behaviour or mental state should therefore be medically assessed rather than assumed to be ADHD.

Seek urgent medical attention by calling 111 if you experience:

Chest pain, fainting or severe heart palpitations
Severe confusion or a sudden significant change in behaviour
Hallucinations, delusional thinking or other psychotic symptoms
Hallucinations, delusional thinking or other psychotic symptoms
Severe agitation or an extreme change in mood
An extreme deterioration in your ability to function or care for yourself
Thoughts of suicide or serious self-harm
Feeling unable to keep yourself or another person safe

If you experience significant or unexpected symptoms after starting or changing a medicine, contact an appropriate healthcare professional promptly. Do not stop or alter prescribed medication without medical advice unless you require emergency care.

ⓘ The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. An individual assessment by a qualified healthcare professional is essential to determine the most appropriate diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care.