Living with ADHD can make everyday life feel overwhelming. Racing thoughts, impulsivity, difficulty focusing, and emotional ups and downs can affect work, relationships, and self-esteem. For many people, substances like alcohol or drugs can become a way to cope with these challenges, even when they could create more problems over time.
Painted Grove Recovery provides compassionate ADHD treatment through our co-occurring disorders treatment program in Louisville, Kentucky. We help individuals understand how ADHD and substance use interact while building skills that support focus, stability, and long-term recovery.
Understanding co-occurring ADHD
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how the brain manages attention, emotions, impulses, and organization. These skills, called executive functioning, play a key role in daily decision-making and self-control. When ADHD occurs alongside addiction, managing either condition on its own can feel frustrating and ineffective.
At Painted Grove Recovery, we recognize that co-occurring ADHD adds real challenges to recovery. Addressing both conditions together allows clients to gain clarity, reduce relapse risk, and move forward with greater confidence.
How ADHD and substance use influence each other
ADHD symptoms can increase vulnerability to substance use. Impulsivity may lead to experimenting with drugs or alcohol, while difficulty focusing or calming the mind may make substances feel temporarily helpful. Some people turn to alcohol to slow racing thoughts or stimulants to feel more alert and organized.
As substance use continues, ADHD symptoms often become more difficult to manage. Focus, memory, and emotional regulation can decline, making everyday responsibilities feel overwhelming. This cycle can blur the line between ADHD symptoms and the effects of addiction, leading to confusion and frustration.
Common signs of co-occurring ADHD and addiction
You may be dealing with both ADHD and substance use if these experiences feel familiar:
- Using substances to calm your mind, boost focus, or manage emotions
- Trouble stopping substance use even after negative consequences
- Chronic restlessness, boredom, or feeling overwhelmed when sober
- Ongoing struggles with time management, organization, or follow-through
- Frequently starting tasks, jobs, or goals but having difficulty finishing them
ADHD often goes undiagnosed
Many adults enter treatment without realizing they have ADHD. Symptoms may have been overlooked in childhood or mistaken for laziness, anxiety, or lack of motivation. Years of unmet needs can impact self-worth and mental health, increasing the likelihood of substance use as a coping tool.
Receiving an accurate understanding of ADHD can be a turning point for a person’s mental health journey and recovery. It helps clients reframe past struggles and begin building healthier, more effective strategies.
Why integrated treatment matters
Meaningful recovery happens when ADHD and substance use are treated together, not separately. When ADHD symptoms such as impulsivity, restlessness, or emotional overwhelm are left untreated, staying sober can feel much harder. Even after substance use stops, the stress, frustration, or lack of focus that contributed to using may still be present. This can increase the risk of returning to old coping patterns.
Studies continue to demonstrate that integrated care yields stronger and more lasting outcomes. People who receive support for both substance use and mental health often experience improved stability, clearer thinking, and a better quality of life. At Painted Grove Recovery, our addiction treatment is built around the whole person, supporting long-term healing through coordinated, compassionate care.
Professional support right here in Louisville.
Our co-occurring ADHD treatment approach
Every person’s experience with ADHD and addiction is different. That is why our care is personalized, structured, and rooted in respect. Our team works closely with each client to provide practical tools, emotional support, and clear guidance throughout treatment.
Comprehensive evaluation
Treatment begins with a thoughtful assessment of your history, symptoms, and goals. This helps our clinical team understand how ADHD and substance use affect your daily life.
Personalized care planning
Your treatment plan is built around your specific needs. Goals focus on both recovery and managing ADHD symptoms in ways that support long-term stability.
Medication support when appropriate
For some clients, medication plays a role in ADHD treatment. Our medical team carefully evaluates options and monitors progress within a recovery-focused setting.
Therapeutic support
Through individual and group therapy, you explore patterns between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors while building healthier coping strategies that support long-term recovery.
Executive functioning and life skills
Clients learn practical strategies for organization, time management, routines, and follow-through. These skills support independence and confidence during and after treatment.
Relapse prevention and emotional regulation
Treatment emphasizes managing impulsivity, stress, and emotional shifts without returning to substance use. Clients practice skills that support resilience in real-life situations.
Levels of care at Painted Grove Recovery
Painted Grove Recovery offers structured levels of care designed to meet clients where they are in their recovery journey. Each level provides consistency, support, and clinical oversight.
Medical detox
For individuals who need help safely withdrawing from substances, detox provides medical supervision and early stabilization. This phase also begins the assessment process for ADHD and other mental health needs.
Medication-assisted treatment
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) may be used to support recovery from substance use by reducing cravings and physical withdrawal symptoms. MAT is carefully integrated with therapy and clinical monitoring to support stability and engagement in treatment. When appropriate, medication is coordinated alongside care for co-occurring ADHD and other mental health concerns.
Residential treatment
Our residential treatment program offers a structured, supportive environment with daily therapy, routine, and skill-building. This level of care is often helpful for individuals with ADHD who benefit from consistency and reduced outside distractions.
What to expect on your journey with us
Starting treatment can feel intimidating, but you are not alone in your journey. From your first confidential call, our admissions team is available 24/7 to answer questions, verify insurance, and help with transportation when needed.
During treatment, clients work with licensed clinicians, medical providers, and support staff who collaborate on care. As treatment progresses, we help each client prepare for life after discharge with a thoughtful aftercare plan that supports continued growth and recovery.
Frequently asked questions
Treatment addresses both conditions at the same time. Therapy focuses on how ADHD symptoms influence substance use, while building skills to manage focus, impulses, and emotions in recovery.
Medication may be considered when appropriate and is managed carefully by our medical team. Decisions are based on individual needs and recovery goals.
Length of stay varies based on each person’s needs and progress. The focus is on building a strong foundation rather than following a fixed timeline.
Our residential program requires living at our Louisville treatment center to focus fully on healing. Documentation can be provided to support medical leave from work or school.
A clearer path forward starts here
ADHD does not have to define your future, and addiction does not have to control your life. With compassionate, structured care, it’s possible to build focus, stability, and lasting recovery. Painted Grove Recovery is here to support you throughout your path to recovery. Reach out today by calling 502.842.1425 or completing our confidential contact form. Our team is here to listen and help you take the next step.
