Our daughter, now 40, has been ensnared in a crippling web of opiate addiction for over two decades—a tragic journey that began with undiagnosed ADHD. Misunderstood as simply 'naughty,' the signals of her condition were disregarded, leading to school expulsions and teen pregnancy. Her ADHD was inextricably tied to her absence epilepsy, a condition where over 40% of children go on to develop ADHD, increasing their susceptibility to substance dependency. Today, she is not just our daughter living with addiction; she is part of a much larger community failed by a healthcare system that neglects the connection between ADHD and addiction.

As well as opioid related deaths almost doubling in the last 10 years, recent statistics reveal these as under reported due to verdicts of 'misadventure' - deaths are actually 54.7% higher than previously recorded...that's over TEN sons, daughters, siblings and parents each day in England and Wales alone. Individuals like our daughter are not prioritized for ADHD assessments and treatments. This oversight is particularly jarring considering untreated ADHD severely diminishes one’s capacity to benefit from detox programs and methadone treatments. It is a systemic flaw, a failure in our healthcare protocols that demands urgent redress.

The need is for improved care pathways that offer timely ADHD evaluation and intervention for those grappling with heroin and opiate addiction. When untreated ADHD is addressed, individuals stand a better chance of overcoming addiction, allowing them to reclaim their lives and heal within their communities. Healthcare systems cannot continue to overlook this critical link without compromising countless lives. We propose:

1. Enhanced training for healthcare professionals to recognize and understand the connections between ADHD and addiction, ensuring early identification and treatment.

2. Developing specialized care pathways that prioritize ADHD assessments for individuals battling addiction, facilitating access to appropriate and timely treatment.

3. Allocating necessary funding and resources to support these initiatives, acknowledging that the cost of neglect is far higher in human lives and societal impact.

Our loved ones deserve the opportunity to break free from the cycle of addiction, to receive the care and compassion that recognizes the complexity of their struggles. It is time to amplify our calls for justice and health equity for the most vulnerable individuals in our society.

Please sign this petition to insist on a thorough re-evaluation of policies governing treatment pathways for addiction and ADHD. Together, we can instigate substantial change and redeem the futures of those like our daughter, whose potential should not go unfulfilled.