Research Reveals Drug Abuse Link To Dyslexia

Drug abusers are 10 times more likely than the overall population to suffer from dyslexia, a study by Stirling University shows. Of the addicts studied, 40% were dyslexic, compared with about 4% of the total population of Scotland.

The finding comes as ministers consider ways to cut Scotland’s burgeoning drug problems and associated crime.

The research was led by Rowdy Yates, of the university’s Scottish Addiction Studies Centre. He said: “I think the stereotyped frustration of being a genius inside a stupid body only explains half of it. It is a popular misconception about dyslexia. I think there is an element of genetics too.

“We need to look at what drug treatment agencies are doing in relation to this and how comprehensible their literature is.”

In recent survey of addiction workers, Mr Yates found that 82% of respondents said between a quarter and a half of their clients had reading difficulties, with 89% indicating they thought these difficulties were a barrier to recovery.

Figures released last month showed methadone prescribing rates have increased by 45% over the past five years. Overall, the number of drug users showing up for treatment for the first time was 13,971 this year, an increase of 18% compared with five years ago.

The Stirling University study involved assessing the dyslexia of 50 participants. Most of them had struggled at school and had been through a number of treatment services with limited success.

The study says changes to treatment of addicts may be needed and goes on: “Drug services would need to routinely screen for dyslexia at the assessment stage in order to ascertain which clients might require additional support and/or modified services.

“Given the evidence already available of the genetic transference of both addiction and dyslexia, the possibility that dyslexic people might be genetically disposed to experience intoxication in a different way is certainly worth considering further.”

David Liddell, director of the Scottish Drugs Forum, said the research rings true with his experience. “This reinforces the need to provide education and training to people with drug problems as part of their treatment programme.”