ADHD, Medication, and Mortality: What the Evidence Reveals—and What It Cannot Tell Us

A 2026 meta-analysis of nearly 16 million participants linked ADHD to a 71% higher all-cause mortality hazard—driven mainly by injuries and suicide—while ADHD medication use was associated with a 25% lower all-cause mortality hazard. However, these population-level associations reflect relative rates across groups, not an individual's personal lifespan or prognosis.