Larry is a fourty-three year old real estate agent who lives alone. He has three children from two different marriages. He has held many different jobs in sales. He briefly attended a community college, but never received a degree. Everyone who meets Larry likes him, but all of his employers perceive him to be irresponsible and careless. Both of his marriages ended due to financial strains and his inconsistent job history. There have been three episodes of depression. In his mid twenties, Larry had difficulties with excessive alcohol use, and briefly lost his drivers license due to a DWI charge. His parents and teachers always thought him to be smart, but accused him of being "lazy". Larry was eventually accurately diagnosed with ADHD. He finally received treatment and readily admits that his life is finally stable for the first time.
Larry's story is a great example of some of the potential consequences of not treating ADHD. Whenever a medical decision is being made, it is vital to understand the risks of not treating the condition. This is also true for ADHD.
(Adapted from Making the Connection: A Parent's Guide to Medication in ADHD- p 17-19)