The cause of ADHD is unknown but there is evidence of impairment in the brains dopamine pathways which govern cognitive function . There is also a particular gene , DRD 47 R , that is implicated The various theories and evidence are not ELI 5 , but the bottom line is that it seems that something is fucked up with dopamine . So drugs that increase dopamine or are dopamine reuptake inhibitors are the treatment of choice . Adderal being an amphetamine is a very powerful dopamine enhancer . The danger of long term stimulant use is behavioral sensitization . Which is like the opposite of tolerance . It ' s as if by taking a stimulant for a long time you build the muscle and you become more sensitive to the drug ' s effects . This effect lasts even after stopping the drug for as long as a year . It makes the patient vulnerable to addition and compulsive behavior .