What helps teens and young adults with ADHD thrive as they move toward adulthood—and what can put them at greater risk? From preparing for the workforce to navigating substance use risks and other potentially harmful behaviors, teens and young adults with ADHD often face challenges that can shape their long-term health, education, and independence. This session brings together new research and expert insight to explore what increases risk, what builds resilience, and how early support can make a meaningful difference.

Elizabeth Chan, PhD, will share emerging findings on how executive functioning, vocational identity, and supportive environments influence the transition from high school and college into the workforce. Daria Taubin, MS, will examine how patterns of psychosocial risk and protection related to substance use develop and change over time in teens with and without ADHD. Richard Gallagher, PhD, will explore risky behaviors—including unsafe driving, substance use, sexual behavior, self-harm, and academic disengagement—and discuss why teens with ADHD may be especially vulnerable. Together, these presentations will highlight practical opportunities for earlier identification, prevention, and support to help young people with ADHD move toward healthier and more successful adulthoods.