Q: “My Teen Wants to Come Off ADHD Meds to Enlist in the Military.”
Stopping ADHD medication to join the military, especially while in high school, is a big decision that should be made in consultation with a medical team and teachers. Here, find advice for setting up a plan and additional options for improving chances of military enlistment.
Q: “My son, who has ADHD, is in high school and about to start his junior year. He is eager to enlist in the military after high school, and he wants to stop taking his ADHD medication as soon as possible to meet military entrance requirements. But medication, I think, is very important to help him finish high school. What should we do?”
If your son is adamant about stopping ADHD medication to attempt to join the military right out of high school, then he (and you) needs to talk to his medical provider(s) and teachers to understand how to come off medication, monitor any adverse effects, and replace the treatment, if possible, with other supports and strategies. His doctor may recommend a plan for gradually titrating off medication, though that depends on your child’s circumstances.
In general, it’s not a good idea to abruptly stop medication, especially if it’s helping your child. He needs a plan in place well before he stops medication so he can learn how to manage ADHD while continuing to meet academic requirements and function outside of school, too. Working with a therapist who specializes in ADHD could really help him. An ADHD coach might be a good addition, too. Your son should also focus on building coping strategies to manage stress and emotional dysregulation. Executive functioning is another area to target, as is building healthy habits around nutrition, exercise, and sleep.
[Read: I Have ADHD. Is the Military Right for Me?]
The goal here is for your child to understand what it looks like to go for an extended time without medication. If he does go off medication, perhaps he can start in the summer when he’s not in school. That way, he’ll have time to adjust without it potentially affecting academic performance. (Then again, you’ll want to closely monitor what happens when school resumes.)
To be sure, medication use within 24 months of attempting to enlist is considered a disqualifying factor, according to Department of Defense military accession guidelines. (Some branches may be more flexible in this regard.) But it’s not the only disqualifying factor. Documentation of adverse academic performance is another one. The last thing your child wants, I’m sure, is to struggle academically — possibly compromising his chances of joining the military — as a result of coming off medication.
Another option is for your child to finish high school while on medication, and then take the next few years to learn how to manage ADHD at work without medication. This approach could eliminate concerns around reaching an important educational and life milestone. Besides, while in high school, he can still work on enhancing his coping skills, executive functioning, and establishing healthy habits all around as he enters adult life. After high school, he can find work and/or take college classes or technical training as he continues to learn how to cope without medication and truly test himself. Your child’s chances of enlisting in the military will improve if he’s able to demonstrate stability off medication.
Stopping ADHD Medication for Military Service: Next Steps
- Read: Can You Join the Military with ADHD?
- Read: Uncle Sam Wants You! (Maybe)
- Read: Can You Make It Without ADHD Medication?
The content for this article was derived from the ADDitude ADHD Experts webinar titled, “Can You Join the Military with ADHD? What Hopeful Service Members Need to Know” [Video Replay & Podcast #457] with Brandi Walker, Ph.D., which was broadcast on June 1, 2023. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.
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