Teenage drug use among hyperactive children was examined by comparing a group of hyperactives to a group of children having difficulty in school for reasons other than byperactivity and who were matched for age, sex, and IQ. After a 5 year follow-up period the hyperactives were found to drink alcohol more frequently, although there were no differences on measures of academic achievement and intellectual ability. Hyperactives as teenagers still showed evidence of hyperactivity and were rated as having more conduct problems by their parents. Those hyperactives who were treated with Ritalin were compared to those untreated, and even when good and poor responders were examined separately no beneficial effects of the drug on academic achievement, intellectual ability, or behavioral ratings were evident.