Adderallยฎ Addiction: Effects, Risks, Symptoms, and Treatment Resources

Last Medical Review On: March 25, 2024
Updated On: Nov 1, 2023
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Written by:

Amanda Stevens, B.S.

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Medical Review by:

Dr. Po Chang Hsu MD, MS

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    What you will learn
    • Adderallยฎ is a pharmaceutical used to treat the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy
    • As an amphetamine, Adderallยฎ is also abused and has the potential to become highly addictive
    • Adderallยฎ is abused when it is taken improperly, without a prescription, or with a prescription but not as prescribed by a physician
    • Short-term effects of Adderallยฎ include euphoria, increased energy, and mood increase, but also include a racing heart, increased blood pressure, and mood swings
    • Long-term misuse of Adderallยฎ, especially beyond prescribed doses, increases the risk of cardiovascular issues and mental health problems but does not directly cause organ damage or schizophrenia-like mental illnesses. Proper medical supervision aims to mitigate these risks.
    • Misuse of Adderallยฎ can lead to overdose, resulting in severe medical emergencies and potentially death, especially when taken in amounts exceeding medically prescribed doses.
    • Recovery from Adderallยฎ abuse is possible and involves detoxification, therapeutic treatment, and lasting lifestyle changes

    What is Adderallยฎ?

    Adderallยฎ is a pharmaceutical used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. Containing both amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, Adderallยฎ works as a stimulant on the central nervous system (CNS). It also has a high abuse potential, especially for students, athletes, and those with substance use disorder.

    Adderallยฎ Quick Reference

     

    Drug Category Commercial & Street Names DEA Schedule Administration
    Stimulant Addies, Bennies, Black Beauties, Crosses, Hearts, LA Turnaround, Speed, Truck Drivers, Uppers Schedule II
    • Orally (common): Sold in short-acting or XR extended-release tablets
    • Powder: Crushed pills are inhaled
    • Injected: Pills are dissolved in water and injected into the vein

    How Does Adderallยฎ Work?

    Adderallยฎ impacts two key neurotransmitters, or chemicals, in our brains โ€” norepinephrine and dopamine. By blocking their absorption, Adderallยฎ is designed to cause a higher level of these neurotransmitters to remain in the brain, providing relief from the symptoms of narcolepsy and ADHD.

    But in individuals without an appropriate diagnosis, Adderallยฎ has a different and more dangerous effect. By increasing dopamine levels in the brain, Adderallยฎ stimulates the brain’s reward centers and provides deep feelings of euphoria and hyperexcitability. This is the mechanism behind an Adderallยฎ addiction.

    Is Adderallยฎ a Controlled Substance?

    Adderallยฎ is categorized by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) as a Schedule II controlled substance. This means that Adderallยฎ has a high risk of addiction and potential for abuse.

     

    Who is at Risk of Adderallยฎ Addiction?

    Adderallยฎ addiction affects people from every demographic and lifestyle group. However, Adderallยฎ misuse is often seen in students, athletes, people with eating disorders or trying to lose weight, professionals in stressful positions, and people struggling with concurrent substance use disorders.

    A 2017 study from the University of Nebraska observed that college students saw Adderallยฎ as a โ€˜study drugโ€™ that could help them boost their GPA. It also observed that 34% of students who used Adderallยฎ illicitly did so during periods of acute stress, for example, during midterms and finals. [1]. These students believed that Adderallยฎ was โ€œless addictive than street drugsโ€ and would otherwise not use illegal substances.

    This speaks to one of the larger issues surrounding Adderallยฎ addiction. Because it’s a common pharmaceutical, US adults and youth see its illegal use as safer, not as harmful, and without long-term consequences. This is a false narrative because, as an amphetamine used without proper medical supervision, Adderallยฎ is just as addictive and dangerous as any other illegal drug sold through the black market.

    Can People Taking Adderallยฎ to Treat ADHD Become Addicted?

    People taking Adderallยฎ and similar drugs with an appropriate ADHD or narcolepsy diagnosis can still become addicted to the drug. This risk increases as the body adjusts to Adderallยฎ and the duration of effects change, leading to higher doses being required to maintain the same benefits. It may also involve taking the drug or drugs in a different way or at different doses than prescribed.

    Understanding the Effects of Adderallยฎ

    Adderallยฎโ€™s effect as a Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulant is due to its impact on the norepinephrine and dopamine neurotransmitters. Together, an increase in these two brain chemicals increases pleasure, happiness, alertness, and blood pressure. Adderallยฎ can remain in your system for 2-3 days.

    Short-Term Positive Side Effects of Adderallยฎ

    People taking Adderallยฎ without a proper diagnosis report a multitude of pleasurable sensations immediately after taking this pharmaceutical drug[2]. These include:

    • A euphoric โ€˜rushโ€™
    • A feeling of โ€˜breathing easierโ€™
    • Improved mood
    • Alertness and increased energy
    • Deeper focus
    • An increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar
    • Decreased appetite

     

    Short-Term Negative Side Effects of Adderallยฎ

    As with any drug, people taking Adderallยฎ may find some side effects of this stimulant unpleasant and difficult to manage. These are called adverse side effects and are more likely when Adderallยฎ is taken without a medical prescription. These side effects may include:

    • Nausea, constipation, and diarrhea
    • Nervousness and anxiety
    • Headache
    • Insomnia and difficulty staying asleep
    • Feeling โ€˜spaceyโ€™
    • Mood swings
    • Weight fluctuations
    • Dizziness
    • Dry mouth
    • Dehydration
    • Excessive fatigue

    Long-Term Side Effects of Adderallยฎ

    Adderallยฎ is an amphetamine and shares some of the same long-term risks as using other Central Nervous System stimulants like meth or crack cocaine. Unfortunately, some of these negative effects may take the form of:

    • Addiction
    • Cardiomyopathy (an enlarged heart)
    • Arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythm)
    • Sexual and reproductive dysfunction
    • Impotence
    • Hair loss, often falling out in clumps
    • Hallucinations, psychosis, and other Schizophrenia-like symptoms that require lifetime treatment
    • Panic attacks, social anxiety, and other anxiety disorders requiring long-term treatment
    • Brain damage
    • Kidney damage
    • Skin disorders
    • Slowed speech and an inability to form sentences
    • Seizures
    • Sudden cardiac arrest (heart attack)

    Can You Overdose on Adderallยฎ?

    An overdose of Adderallยฎ requires consumption beyond therapeutic doses and can result in serious medical emergencies or death. While sensitivity to dosages can vary, overdoses typically occur with significantly higher than prescribed or recommended amounts. The risk of acute Adderallยฎ overdose increases when the drug is acquired illegally, as itโ€™s more likely to mix with opioids like fentanyl[3] and other contaminants. Symptoms of an Adderallยฎ overdose range from mild to severe.

    Symptoms of a Mild Adderallยฎ Overdose

    • Confusion
    • Headaches
    • Hyperactivity
    • Nausea
    • Vomiting
    • Rapid breathing
    • Stomach pain

    Symptoms of a Serious Adderallยฎ Overdose

    Itโ€™s critical to seek medical attention for both mild and severe Adderallยฎ overdose symptoms. If you or someone in your care is overdosing on Adderallยฎ, call 9-1-1 or head to your closest Emergency Room. The following are signs of a serious Adderallยฎ overdose[4]:

    • Hallucinations
    • Rhabdomyolysis[5] (breakdown of muscles)
    • Tremors and convulsions
    • Heart palpitations
    • Cardiac arrest
    • Fever
    • Aggressiveness
    • Extreme panic
    • Death

    Adderallยฎ Abuse

    Adderallยฎ abuse occurs when a person takes this drug improperly. This might mean theyโ€™re using Adderallยฎ without having an ADHD or narcolepsy diagnosis, without this pharmaceutical being prescribed by their doctor, taking it with substances it should not be taken with, or having a prescription but taking it in a different way or dosage than prescribed.

    Adderallยฎ Use and Abuse Statistics

    Adderall misuse is most prevalent among 18- to 25-year-olds and 60% of non-medical uses of Adderallยฎ. It is also believed that a documented rise in ER visits related to the prescription stimulant without a corresponding increase in prescriptions being administered is a result of Adderallยฎ taking medication intended for someone else.[6]

    Prescription stimulant use varies widely, state by state. New Jersey stimulant prescriptions account for 5-7% of the population, whereas Tennessee ranges from 10-12%. The highest states (South Dakota and Louisiana) registered 12-22%.[7]

    In Tennessee, the Regional Overdose Prevention Specialists (ROPS) program serves to offer harm reduction services related to substance use. Since 2017 and through March of 2023, they distributed over 450,000 units of life-saving overdose prevention resources to combat the impact of substance misuse.[8]

     

    How is Adderallยฎ Addiction Diagnosed?

    Adderallยฎ addiction refers to the continued use of this stimulant despite significant distress and problems across multiple areas of daily life. Adderallยฎ addiction is diagnosed based on the criteria for Stimulant Use Disorder as presented in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5).

    To meet the criteria for Stimulant Use Disorder, an individual must meet at least two of the following symptoms within a one-year period:

    • Use of the drug in larger doses or for a longer period than had been intended.
    • A persistent desire to use or repeated unsuccessful attempts to decrease or cease use.
    • Spending an inordinate amount of time attempting to procure the drug, use it, or get over its effects.
    • Cravings, urges, or a desire to use.
    • Recurrent use failing to fulfill obligations at school, home, or work.
    • Continued use despite negative effects on social life and interpersonal relationships.
    • Reduced recreational, work, or social activities reduced or abandoned.
    • Repeated use in environments or situations where it could cause physical harm.
    • Ongoing use even with the knowledge of physical and/or psychological problems. Are likely to have either been caused or worsened by use.
    • Tolerance is defined as a need for markedly increased amounts of a substance to achieve intoxication or a desired effect or a markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of the substance. (Readerโ€™s Note: This criterion isnโ€™t valid if a physician prescribes Adderallยฎ.)

     

    Recovery from Adderallยฎ Addiction

    Overcoming an addiction to Adderallยฎ involves three components โ€” withdrawal management, treatment, evaluating alternative ADHD treatment options, and long-term lifestyle maintenance. The good news is that recovery is possible. The first step is to speak with your family doctor and an addiction recovery specialist.

     

    Managing Adderallยฎ Withdrawal

    When an individual uses Adderallยฎ for a long period of time, their brain chemistry is altered and changed, and without the drug, that individual will struggle to produce the dopamine and norepinephrine necessary for daily functioning. This results in a variety of withdrawal symptoms that may require medical management.

    Some people describe Adderallยฎ withdrawal as the opposite of being on this stimulant. Commonly reported withdrawal symptoms include:

    • Depression
    • Irritability
    • Headaches
    • Oversleeping
    • Insomnia and sleep disturbances
    • Increased appetite and binge eating
    • Fatigue and exhaustion
    • Nightmares
    • Difficulty concentrating
    • Achiness
    • Anxiety and panic attacks
    • Suicidal thoughts
    • Mental fogginess
    • Paranoia
    • Drug cravings

     

    Withdrawal symptoms typically occur within 6ย  hours of their last dose of Adderallยฎ and may last from 5 days to 3 weeks. The duration and severity of withdrawal are dependent on the dosage the individual was taking, the amount of time they were abusing the drug, and other concurrent medical and psychological factors.

    To lessen the severity of symptoms, your doctor or addiction specialist may taper down the dosage of your Adderallยฎ gradually and may prescribe other medications to help manage withdrawal throughout the process.

    Therapies Used in Adderallยฎ Addiction Treatment

    The second stage of recovery from Adderallยฎ addiction and abuse takes the form of psychological and therapeutic interventions to help address the underlying causes behind the use of this stimulant. This may include one-on-one talk therapy, behavioral therapies, and support groups.

    Talk therapy will involve a registered psychotherapist who specializes in addiction. You can expect a judgment-free zone designed to help you understand and address the reasons behind Adderallยฎ addiction, as well as take ownership of your recovery.

    Behavioral therapies are designed to equip you with a toolbox of skills and insights that will reinforce your ability to overcome Adderallยฎ addiction. These may include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and other models.

    Support groups allow you to connect with others going through Adderallยฎ and other addictions to share your experience, learn from one another, and build the foundation of supportive relationships with others in recovery.

    Long-Term Lifestyle Maintenance for Adderallยฎ Addiction

    The last stage of recovery from Stimulant Use Disorder associated with Adderallยฎ addiction includes creating a lifestyle designed to optimize physical and mental health, interpersonal and community connections, and lasting sobriety.

    This may include continued attendance at peer-led support groups, relationship counseling, vocational guidance and training, new recreational activities, and a solid social network. ย [9] Counseling may continue for months or years, depending on what works best for the individual in recovery.

    Itโ€™s important to note that the journey will look different for each individual recovering from Adderallยฎ addiction. What matters most is a solid support team consisting of your doctor, addiction specialists, psychological professionals, and a core community of family and friends.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Are there any medications approved to help treat Adderallยฎ addiction?
    Can Adderallยฎ cause weight loss?
    Is it safe to take Adderallยฎ during pregnancy?

    Are you or a loved one struggling with Adderallยฎ addiction?

    Sources
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