Prescription medications can be easily abused, especially an Adderall prescription. Unfortunately, this is because people minimize the dangers of prescription medications and loosely take into account the professional advice of “take as needed”. Also, many people don’t realize that they have been abusing their prescription medication until after they have a problem.
Understanding Prescription Stimulants Like Adderall
Adderall is an amphetamine medication that can be highly beneficial if taken as prescribed. According to the online publication Amphetamine by Doctors Martin and Le, “Amphetamine is FDA-approved for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. It has indications as a first-line agent for ADHD in adults and children six years of age and older. Amphetamine is also a second-line agent for the treatment of narcolepsy.”
However, Adderall is also a highly misused and abused prescription medication. This misuse can occur from people who obtain the medication illegally as well as those who have a legitimate prescription. Regardless of how the medication is misused, the negative warning signs and symptoms are often similar.
The Signs and Symptoms of Adderall Addiction
There are many signs and symptoms of Adderall addiction. Many of them are the same as other illicit stimulants. However, because Adderall is a prescription medication, there are also unique signs based on how someone might try to acquire the drug, such as through “doctor shopping”.
The following are just a few of the signs and symptoms of Adderall addiction:
- Trying to get an Adderall prescription from unauthorized sources (often online)
- Attempting to get multiple Adderall prescriptions
- Exhibiting excessive amounts of energy
- Profuse sweating, shaking, and jitteriness
- Having trouble concentrating and issues with memory
- Feeling overly “stressed out,” anxious, or depressed
- Exhibiting uncharacteristic mood swings
- Showing changes in appetite and exhibiting excessive weight loss
- Having trouble sleeping
- Isolating from family and friends
If any of these signs or symptoms are present, it is probably a good idea to reach out to a medical professional or addiction specialist. They can help to determine if there is a substance abuse issue, particularly if that issue is the misuse or abuse of an Adderall prescription.
The Dangers of Abusing an Adderall Prescription
There are many dangers of abusing an Adderall prescription. These dangers can be categorized as physical, mental, and emotional.
Many people begin to abuse their Adderall prescription because they discover that the greater the dose that they take the greater the euphoria that they feel. However, this euphoria is only temporary, and will eventually take more and more of the drug to get the same feeling. This is how many people start their journey toward Adderall addiction.
Adderall addiction can be particularly harmful physically because it can be harsh on the cardiovascular system. It can both raise heart rate and blood pressure to dangerous levels. People with Adderall addiction also often act impulsively without thinking through the consequences. This can lead to both compromising and dangerous situations. Furthermore, Adderall addiction also makes the potential for co-occurring mental health disorders much more likely.
Signs That Someone May Be Abusing Their Adderall Prescription
Many people ask the questions, “Am I addicted to Adderall?” or “Can I be addicted to Adderall?” The answer is a definitive “yes.” This is true even if someone started with a legitimate prescription for Adderall.
If there is any doubt about whether or not someone is abusing their Adderall prescription, one can simply ask themselves a few questions, including, “Am I taking the prescribed dose?” “Have I been honest with my doctor about how I use the medication?” “Do I worry that I may run out of my Adderall prescription?” If the answer is yes to any of these questions, then there is a good chance that an individual is abusing their Adderall prescription. The good news is that there are many effective ways to treat Adderall addiction.
How Are Prescription Stimulant Addictions Best Treated?
Prescription stimulants like Adderall often require a safe and secure detox at the beginning of the recovery process. This is because detoxing from stimulants can be rather intense and without proper care, there is a much higher likelihood that an individual may not continue to see their recovery through.
The next step of the recovery process often involves some type of therapy. This is usually a type of psychotherapy like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Therapies like these can help get to the underlying issues of what might be causing the addictive behaviors.
It can also be helpful for people struggling with Adderall addiction to join a recovery community. For example, many Twelve Step communities focus solely on stimulant addiction recovery.
The Phoenix Difference at The Phoenix Recovery Center
Here at The Phoenix Recovery Center, we believe in helping people recover at the cellular level. This means meeting each client where they are and treating them individually and comprehensively for the most optimal results.
The key to recovery is taking the first step. Take the first step today by reaching out to The Phoenix Recovery Center.
Many people have been responsibly prescribed Adderall. However, some begin to misuse this prescription by taking excessive amounts. This can lead to an Adderall addiction. It can be highly beneficial to know what an Adderall addiction may look like and how it can occur, even if someone has a prescription. If you feel like you or a loved one may be abusing prescription medication, or struggling with other issues of addiction or mental health, we can help get you on the right road to long-term recovery right away. For more information about the dangers of Adderall and how to recover from an Adderall addiction, please reach out to The Phoenix Recovery Center today at (801) 438-3185.
