In the United States, addiction remains a constant and serious issue. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office of the Surgeon General, “Alcohol and drug misuse and related disorders are major public health challenges that are taking an enormous toll on our society. Recently more than 27 million people in the United States reported that they are using illicit drugs or misusing prescription drugs, and nearly a quarter of adults and adolescents reported binge drinking in the past month.” These statistics also include those struggling with Adderall abuse and addiction.
The Prevalence of Stimulant Abuse in the U.S.
Addiction to stimulants is still very prevalent in the United States. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “Stimulant use disorders are a major public health concern in the United States, with more than 5 million people age 12 and older reporting past-year cocaine use, nearly 2 million reporting methamphetamine use, and almost 5 million reporting prescription stimulant misuse in 2019.” Also, “Overdose deaths from stimulants have been increasing over the past 20 years, especially deaths attributable to stimulants taken with either synthetic opioids (e.g., fentanyl) or semisynthetic opioids (e.g., heroin).”
Many of the people struggling with stimulant use disorder (SUD) were initially prescribed a stimulant medication, like Adderall, and used it responsibly, at first. However, with stimulants like Adderall, prescriptions can easily be misused, increasing the risk of an Adderall addiction.
Understanding Adderall
Adderall is the brand name for an amphetamine-based compound that is intended to treat symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. When Adderall is used responsibly, it can be highly effective in treating these two issues.
However, using Adderall, even responsibly, does not come without risks. Two of the primary risk factors include that Adderall can be highly addictive and easy to acquire. Many people consider Adderall “safe” to use in instances of fatigue or as a means of garnering more energy either at school or at work. However, this is a misuse of Adderall, and constitutes abuse.
Better Understanding Adderall and Adderall Misuse
According to the online publication titled Amphetamine by authors Martin and Le, “Due to their ability to produce powerful euphoric effects, amphetamines are common drugs of abuse. All major drugs of abuse increase dopamine concentrations in the mesolimbic pathway, but amphetamines, because of their direct effects on DAT and VMAT2, can increase dopamine concentrations far beyond the concentrations seen for natural rewarding stimuli.” In other words, drugs like Adderall can quickly and easily become addictive.
This is why, as previously mentioned, people who intend to merely use Adderall as a “quick fix” for a work or study load can find themselves quickly abusing Adderall and potentially addicted to the substance. The sudden addictive nature of this substance also makes noticing the symptoms of Adderall abuse that much more crucial. Catching Adderall abuse as soon as possible can mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences.
Signs and Symptoms of Adderall Abuse
There are many signs and symptoms of Adderall abuse and addiction. The key is to know what to look out for.
The following are some, but not all, of the symptoms of Adderall abuse:
- Showing excessive and unusual energy and/or motivation
- Acting deceptively, such as lying or stealing
- Exhibiting excessive mood swings
- Visiting multiple doctors in an attempt to get multiple Adderall prescriptions
- Showing more and more impulsive behaviors
- Having a decreased appetite
- Exhibiting anxious behaviors, such as shaking or “twitching”
- Showing a decreased need for sleep
- Having trouble concentrating on a single task
- Feeling depressed when without Adderall
How Adderall Addiction Is Treated
Adderall addiction tends to be treated with a two-pronged approach. The first prong of the approach is to safely and securely detox the individual off of the substance. This may be rather intense and include the use of antipsychotic medications or benzodiazepines to reduce the intensity of withdrawal symptoms.
The second prong involves the use of psychotherapy to get to the underlying issues of why one feels the need or desire to abuse Adderall in the first place. This is also known as “getting to the underlying issues” of what is causing the addictive behaviors. A common type of psychotherapy used for stimulant addiction is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
Finding Help at The Phoenix Recovery Center
Here at the Phoenix Recovery Center, our guiding mission is to empower individuals and their families who are struggling with addiction and mental health disorders and help them get back on their feet and celebrate life once again. This is the Phoenix Recovery Center difference.
The hardest part of recovery is deciding to start. We’ll always be here to help when that decision is made.
Stimulant misuse and addiction are more prevalent in the U.S. than many people may think. This is especially true with Adderall addiction. Many people start with other “more innocent” stimulants like caffeine and then switch to Adderall for a more intense effect. Many people even start with a legitimate prescription for Adderall but soon find themselves abusing their prescription. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or co-occurring disorders, we can help get you on the right road to long-term recovery right away. For more information about Adderall abuse, Adderall addiction, and how they can best be treated, please reach out to The Phoenix Recovery Center today at (801) 438-3185.
