Adderall Addiction and Abuse - Rehab Guide

Adderall Addiction and Abuse

Adderall Addiction and Abuse

Addiction to Adderall

Treatment centres say that the admissions for prescription medicine abuse have gone up by 22% in just two years. One of the most commonly abused prescription drugs is Adderall. Many students believe taking this drug can make you smarter, so they often abuse it. In the UK, Adderall is a class-B controlled substance.

One can indeed become addicted to Adderall. Please read our guide to learn everything you need to know about Adderall addiction.

An Adderall addiction is defined as a person who uses the drug even though it harms them occupationally, financially, or in their relationships. Substance disorder impacts multiple areas of someone’s life.

Adderall addiction occurs in different ways depending on the person. The symptoms someone experiences depends on how severe the addiction is. The most common symptoms of Adderall addiction include:

  • Accelerated talking
  • Aggressiveness
  • A decline in personal hygiene
  • Anxiety
  • Chest pain
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Insomnia
  • Paranoia
  • Weight loss
  • Long-term Adderall use may have effects on the brain.

Common Signs of Adderall Addiction

When Adderall leaves the bloodstream, drug cravings and withdrawal symptoms occur. This indicates that someone has an emotional and physical dependence on the drug.

The dependence level is created by how Adderall is abused and how long the drug is getting abused. By injecting or snorting Adderall, the drug is sent to the brain more rapidly. When someone takes Adderall orally, it enters the bloodstream through the digestive tract.

Addiction is more common when you inject or snort crushed pills. It also increases the chance of having a life-threatening overdose.

Those who abuse Adderall for a long time may feel more emotional withdrawal aspects than physical. This is because the natural production of dopamine is reduced, so one cannot feel pleasure without the drug.

Long-Term Adderall Abuse Side Effects

The long-term effects of Adderall use are more severe than short-term effects. These stimulants can raise body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate. It is also common for people with a long-term addiction to repeatedly abuse the drug.

If Adderall is used for a long time in high doses, it can lead to a stroke, heart attack, or seizure. There is a lot of damage this drug can do to the heart and cardiovascular system when abused in high amounts.

The most common side effects of prolonged abuse are high blood pressure and irregular heart rate. In rare cases, Adderall may cause sudden cardiac death.

How Adderall Use Affects the Brain

Adderall is a type of amphetamine that stimulates the brain in a different way than normal. The brand name for Adderall is dextroamphetamine-amphetamine. When someone takes Adderall, their brain will overproduce dopamine, causing a mood, motor activity, and alertness reaction.

Adderall is a stimulant that increases energy levels and concentration. There is less need for sleep, and your appetite may be suppressed.

Along with dopamine, Adderall can increase the activity of other neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine. When there is too much change in dopamine activity, the brain cannot experience pleasure without the support of amphetamine use.

The more you take Adderall, the more this result becomes apparent. You could form a tolerance to the drug. This means you’ll need more each dose to reach the same desired effects.

Who Abuses Adderall?

Adderall is often abused in high school and college because students think they are study drugs that lead to better grades. Generally, Adderall is abused by taking it orally. However, some may snort it to achieve a faster high.

Adderall is the brand name for amphetamine, but there are other names for it. Those who are not prescribed Adderall may call it by another name to avoid suspicion.

Although Adderall has medical use, it has the potential for addiction and abuse. It is legal for those who have a prescription because of its medical use for ADHD. Even though this drug is addictive, many ignore the warning signs.

Adderall Combinations

Adderall is dangerous on its own, but some combine it with other drugs to feel a greater effect. Adderall combinations can lead to unpredictable side effects.

The most common combinations with Adderall are cannabis, alcohol, and Xanax.

Although there isn’t much data on the effects of marijuana and Adderall combined, some report symptoms similar to alcohol withdrawal. It is still a dangerous combination because it can create marijuana tolerance. Combining marijuana with Adderall may also mask the overdose side effects.

When you combine alcohol and Adderall, you may feel drowsy and lack coordination. Because amphetamines are stimulants, the regular symptoms of alcohol are delayed. This could lead to alcohol poisoning without realizing it.

Xanax and Adderall are both controlled substances that are potentially addictive, so taking them together is especially alarming. You may be more likely to get addicted when you combine these drugs.

This combination is dangerous because the effects may overpower each other. This means a person could take too much of either drug without realizing they are about to overdose.

The Adderall High

Knowing what an Adderall high is like is beneficial for those who don’t have drug abuse problems. Loved ones trying to understand the addiction of someone they care about often find it difficult.

Those who do not have ADHD and take Adderall illegally feel the same effects as someone with ADHD. However, those effects are heightened because the drug is not made for them.

An Adderall high is commonly known to make people productive and have extra amounts of energy for periods of time. Some report feeling a sense of mental clarity and having extreme focus. Others may also feel physically stronger.

Many take Adderall to complete difficult tasks because this drug makes it easier to do so. It allows someone to perform better for 5-8 hours at a time.

Those who are chasing the Adderall high will take more pills than recommended. This could lead to a dangerous binge that keeps someone awake for days. After the high is over, the user will experience a crash.

The Adderall Crash

Anyone who experiences an Adderall high will experience a crash. The crash happens when the user has used more than the recommended amount and has been up for days at a time. Being up for days at a time usually means the user won’t sleep, drink, or eat.

This binge leads to the body crashing. Because the body is not getting food, water, and sleep, it will start shutting down. Once the user finally goes to sleep, they could be out for an entire day or two.

Once the user wakes up, they will go on a food binge to get in the calories they missed. The only problem is, these mass quantities of fluids and calories aren’t good for the body either.

An Adderall crash is a terrible experience that causes pains throughout the body. The mouth may hurt more than other places on the body because those experiencing an Adderall high may bite their own tongue and move their jaw around uncontrollably.

The crash can cause someone to feel fatigued and depressed. Some report crying uncontrollably because of extreme anxiety. It is not uncommon to have suicidal thoughts during an Adderall crash.

The intolerable Adderall crash leads users to use the drug again to feel normal. They may also use other drugs or alcohol to relieve their discomforting symptoms.

Professional Treatment

When you have an Adderall addiction, professional treatment can help. It is common for those with this addiction to resist getting help.

Being addicted to Adderall could end your life; therefore, getting treatment can save your life. Treatment can also help you get back on track by alieving the emotional and physical symptoms you experience.

There are a lot of benefits to professional treatment. The main reason is that you will be in a safe environment without access to Adderall. This helps resist temptation.

You don’t have to attend group therapy if it makes you uncomfortable. There are individual therapy options that can help with trauma and other issues you may have due to the Adderall addiction.

Becoming educated about your addiction may also be beneficial. It will help you learn about your addiction and how to live a sober lifestyle. Professionals can help you create a proper relapse prevention plan as part of the treatment.

Take Care of an Adderall Addiction Today

Adderall addiction can lead to many emotional and physical symptoms if the drug is getting abused. Those who are not prescribed this amphetamine could be building a damaging tolerance. This leads to an uncomfortable crash that results in taking more of the drug.

If you believe you or a loved one could be dealing with an Adderall addiction, it is essential to get help right away. Contact us now to learn how we can aid you.

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