According to the American Psychiatric Association, about 9 percent of kids ages nine to 17 and 2. For many individuals diagnosed with ADHD, Ritalin methylphenidate and Adderall amphetamine and dextroamphetamine are two medications that offer symptom relief.
Both medications are central nervous system stimulants, work in similar ways and have similar side effects, but for the purposes of this article, we're focusing on Adderall. By increasing the activity levels of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, Adderall brings the brain down from a state of overstimulation to a state of baseline stimulation where most people are to begin with. Essentially, the drug taps into the part of the brain responsible for controlling hyperactivity and impulses while lifting the fog of inattention and indecision.
It helps those with an ADHD diagnosis slow down and be "still" in their own minds and bodies. This adjustment of dopamine levels in the brain brings greater clarity and focus, like seeing through prescription eyeglasses for the first time. Marked by excessive daytime sleepiness, the mixture of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine can help people diagnosed with narcolepsy feel alert and awake during the day, rather than out of it, sluggish and sleepy.
Adderall is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the country, and also one of the most abused. Many people wrongly assume the drug is safe because it is so widely prescribed by doctors. Yes, it's safe— if it's your prescription, and you're using it as intended.
When taking the medication outside of prescribed guidelines, the risk of developing a substance abuse problem is considerable. Taking this prescription drug without a prescription is illegal, and selling or distributing the substance is also illegal, carrying a minimum sentence of five years in prison. And taking Adderall when it's not medically needed, and the dosage isn't carefully monitored, has its own set of dangerous side effects, including addiction.
If you take any addictive substance often enough, your brain becomes accustomed to it over time. In fact, repeated doses of addictive substances can actually change the chemistry of your brain. This is how the vicious cycle of substance abuse takes hold. Overdose is unlikely but possible. Whether the orange or blue pills are swallowed, crushed and inhaled as powder, or "parachuted" crushed, wrapped in toilet paper and eaten to avoid the taste , it's rare to overdose on Adderall—but it can and does happen.
According to Healthline, the typical prescribed dosage range is from five to 60 milligrams per day. A lethal dose is 20 to 25 mg. To put that in perspective: a lethal dose for someone who weighs pounds is about 1, mg. Because of this, a person may have insomnia and be awake at odd hours of the night. When a person first abuses Adderall, they may experience a sense of well-being or euphoria. Despite these pleasurable effects, abuse of Adderall can be dangerous even in the short term.
The stimulating effects of Adderall can also cause insomnia and wakefulness. While under the influence of Adderall, a person may become preoccupied with their own thoughts and feel unrealistically clever, competent, or powerful. The most serious of these include convulsions, coma, and death.
High doses of stimulant drugs such as Adderall could also lead to death by suicide. When a person chronically abuses amphetamine drugs like Adderall, they may develop hostility and violent and unpredictable behaviors that could endanger themselves or others.
Even short-term Adderall abuse could cause these states in some people. Psychosis that resembles schizophrenia may also develop. This state may be accompanied by paranoia and auditory and visual hallucinations.
Some individuals may begin to pick at their skin because they feel as if bugs are crawling beneath it. This is another form of hallucination. Chronic use or large doses of this drug may lead to serious physical health problems. The physical risks and dangers of Adderall abuse include:. People who frequently abuse Adderall may go long periods of time without sleeping. Because of this, a person may become physically exhausted after an Adderall binge.
We can help you overcome addiction and get your life back. Even in the short-term, Adderall abuse can cause cardiac and heart problems, such as high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, narrowing of the blood vessels, palpitations, cardiovascular system failure, and fatal heart failure.
All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.
Theresa is also a Certified Professional Life Coach and volunteers at a local mental health facility helping individuals who struggle with homelessness and addiction.
Theresa is a well-rounded clinician with experience working as a Primary Addiction Counselor, Case Manager and Director of Utilization Review in various treatment centers for addiction and mental health in Florida, Minnesota, and Colorado. She also has experience with admissions, marketing, and outreach. As a proud recovering addict herself, Theresa understands first-hand the struggles of addiction.
There is no limit to what Theresa is willing to do to make a difference in the field of Addiction! Mallorca, Spain.
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Call Learn More. Almost 16 million prescriptions for Stimulants like Adderall were written in , approximately triple the amount written in In , over , people were admitted to rehab for an addiction to Amphetamines like Adderall. The longer you have been abusing Adderall, the stronger your addiction can become.
The withdrawal symptoms that start shortly after quitting can make it hard to stop on your own. There are many options available for treating this addiction, such as therapy and outpatient rehab.
Contact a treatment provider to find Adderall addiction treatment today. After graduation, he decided to pursue his passion of writing and editing. All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional. Theresa is also a Certified Professional Life Coach and volunteers at a local mental health facility helping individuals who struggle with homelessness and addiction.
Theresa is a well-rounded clinician with experience working as a Primary Addiction Counselor, Case Manager and Director of Utilization Review in various treatment centers for addiction and mental health in Florida, Minnesota, and Colorado.
She also has experience with admissions, marketing, and outreach. As a proud recovering addict herself, Theresa understands first-hand the struggles of addiction. There is no limit to what Theresa is willing to do to make a difference in the field of Addiction!
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