Adderall Addiction and Treatment

There is so much going on these days, and Adderall addiction is often overlooked. It seems we live in a world of noise and information overload.

We are constantly bombarded by all kinds of stimulation, from social media to television to everything else competing for our attention. Spotify and other music services offer us non-stop streaming music; it would be impossible to listen to everything! On television, we can summon up our favorite movie or show with the click of a button, and we can play videogames all night long without remembering to blink.

Stimulation has become a constant in our lives. Even for people without attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), focusing on one thing for a prolonged length of time can be an immense challenge. And for those who are diagnosed with the disorder, it can be an impossibility as the mind seeks out ways to stimulate itself, unable to sit still and calmly concentrate on the task at hand.

There are a lot of misconceptions and myths about ADHD. The fact is, it is a real condition that is recognized by the American Psychiatric Association in the DSM V.

ADHD and Dopamine Production

Adderall has become the go-to drug of choice to treat ADHD in people of all age groups, from as young as four years old to men and women in their 50s and even beyond. On the surface, it might seem contradictory that the drug should work in this way since Adderall is actually a stimulant. Certainly, a natural question would be, “Wouldn’t that make me even more ADHD than I already am?”

The answer is “no.”

Adderall Addiction By the Numbers

A 2018 study published by the American Journal of Psychiatry found that:

• 16 million U.S. adults used prescription stimulants of some kind in 2017
• 5 million misused prescription stimulants
• .4 million had use disorders

Adderall use has been rapidly growing, especially among college students. Although there is no evidence to support the assertion, many believe that taking Adderall increases cognitive function, which has led millions to think of it as a “study drug.”

• Full-time college students aged 18 to 22 were twice as likely as their counterparts to have used Adderall nonmedically in the past year
• Full-time college students who were nonmedical users of Adderall were more likely to use other drugs in the past year: three times as likely to have used marijuana, eight times more likely to have used cocaine, and eight times more likely to have been nonmedical users of prescription tranquilizers
• Five times more likely to have been nonmedical users of prescription pain relievers
• Nearly 90 percent of full-time college students who used Adderall nonmedically were also binge alcohol users, and more than half were heavy alcohol users

Adderall use – and abuse – shows little sign of slowing down. And as its use goes up, so do rates of Adderall addiction.

Am I Addicted to Adderall?

You know how this type of therapy can help, but you must understand why this can assist. Relearning how to be present as a parent is going to take a lot out of you. This is on top of everything you’ve already gone through because of the addiction your loved one has been dealing with.

The reason you are doing this is that you represent a pillar of support. At the moment, your loved one’s support system is crumbling when he or she needs that support system to be as strong as it can be. The problem many parents face is that they don’t know how to be a support system, which is what this treatment is meant to help you with.

It is possible to become both physically and psychologically addicted to Adderall. Taking Adderall over a prolonged period created physical changes in the brain. Over time, tolerance builds up. People who take it to get “high” will need more and more of the drug to achieve the same effect they experienced in the past.

Like any other drug, someone addicted to Adderall will exhibit “drug-seeking” behaviors. Signs of Adderall addiction include visiting multiple doctors to get prescriptions, crushing Adderall in order to snort it, becoming socially withdrawn or secretive, spending a great deal of your life in a quest to get more of the drug, and even lowering your standards of everyday grooming.

Other signs that may indicate an Adderall addiction include:

• Rash
• Insomnia
• Dry mouth
• Decreased appetite
• Hyperactive behavior
• Irritable thoughts
• Taking more than the prescribed dose
• Extreme weight loss.
• Cardiac issues.
• Depression
• Anger
• Withdrawal symptoms when not using

Unlike someone who may be dependent on Adderall for the medical condition of ADHD, an addict simply cannot face life without the drug and will go to great lengths to maintain a steady supply.

How to Stop Using The Drug and Withdrawal Symptoms

If you want to know how to get off Adderall, you might find the following instructions useful. As always, if you have any questions or concerns on how to do this properly, please consult with your doctor or another trained medical professional.

People who have taken or abused Adderall for a long period of time will definitely notice a withdrawal period. Because the symptoms of abuse are basically the opposite of the drug’s intended effects, heavy users might go through bouts of severe depression, which can lead to suicidal thoughts.

Along with this, they may also experience:

• Irritability
• Headaches
• Oversleeping
• Insomnia
• Increased appetite
• Fatigue
• Nightmares
• Difficulty concentrating
• Achiness
• Anxiety

Although withdrawing from Adderall isn’t necessarily medically dangerous, it can lead to suicidal thoughts and behavior. Because of this, and to avoid other withdrawal symptoms, users should taper off Adderall slowly rather than going “cold turkey.”