Adderall Addiction

Adderall is a prescription medication used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. The drug is structurally similar to illicit amphetamines (like methamphetamine) and highly addictive. 

Experts say almost 7 percent of American adults use prescription stimulants like Adderall. About 2 percent of adults had misused medications like this at least once.

Adderall abuse is characterized by periods of frenetic energy followed by a deep crash. Someone with an addiction may cycle through these stages multiple times every month, and they may feel unable to quit the drug without help. Treatment teams can make all the difference, helping you to stop using drugs and build a better life. 

What Is Adderall?

People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or narcolepsy struggle with attentiveness and focus. Doctors use Adderall, a prescription stimulant, to keep them awake and alert, so they can focus on everyday activities, hold down jobs, and lead successful lives. 

Doctors aren’t sure how Adderall helps people with ADHD. They believe amphetamines block the body’s ability to recycle chemicals like norepinephrine and dopamine. As these substances build up within the cells, people feel alert and awake. They may also feel smarter and more confident. 

Adderall works best in concert with other therapies, including counseling. It’s not intended for long-term use, and doctors are encouraged to monitor their patients closely and weigh the risks and benefits of use. 

Who Abuses Adderall?

People ages 18 to 25 represent the largest group of Adderall abusers. Most of them get the medication for free from friends and family members, and they never talk to a doctor about their drug use. 

Online pharmacies make misuse easier, as some don’t require a prescription to complete an order. Authorities look for rule-breakers like this and crack down as needed, but it’s very easy to set up a website and accept money. People who want to abuse Adderall don’t need to look hard to find this drug. 

About half of all people who misuse Adderall do so for “cognitive enhancement.” They think the drug makes them smarter, faster, and more capable. 

Researchers say there’s no evidence that Adderall works this way. It may make you feel more intelligent, but it doesn’t impact your brain function or intelligence. 

Unfortunately, students facing tight deadlines and difficult tests continue to look for shortcuts and easy wins. They may keep taking Adderall, even though it doesn’t work in their favor. In time, they may develop an addiction to the medication.

What Causes Adderall Addiction?

Amphetamines like Adderall change how your body produces and recycles the chemical dopamine. This substance is associated with addictions to many types of drugs, including opioids like heroin.

When exposed to something rewarding and pleasant (like a bite of chocolate), your body naturally releases dopamine. The flushed, happy feeling that sets in after your bite is caused by dopamine.

Addictive drugs cause your body to do either of the following:

• Over-produce: A hit of drugs causes cells to spike production, flooding your cells with dopamine.
• Under-recycle: Drugs limit your body’s ability to clear dopamine from your cells, allowing it to build up.

In time, your body responds by producing less dopamine. Without it, you feel sad and jittery, and those feelings entice you to return to drugs. 

Adderall is a prescription medication, and it’s safe for people to use with a doctor’s help. But this dopamine cycle is dangerous and could quickly lead to an addiction. 

Signs & Symptoms of Adderall Addiction

Prescription stimulants are powerful, and they can make people seem sped-up and enthusiastic. 

While the person is high on Adderall, they might do the following:

• Talk too much or too quickly
• Jump from one task to another
• Seem joyful and happy
• Become aggressive or impulsive 
• Remain energetic without the need for sleep

An Adderall high is a manic state. Someone using this drug can stay awake for days, as long as they keep taking the medication regularly. Some people go on amphetamine binges and take remarkable amounts of the drug all at once to keep the high going.

When the Adderall runs out, or the person stops taking it, a crash sets in. The person may seem desperately exhausted and may sleep for days at a time. The person may seem depressed and sad. Suicidal thoughts may also appear at this stage. 

How Does Adderall Impact the Mind & Body?

Prescription medications are powerful, and researchers study them extensively before releasing them to consumers. Experts know a lot about how Adderall works in people who use it regularly.

Mental Health Impact

People who use Adderall for long periods, even under the guidance of a doctor, can develop the following:

• Psychosis 
• Nervousness
• Insomnia

Adderall’s stimulant action is responsible for most of these side effects. Higher doses and longer periods of abuse can worsen symptom severity.

Physical Impact

While most people think of Adderall as a brain drug, it works on critical body systems too. 

Adderall use has been associated with the following:

• High blood pressure
• Sudden death from cardiac disease 
• Tics
• Decreased appetite and weight loss

Using Adderall during pregnancy can lead to birth defects, including low birth weight. 

Adderall Withdrawal Symptoms

Continued use can lead to Adderall dependence. Your body relies on your prescription, and without it, core systems malfunction. The longer your abuse lasts and the more drugs you take, the worse your symptoms. 

Adderall withdrawal can cause the following issues:

• Anorexia
• Insomnia
• Weight loss
• Mood swings
• Depression

Withdrawal problems are extremely common, as experts say almost 88 percent of people dependent on amphetamines will develop them. 

Withdrawal is a natural, normal process. Your brain and body need time to adjust to the lack of Adderall, and your discomfort is proof that your systems are returning to normal. 

But symptoms can make life extremely difficult. Your nervousness, sleeplessness, and mood swings can make it hard for you to work or spend time with your family. And some people feel drug cravings during withdrawal that distract and tempt them. 

The worse your withdrawal symptoms, the more likely it is that you’ll relapse to amphetamines. No prescription medications can remove them completely, but counseling can help you understand your withdrawal process and cope with the problems it causes. 

Can You Overdose on Adderall?

Patients taking Adderall are given strict instructions about how much to take and when. They can’t refill prescriptions too often, and if they do, their doctors ask about how they’re using the drug. 

All of these steps are designed to help people avoid the very real and life-threatening risks that come from Adderall overdoses.

Heart Attacks

Adderall and other amphetamines work directly on your body’s cardiovascular system. Your heart beats faster, your blood pressure rises, and you feel more energetic and alert. 

Take too much Adderall, and your body and heart will work too hard. Some people have heart attacks from taking too much of an amphetamine. 

Stroke

A fast-beating heart can also lead to blood vessel tears, and your blood can clot. A clot inside your blood vessels can move up to your brain, triggering a stroke. An episode like this can also be life-threatening. 

Seizures

Adderall can also cause your body temperature to rise. Some people develop seizures due to high temperatures and associated organ failure. Each seizure can further raise your body temperature, making another seizure more likely. 

Treatment Options for Adderall Addiction

No prescription medication or shot can remove your Adderall addiction. Any addiction is a chronic disease. There is no cure, but it can be managed. 

Your body needs time to heal, and you must support it during this process. Treatment programs can help.

Counseling is the cornerstone of Adderall addiction treatment. Teams help you understand why you started misusing medications, and they help you identify the triggers that spark your cravings. With triggers identified, you can build up resistance and skills. 

At the end of a treatment program, you’ll have a deep understanding of your addiction. And you’ll have a robust toolkit you can use when you’re tempted to reach for Adderall. 

A program like this takes time to complete, and many people benefit from staying in support groups for years. But this treatment could make all the difference in helping you to live a healthy life.

If you’re struggling with Adderall, talk to your doctor about treatment programs. Work together to find one that works for you and your addiction. 

References

Five Million American Adults Misusing Prescription Stimulants. (April 2018). National Institute on Drug Abuse. 

Adderall Medication Guide. (March 2007). U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 

Adderall Abuse on the Rise Among Young Adults, Johns Hopkins Study Suggests. (February 2016). Johns Hopkins University. 

FDA and DEA Warn Online Pharmacies Illegally Selling Adderall to Consumers. (April 2022). U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 

Potential Adverse Effects of Amphetamine Treatment on Brain and Behavior: A Review. (April 2009). Molecular Psychiatry. 

Adderall XR Capsules. (May 2005). U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 

Treatment for Amphetamine Withdrawal. (April 2009). Cochrane Library. 

Amphetamine Toxicity. (July 2022). StatPearls. 

“It’s Called Overamping”: Experiences of Overdose Among People Who Use Methamphetamine. (January 2022). Harm Reduction Journal.