Stimulant addiction

The term stimulants covers a wide range of substances that stimulate the central nervous system (CNS). Many people consume stimulants every morning to kick-start their day in the form of caffeine. However, there are a number of more powerful stimulants, both illegal and medically prescribed, that can cause serious issues, including stimulant addiction. For anyone taking these substances, understanding how stimulant addiction develops and its potential consequences can go a long way to ensuring their safe use and timely intervention if needed.

What are stimulants?

In terms of prescription drugs, stimulants are those which affect your CNS and make you feel more alert, energetic and focused. They usually work by triggering the release of special chemicals called neurotransmitters, which are responsible for transmitting signals to your brain. The three most important are:

1. Dopamine: Often called the “feel-good” chemical, dopamine is associated with pleasure, motivation and reward.
2. Norepinephrine: Known as the “fight-or-flight” chemical, norepinephrine increases alertness, arousal and readiness to respond to stress.
3. Serotonin: Referred to as the “mood stabiliser,” serotonin helps regulate mood, sleep and appetite.

Different stimulants produce various effects depending on how they influence these neurotransmitters, which can make them useful for conditions like ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), narcolepsy and even certain cases of depression.

Examples of stimulants commonly prescribed for these conditions include:

• Ritalin
• Adderall
• Focalin

Despite their benefits, all of these medicines can produce stimulant side effects, which can range from mild to serious reactions. These include:

• Increased heart rate
• High blood pressure
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Loss of appetite
• Mood swings
• Stimulant addiction

What is stimulant addiction?

At its simplest, stimulant addiction means you cannot stop taking stimulants even if you want to. They may be causing you health problems, issues in your relationships, or even worsening the original condition they were supposed to treat, but despite this, you feel compelled to keep taking them anyway.

Some people develop a prescription drug addiction to stimulants they have been given by their doctor. Three examples that we see often at Oasis Bradford include:

Ritalin addiction

Ritalin is frequently used to manage ADHD and narcolepsy by boosting dopamine and norepinephrine, which improves attention and alertness. After a while, you can find yourself becoming both physically and emotionally dependent on Ritalin and feel unable to quit even as it starts affecting your health and relationships.

How does stimulant addiction develop?

Imagine you have been prescribed stimulants to help with ADHD. Alternatively, you may have been given some by a friend who tells you they can help you focus at school or deal with a lot of stress. You start taking them in small amounts and find that they really do help.

Over time, you might start taking a little more because the initial dose no longer seems as effective. You begin to notice that you need the stimulants not just for focus or stress relief but to feel “normal” and get through the day. Gradually, you start taking higher doses or using the medication more frequently, and despite noticing some negative effects, you keep taking the stimulants because stopping seems even harder.

At this point, legitimate prescription use or the occasional habit has turned into a dependency. Your body and mind have become used to the stimulants, and without them, you might feel irritable, tired or unable to concentrate. These are stimulant withdrawal symptoms, and they are telltale signs of physical dependency.

At this point, even if you recognise that the stimulants are causing problems in your life, the urge to take them can be overwhelming. This is when stimulant addiction has truly taken hold, with drug use becoming your top priority and quitting now incredibly challenging without professional help.

Signs and symptoms of a stimulant addiction

Recognising stimulant addiction is not always easy, either for yourself or someone you know. Here are some simple questions that may point to a stimulant addiction and the need to get professional advice:

• Needing more stimulants than you were prescribed or needed when you first started taking them
• Failing to cut down or quit stimulants despite wanting to due to stimulant withdrawal symptoms
• Experiencing problems at school or work, arguing with loved ones, or just seeing important things in your life affected by stimulant use
• Finishing stimulant prescriptions early
• Neglecting hygiene or self-care due to stimulant use
• Continuing to believe you need stimulants even though you are aware of these problems

Typical causes of a stimulant addiction

The way stimulants affect neurotransmitters means that anyone who uses them long-term could potentially become dependent. However, for the emotional and psychological elements of addiction to develop, there are usually some other factors at play. These typically include:

Underlying health issues

These could be anything from mental health issues like depression and anxiety for which you use stimulants for “self-medication” to the actual conditions which they are designed to treat. For example, addiction to stimulants and ADHD are often intrinsically linked as this is the condition they are most often prescribed for.

Genetic potluck

One thing that we now understand about addiction is the role that genetics plays. This means that, unfortunately, some people are more predisposed than others to become addicted to substances, including stimulants.

Easy access to stimulants

Most stimulants are available legally only on prescription, but that doesn’t mean they are always difficult to get. If you have a genuine medical condition, stimulant addiction can drive you to visit multiple doctors for extra prescriptions. In some cases, friends or family members may share their prescriptions, or you may find ways to buy stimulants illegally.

Stress and pressure

High levels of stress and pressure, whether from school, work or your personal life, can make stimulants seem like an easy solution. The desire to perform better, meet deadlines or cope with overwhelming responsibilities can lead to increased use and eventual stimulant addiction.

The dangers of a stimulant addiction

Stimulants are powerful substances, so stimulant addiction can have wide-sweeping, life-altering consequences. Some of the biggest dangers associated with stimulant addiction include:

• Cardiovascular problems like increased blood pressure and heart rate and a heightened risk of conditions like hypertension, strokes and heart attacks.
• Neurological effects which often involve the worsening of symptoms for conditions that stimulants are designed to treat. This can mean issues with memory and attention and, according to some studies, potentially even an increased chance of developing disorders like dementia and Alzheimer’s.
• Mental health problems, including new conditions or the worsening of depression, anxiety and paranoia.
• Various physical health problems, including skin sores, dental issues and a weakened immune system.
• Damage to personal life, including relationship strain, money problems due to the cost of stimulants and problems at school and work.
• Prescription stimulant overdose, while rare, is a potentially fatal condition. Overdosing on Ritalin, Adderall, or Focalin can lead to severe agitation, tremors, confusion, hallucinations, seizures, coma and even death.

How is stimulant addiction treated?

The first stage of stimulant addiction treatment is medical detox, where you are assisted in cutting down and eventually stopping all stimulant use. This allows your body to heal, helps you get through stimulant withdrawal safely and breaks the physical dependency.

Prescription drug rehab then unpicks the emotional and psychological reliance you have developed on stimulants. It involves intensive therapy and life skills building so you can start to plan a future where you no longer need stimulants to cope with whatever is going on in your life.

After those stages are complete, aftercare and relapse prevention planning will help you put your new skills into practice and provide all the support you need to begin your post-rehab life successfully.

Get help for stimulant addiction today

If you are ready to begin your new life, Oasis Bradford can show you the way. We have vast experience helping people overcome various forms of stimulant addiction, and our treatment programmes incorporate detox, rehab and aftercare into a comprehensive recovery strategy. Contact us today, and we will help you plan and create a bright new future.