Adderall Addiction

Adderall has been an effective ADHD and narcolepsy medicine for almost thirty years, and it has helped countless people around the world manage these difficult conditions. It can make you more alert and focused and give you a whole new lease of energy. However, Adderall also has a dangerous side, and it is highly prone to both abuse and addiction. Adderall addiction brings with it a whole host of serious issues and requires prompt, professional help.

What is Adderall?

Adderall is a stimulant drug that is made from two highly potent stimulants – dextroamphetamine and amphetamine. But what does Adderall do? Like similar stimulants, including Focalin and Ritalin, Adderall increases the activity of chemicals in your brain called neurotransmitters. These include dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine.

Neurotransmitters dictate your mood, concentration levels and alertness, but people with ADHD and other neurological conditions are thought to have impaired neurotransmitter levels or activity. Adderall’s action on neurotransmitters is what makes it such a useful drug for people with these conditions, with Adderall effects including:

• Increased attention span and reduced impulsive behaviour
• Enhanced alertness and improved productivity
• Increased energy levels (crucial for narcolepsy sufferers)
• Improve overall mood

Alongside these positive Adderall effects, there are also some tricky Adderall side effects, which is why it is a controlled drug in the UK. These Adderall side effects include:

• Insomnia
• Complete loss of appetite and resulting problems
• Appetite suppression
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure (common with stimulants)
• Anxiety and nervousness
• Dependence and Adderall addiction

What is Adderall addiction?

Adderall is a condition where you become so emotionally and physically dependent on Adderall that you keep taking it even when its positive effects have become negative ones. Like all forms of drug addiction, an addiction to Adderall usually begins with seemingly harmless initial use. This could be for:

• A genuine medical need such as ADHD or narcolepsy
• Wanting to focus more on work or school
• Self-medicating for stress or some other issue

What usually happens is that, at least at first, Adderall does its job. It helps you focus, stay awake and feel more energetic. You might notice improvements in your work, school performance or daily life, and this positive reinforcement makes you want to keep using it.

However, this is where trouble can begin. You may begin to notice that you are taking more Adderall just to stay on a normal level of functioning, and stopping suddenly can make you feel very tired, depressed or irritable. These Adderall withdrawal symptoms can make it very hard to quit even though you have begun to realise you are becoming addicted.

Eventually, Adderall addiction becomes more than just a physical dependence. You may begin to need it as soon as you wake up to face the day ahead, and maintaining your supply can quickly become the most important thing in your life, with your family, career and education all falling by the wayside.

What can lead to an Adderall addiction?

Adderall’s effects on neurotransmitters are what gives it the potential for physical dependency. However, you are less likely to develop an emotional or psychological reliance without certain Adderall addiction risk factors. These include:

• Using Adderall to self-medicate for mental health issues, trauma or stress
• Taking Adderall without a prescription to improve performance at school, work or another activity
• Being able to Adderall easily to feed an Adderall addiction
• Having a lot of friends who take Adderall
• Being genetically predisposed to addiction because it runs in your family

How to spot Adderall addiction signs

Getting help early can make a big difference in your chances of recovering from Adderall addiction. Unfortunately, many people miss the early signs and don’t realise they are addicted until significant damage has already been done. To help you or someone you know get the help you need, here are six Adderall addiction signs to look out for:

• Wanting to quit or even just cut down how much Adderall you are using but failing to do so
• Spending all your time and energy getting and taking Adderall
• Becoming defensive or aggressive when confronted about your Adderall use
• Losing complete interest in school, work and social life because of how much Adderall you are using
• Feeling emotionally numb or having erratic mood swings for no particular reason
• Experiencing Adderall withdrawal symptoms when you quit or reduce Adderall use
• Recognising these problems but continuing to take Adderall anyway

The dangers of Adderall addiction

Adderall addiction can be really dangerous, harming your health and all other important parts of your life.

First off, your heart can be at risk. Adderall can significantly speed up your heart rate and raise your blood pressure, and this can lead to serious problems like heart attacks or strokes.

Your brain can also be seriously impacted. At first, Adderall might help you focus and feel more awake, but over time, it can actually make things worse. You might start having trouble with your memory or find it hard to concentrate without the drug. Some studies even suggest it could increase the risk of long-term issues like dementia.

Your mental health can also take a hit. While Adderall can initially boost your mood, Adderall addiction can lead to increased anxiety, depression and even paranoia. You might feel more stressed and less able to cope with everyday problems.

Physically, addiction to Adderall can cause all sorts of issues. You might get skin sores, dental problems and a weaker immune system, so you get sick more often and find it harder to recover.

On a personal level, Adderall addiction can cause arguments with family and friends, financial problems and issues at work or school. If you are getting Adderall illegally, you could also get in serious trouble with the police and could even go to prison.

Can you overdose on Adderall?

Adderall overdose happens when you take too much of the drug at once or even over time, causing severe and sometimes life-threatening symptoms like strokes, seizures and respiratory failure. Some of the signs of Adderall addiction to look out for include:

• Chest pain
• Irregular heartbeats
• Extreme agitation and restlessness
• Tremors
• Seizures
• Muscle pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Fever
• Mental confusion
• Shallow or laboured breathing

If you experience any of these Adderall overdose symptoms or observe them in someone else, get medical assistance immediately.

How is Adderall addiction treated?

Effective treatment of Adderall addiction has to address physical dependency, emotional and psychological reliance and the risk of relapse. This is first done through drug detox, which will allow you to purge all the Adderall from your system while an experienced medical team supports and guides you through withdrawal.

Once Adderall detox is complete and you are feeling healthier and more clear-minded, you will then move on to Adderall rehab treatment. This will involve a programme of drug rehab therapies and complementary treatment approaches to uncover and address all the causes and triggers of Adderall addiction.

Once your stay in Adderall rehab treatment is done, you will then take all of your new skills and insights into the real world. This transition can be difficult, so relapse prevention planning and ongoing aftercare are crucial for preventing you from turning back to Adderall when things get difficult.

Begin treatment for Adderall addiction today

Oasis Bradford Adderall addiction treatment programmes combine all the key stages to help you make a full and lasting recovery. If you have been held back by Adderall addiction but are ready to break free, get in touch with us today. Our expert teams are here to give you the support and guidance you need to take control of your recovery.

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