Ritalin Addiction

Ritalin has been at the forefront of ADHD treatment for decades, but in recent years, it has become almost synonymous with misuse and abuse. Though Ritalin can be very helpful for people with ADHD, taking it without a prescription or in different ways or quantities than prescribed is potentially very dangerous. One of the biggest risks posed by misuse is Ritalin addiction, a powerful psychological, physical and emotional dependency that can tear your life apart if you don’t seek help.

What is Ritalin?

Ritalin is a potent stimulant drug made from methylphenidate, a chemical that was first synthesised way back in 1944. The scientist who discovered methylphenidate named it Ritalin after his wife Margarita and it has been used to treat everything from depression to low blood pressure.

Today, Ritalin is mainly used to treat ADHD and sometimes narcolepsy. It works much like similar stimulants such as Focalin and Adderall by affecting neurotransmitters in the brain. Specifically, Ritalin boosts norepinephrine and dopamine levels, which can help people with ADHD control hyperactive behaviour and stay more focused and organised.

While these Ritalin effects are great news for ADHD patients they are also what makes Ritalin so prone to abuse. In fact, scientists have found that dopamine Ritalin effects are comparable to those of cocaine. This sometimes leads to people taking Ritalin as a recreational drug and also as a study aid or performance enhancer. All of these misuses are very dangerous and increase the chances of these Ritalin side effects:

• Abdominal pain
• Agitation/restlessness
• Appetite loss
• Anxiety/nervousness
• Dizziness
• Irritability
• Lethargy
• Dependency and Ritalin addiction

What is Ritalin addiction?

In simple terms, Ritalin addiction is a form of drug addiction where you can’t stop using Ritalin, even if you know it’s causing problems. Some people start using Ritalin because they have ADHD and need it to focus and stay organised. Others might take it to get better grades, stay awake to study or feel more energetic, and some experiment with Ritalin for fun to see what kind of high it gives them.

No matter why you start, the risk is that you can end up needing more and more Ritalin to get the same effect. This is called tolerance. Then, your body can start depending on it to function normally, which is called dependence. Once you are dependent, if you try to stop, you may feel incredibly tired, depressed or anxious. These are Ritalin withdrawal symptoms and they make quitting really hard.

However, this is only the physical part of Ritalin addiction. What can also happen is that Ritalin becomes your crutch for dealing with stress, social situations or tough emotions. You might start believing you can’t study, hang out with friends or even get through the day without it. Once this psychological dependence has developed alongside the physical one, you are fully locked into Ritalin addiction. This is psychological dependence, where you feel like you need Ritalin to cope with life.

Signs that you may be addicted to Ritalin

If you are wondering whether you might be addicted to Ritalin, here are some signs to look out for. They can help you figure out if your Ritalin use has crossed the line from helpful to harmful:

• Needing to take higher doses of Ritalin to feel the same effects you used to get with a smaller dose.
• Feeling like you can’t get through the day, study or handle social situations without taking Ritalin.
• Experiencing Ritalin withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop taking it or reduce your dose.
• Hiding your Ritalin use from friends and family and being secretive about where you are or what you’re doing.
• Doing anything possible to get more Ritalin, like seeing multiple doctors, lying about symptoms or stealing or swapping medicines.
• Skipping classes, missing work or avoiding activities that you used to love so you can do Ritalin.
• Knowing that Ritalin is causing problems in your life but being unwilling or unable to quit.

What can lead to a Ritalin addiction?

Of course, not everyone who takes Ritalin ends up addicted but there are certain things that can make it more likely. Besides the drug causing tolerance and dependence, some of the key factors that can lead to Ritalin addiction include:

Family history

If addiction is common in your family, you might have a higher chance of developing one, too.

High levels of stress

Having a really stressful school life or job can push people to use Ritalin to cope or perform better.

Mental health struggles

If you are dealing with unresolved trauma or other mental health issues, you might turn to Ritalin to help you feel better.

Easily obtainable supply

If you can easily get Ritalin, whether through a prescription or other means, it can make it easier to start and continue using it.

Lack of education on the risks

Not fully understanding the dangers of abusing Ritalin can lead to misuse without realising how risky it is.

If any of these sound like they apply to you, it is important to be cautious with Ritalin and talk to a professional if you are concerned about addiction.

The dangers of Ritalin addiction

Abusing Ritalin and becoming addicted can lead to some serious risks that can harm your body, mind, relationships and future. Here are some of the biggest dangers of Ritalin addiction:

Cardiovascular dangers

Using too much Ritalin can put a lot of strain on your heart which can lead to high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats or even heart attacks. The chances of experiencing these problems increase if you already have heart issues.

Neurological dangers

Ritalin affects your brain, and overusing it can cause problems like headaches, dizziness, seizures and possible neurological conditions.

Mental health dangers

Ritalin addiction can badly affect your mental health causing anxiety, depression, paranoia and severe mood swings. These may be new or old mental health problems which can get worse over time and greatly impact your life.

Physical health dangers

Addiction to Ritalin can also take a huge toll on your body and you may experience weight loss, nutritional deficiencies and general weakness. Ritalin can also affect your sleep, causing insomnia or feeling exhausted all the time.

Social and behavioural problems

Being addicted to Ritalin can change how you act around others and make you more secretive, irritable or aggressive. These changes can strain your relationships with friends and family, leaving you alone to struggle with Ritalin addiction.

Academic and professional setbacks

If you’re using Ritalin to try and do better in school or at work, it can backfire. Ritalin addiction can make it hard to focus, keep up with schoolwork or perform well in your job. This can lead to poor grades, getting in trouble at school and job loss.

Treatment for Ritalin addiction

Overcoming Ritalin addiction is a journey of getting to know yourself and starting fresh. First up is drug detox where you stop taking Ritalin and let it leave your body. You will have support from medical professionals to help you handle Ritalin withdrawal symptoms while your body heals.

After detox, you will go to drug rehab where you will join therapy sessions to talk about why you started using Ritalin and learn new ways to deal with stress and problems. Ritalin rehab treatment helps you understand your addiction and teaches you that you don’t need it to cope with whatever is going on in your life.

Once you finish rehab, you will move to aftercare. This means you will still get support like group therapy sessions, to keep you on track. Aftercare helps you stay connected with people who understand what you’re going through and keeps you motivated to stay off Ritalin.

Begin treatment for Ritalin addiction today

Ready to start a whole new life free from the struggles of Ritalin addiction. Oasis Bradford can help kickstart your road to recovery. We offer an all-encompassing treatment programme with detox, Ritalin rehab treatment and free aftercare for one year. Get in touch with us today and together, we can beat Ritalin addiction once and for all.

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