Thursday, March 28, 2024

Can You Become Addicted To Adderall

Physical And Psychological Symptoms Of Adderall Misuse

Adderall Generation

Physical side effects of Adderall can emerge shortly after use. Adderall triggers the release of dopamine and other neurotransmitters in the brain. Prescribed users get a therapeutic benefit from it while recreational users who misuse this stimulant can get a high. The following are some of the effects that may be experienced right after Adderall misuse:

These symptoms would be perceptible to someone in the immediate environment of the person who is abusing Adderall. However, the people who are most likely to be concerned about the Adderall misuse may not be around when its going on. For this reason, it can be helpful to know the short-term effects of Adderall, which can linger long enough to be perceived by family, friends, work colleagues, and classmates. Some of the more commonly reported side effects of Adderall misuse are:

In addition, a person may experience mental health side effects. Some of these symptoms are hallucinations and believing things that arent true. Serious side effects may be less common, but they can happen and its best to know whats possible. The following are some of the most severe side effects associated with Adderall misuse:

Physical And Psychological Symptoms Of Adderall Abuse

Physical side effects of Adderall can emerge shortly after use. Adderall triggers the release of dopamine and other neurotransmitters in the brain. Prescribed users get a therapeutic benefit from it while recreational users who abuse this stimulant can get a high. The following are some of the effects that may be experienced right after Adderall abuse:

  • The illusion of wellness
  • Thinking about things more than usual
  • A feeling of impatience, worry, nervousness, and anxiety

These symptoms would be perceptible to someone in the immediate environment of the person who is abusing Adderall. However, the people who are most likely to be concerned about the Adderall abuse may not be around when its going on. For this reason, it can be helpful to know the short-term effects of Adderall, which can linger long enough to be perceived by family, friends, work colleagues, and classmates. Some of the more commonly reported side effects of Adderall abuse are:

  • Sleep difficulties

Adderall Addiction Signs And Symptoms

As a stimulant, Adderall increases the activity of dopamine and norepinephrine, two brain chemicals. Dopamine is involved in rewarding behaviors. Norepinephrine is a stress hormone that raises blood pressure, breathing, heart rate, and blood sugar when it is active.

Taking Adderall gives a person increased energy and a sense of euphoria.

Individuals who abuse Adderall may also experience:

  • a reduction in blood flow
  • increased body temperature

Over time, Adderall abuse can cause an increased tolerance to the drug, meaning that it has less of an effect than before. This leads some people to take higher or more frequent doses, which increases the risk that they will become addicted. High tolerance to Adderall may also indicate addiction.

Other signs that someone is addicted to Adderall include:

  • excessive involvement in social activities
  • taking on more projects than they can handle
  • difficulty in relationships
  • financial troubles from buying Adderall
  • taking Adderall without a prescription
  • multiple prescriptions from different doctors
  • needing Adderall to perform at work or school

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How Does Adderall Abuse Happen

Whether youve been prescribed Adderall, or youre getting it from another source, abuse is possible for anyone. Some of the ways people abuse Adderall include buying the drug illegally either on the Dark Web or from someone they know with a legal prescription.

People who are crushing Adderall and snorting it instead of swallowing it like a regular pill should be aware that this is a serious red flag that it is being misused. Other ways people abuse Adderall include taking a higher dosage than prescribed or popping several pills throughout the day.

For those who find themselves using Adderall for more than just staying focused, or need it to party or stay awake for a long period of time, its most likely a sign that they are abusing the medication.

Taking too much Adderall can result in a wide range of side effects like heart palpitations, dry mouth, insomnia, and excessive fatigue. Nobody should ever mix Adderall with alcohol or other drugs, particularly Xanax and other anxiety medications.

What Makes Adderall Addictive

Dangers of Adderall Abuse

âAdderall is addictive largely because of its stimulant qualities,â Jenna Liphart Rhoads, PhD and nurse educator, tells WebMD Connect to Care. People often take Adderall for help with focus and academic performance. It is also used to elevate mood and decrease appetite.

âThe medication works by increasing dopamineâa âfeel-goodâ hormoneâand norepinephrine levels in the central nervous systemâthe brain,â Rhoads says. People can get used to these high levels of dopamine and norepinephrine over time and feel dependent on the drug.

âWith increasing pressures to perform and availability of stimulant medications,â Lauren Madden, licensed clinical professional counselor and clinical supervisor of the Gateway Foundation, tells WebMD Connect to Care, âAdderall provides an opportunity for substance abuse due to its popularity and perceived minimal risk among those withâor withoutâa formal diagnosis.â

  • Taking more than the recommended dose
  • Mixing the drug with other substances, like alcohol
  • Injecting the drug

Madden says the potential side effects of Adderall abuse include:

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Common Signs And Symptoms Of Adderall Addiction Include:

  • Relying on Adderall to function throughout the day
  • Needing increasingly larger doses to feel its effects
  • Craving Adderall and experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using it
  • Obsessively thinking about Adderall
  • Spending significant amounts of time and money acquiring, using, and recovering from Adderall
  • Shirking responsibilities in favour of using
  • Not being able to feel alert or productive without Adderall
  • Continuing to abuse Adderall even after suffering physical and psychological consequences

Its important to note the difference between Adderall dependence and addiction.

While those prescribed Adderall may eventually become dependent on it for daily functioning, this does not necessarily mean that theyre addicted.

Often, addiction occurs amongst those who have never been prescribed Adderall in the first place.

In these cases, Adderall is typically acquired without a prescription and used recreationally for its mood-enhancing, concentration-boosting, or appetite-suppressing effects. But because of its habit-forming nature, recreational use can soon ramp up into addiction.

How Long Does Adderall Stay In Your System

The length of time that Adderall stays in your system depends on several factors:

How often do you take it

The dosage of it you took

When you last took it

Your weight

Kidney or liver impairment

In general, Adderall can be detected in the urine for 72-96 hours after last use. It can be detected in the blood for up to 46 hours after, in the saliva for 20-50 hours, and in the hair for up to 3 months.

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Why Is Adderall So Addictive

When Adderall is misused to take advantage of its stimulant properties, it can easily become addictive. Whether taken to improve academic or athletic performance, or to boost mood and inhibit appetite, the drug is dangerous when it is not intended for you and your body. All of these reasons for abuse make sense, as the mechanism of the medication floods the body with dopamine. When Adderall enters the human body, there is more dopamine and norepinephrine in the users central nervous system, elevating mood and motivation. While dopamine naturally occurs in the human body, medications like Adderall bring levels of dopamine to unnaturally high levels. As the body adjusts to such high levels of the feel-good neurotransmitters in the body, the user can become dependent on the newly developed tolerance and even become addicted to the drug.

Young adults meeting the pressure of society are not the only ones who abuse Adderall, as older adults are just as common to misuse the drug. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, it was noted that most people who have received treatment for an Adderall addiction started taking it when they were approximately 23 years old. It is not only students misusing the drug to study, but athletes also abuse the drug to improve their performance. In fact, in 2012, Adderall abuse contributed to a record-breaking year of drug-related suspensions in the National Football League.

Adderall Abuse And Heart Problems

Ten facts about Adderall

As a stimulant, Adderall abuse can place great strain on the heart and cardiovascular system.

Even in the short-term, Adderall abuse can cause cardiac and heart problems, such as high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, narrowing of the blood vessels, palpitations, cardiovascular system failure, and fatal heart failure. Long-term abuse may lead to other heart problems, including a pounding heartbeat and cardiac arrhythmias.

Further, Adderall abuse may cause sudden death in teenagers who abuse this drug. This risk may be increased in teens who have heart defects or serious heart problems.

In addition to the risk of sudden death, adults who abuse Adderall may have a heart attack or stroke, dangers that may be higher in adults who have heart defects or serious heart problems.

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Treatment For Adderal Addiction

During the programme, youre surrounded by a safe and structured environment that allows you to heal underlying traumas and develop coping skills to live a healthy, complete, and sober life.

Our in-depth addiction treatment model includes a variety of modalities:

  • Psychoeducation, relapse prevention planning
  • Complementary therapies such as acupuncture and mindfulness meditation

Our integrated and intensive addiction treatment programme is designed to not only treat the symptoms of Adderall abuse but to address the root causes that led to your addiction in the first place.

Developing Dependence And/or A Substance Use Disorder To Adderall

A person who takes Adderall for medicinal reasons is at an increased potential to develop physical dependence on the drug. Taking a stimulant drug like Adderall will lead to the development of tolerance to the drugs effects in a relatively short period of time in many individuals, and the majority of people may display a minor syndrome of withdrawal if the drug is abruptly discontinued. This is why even individuals who have been using the drug for medicinal reasons are placed on a tapering strategy by their physician once it is decided that the drug can be discontinued. Thus, the development of physical dependence on Adderall is not an unusual feature of regular medical use of the drug in individuals who take it for more than a couple of months.

The development of a stimulant use disorder requires that a person regularly uses the drug for nonmedicinal reasons.

There are additional signs that a stimulant use disorder is present:

The formal diagnosis of any substance use disorder can only be made by a licensed mental health clinician. An individual who is suspected of issues associated with abuse of Adderall or any other substance should be assessed formally for the presence of this disorder.

The risk of developing a stimulant use disorder is actually relatively low in individuals who are prescribed Adderall and use the medication according to its prescribed purposes while under the supervision of a physician.

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What Are The Symptoms Of An Adderall Addiction

People who misuse Adderall may feel euphoria after they take it. Eventually they feel the need to take higher doses in order to feel good again. As the Adderall wears off, they can begin to feel anxious and irritable. They may feel depressed.

People who misuse Adderall will likely begin to display drug-seeking behaviors. These can include:

  • spending a significant amount of time and money to get the drug
  • avoiding lifes responsibilities
  • becoming socially withdrawn or secretive
  • doctor shopping, or going to several different pharmacies to try to fill Adderall prescriptions
  • manipulating, crushing, or snorting Adderall to increase or hasten its effects
  • noticeably lowering their level of self-care or grooming

Once their Adderall dose wears off, theyll likely start to experience physical symptoms of withdrawal or an Adderall crash.

Adderall withdrawal symptoms can include:

Issues Associated With Adderall Abuse

Adderall And Blood Sugar

Abuse of Adderall can lead to some serious potential issues, particularly if the drug is abused over lengthy periods of time:

  • The risk of developing serious cardiovascular issues as a result of the increased blood pressure and heart rate produced by abuse of Adderall is significantly increased.
  • Abuse of Adderall leads to the massive release of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine. Once the drug is discontinued, there are significant decreases in the levels of these neurotransmitters. This can lead to depression, apathy, suicidality, drug-seeking behavior, etc.
  • Snorting Adderall can lead to significant damage to the nasal passages.
  • Alterations to the pathways in the brain as a result of chronic abuse of Adderall can lead to problems with cognition, emotional control, and even the potential to develop issues with seizures or psychosis.
  • Individuals who chronically abuse stimulants like Adderall are also known to have issues with decision-making, lower levels of achievement, and higher levels of other mental health issues.
  • People who abuse drugs like Adderall develop higher levels of tolerance and more severe withdrawal syndromes than people who use the drugs for medicinal reasons.

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Why Do People Abuse Adderall

Adderall is effectively used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy because it increases the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. These are two neurotransmitters that are associated with focus, concentration and motivation. By increasing the levels of these neurotransmitters, Adderall can help people who struggle with ADHD to focus and concentrate better and those with narcolepsy to stay awake.

However, Adderall also has the potential to be abused because it can produce feelings of euphoria, increased energy and confidence. When taken in high doses or when crushed and snorted, Adderall can produce a high that is similar to methamphetamine. This high is the reason why Adderall is sometimes referred to as kiddie cocaine.Other people take Adderall so that they can increase their productivity or study for long periods without feeling exhausted. Whatever the reason for abuse, Adderall addiction is a serious problem with potentially dangerous consequences.

You Only Use Adderall Recreationally So There Is No Problem

Recreational use is defined as using a substance occasionally and in moderation. It is not possible to recreationally use Adderall safely because it is a powerful drug that is only available on prescription. This means that by definition if you are using Adderall in any way other than prescribed and directed by a doctor, you are doing so compulsively and excessively.

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How Laguna View Detox Can Help You With Addiction

At Laguna View Detox, you will get round the clock care for your addiction. We are one of the leading private drug rehab centers in Orange County. We provide luxurious, inpatient rehab treatment in one of the most beautiful areas California has to offer. Our staff includes some of the most experienced and most compassionate in the industry, and well create a holistic treatment plan tailored to you. We will care for you while you safely detox and then guide you through inpatient treatment and aftercare. Contact us today and let us help you with your addiction!

The Unlabeled Epidemic No One Talks About

The Dangerous Effects Of The Hyper Focus Drug

Adderall is a prescription amphetamine that helps manage symptoms of ADHD. To avoid being alarmist, were far from the amphetamine epidemic levels we saw in the 1960s. But, modern America demands that we work faster, more challenging, and for less. A recent study found that about 23 percent of workers feel burned out more often than not, with another 44 percent feeling burned out sometimes.

The fact that Adderall is a prescription and controlled substance doesnt make it secure. Generic versions of the drug are available for less than $20. One study found that 97% of those who diverted their prescriptions gave it away to free peers. To break it down, 44% of the survey participants admitted to diverting their drugs, and 29% admitted inappropriate use.

Another study found 56% of college students considered study drugs easy to obtain through friends and extended social networks.

According to the CDC, approximately 6.1 million children under 18 are diagnosed with ADHD. The prevalence in adults is about 2.8 percent, according to a study in 20016. Interestingly, adult ADHD diagnosis rates increase a 26.4% increase among children than 123.3 percent among adults.

The reality is that we have an unlabeled epidemic that, if not addressed, can reach opioid-epidemic-levels before we think.

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Can You Get Addicted To Adderall If You Have Adhd

ADHD is the acronym that means Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a mental health illness. ADHD is a condition that is primarily defined by its symptoms. Still, research within the medical field has stated that brain function and structure play a rather significant role for individuals who have been diagnosed with the disorder.

Can Adderall Help Me Lose Weight

While it can suppress appetite and speed up metabolism, taking Adderall for weight loss is ineffective and unsafe. You might experience initial reductions in appetite and weight using the drug, but these reductions aren’t sustained over time. In fact, any weight you might lose in this way will quickly return once you stop taking the pills. And the temporary weight loss isn’t worth the risk and danger of Adderall’s side effects.

Trying to lose weight on a so-called “speed diet” can also place a dangerous amount of stress on your heart. According to the health site Tonic, “The same molecules that rev up the sleepy parts of the brain also jumpstart the cardiovascular systemsometimes too much.”

In rare cases, individuals who take the drug at high doses without proper medical supervision can put themselves at increased risk of blood clots, stroke, seizures, heart attack and heart failure.

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Those With Eating Disorders

Two side effects that may be especially appealing to people with eating disorders are weight loss and decreased appetite. For individuals struggling with an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, the main goal is to lose as much weight as possible to achieve a specific look. Adderall may be especially appealing for them to achieve this particular goal.

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