Adderall provides much-needed assistance for those struggling with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other conditions. Unfortunately, like many prescription drugs, however, it comes with the risk of developing an addiction. If you or someone you love exhibits signs of Adderall abuse, it’s important to seek help immediately. Therefore, a drug addiction program can help you heal and learn to live without a substance use disorder.
What Is Adderall?
Adderall is a medication available by prescription that treats attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and sleeping disorders. Additionally, Adderall is an amphetamine/dextroamphetamine drug classified as a stimulant that affects positive changes in a person’s brain. Therefore, individuals who suffer from ADHD often find Adderall helps them stay focused and enjoy an easier ability to pay attention and control their behaviors. To add, those who use it for sleeping disorders, such as narcolepsy, for example, experience an easier time staying awake.
While many people use their Adderall as prescribed and find it helps them with their medical and psychological needs, they still may develop an addiction. However, some people who do not have a prescription start using Adderall for a variety of reasons—including as a party drug—thus end up exhibiting signs of Adderall abuse. Therefore, regardless of how an Adderall addiction starts, it’s important to seek help if there are signs of addiction.
Signs of Adderall Abuse and Addiction
A person whose life has become engulfed in addiction may not recognize the signs of Adderall abuse. They can present in different ways, including:
Behavioral Changes From Adderall Abuse
- Fidgeting
- Stuttering
- Pacing
- Humming
- Increased sociability
- A sense of invincibility
- Crushing and snorting the med, versus swallowing it
- Doctor shopping (getting prescriptions from multiple doctors)
- Incurring financial difficulties to pay for excessive amounts of the drug
- Isolating from others
- Spending increased time procuring and using Adderall
Medical Changes From Adderall Abuse
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Increased heart rate
- Weight loss
- Difficulty sleeping
Emotional Changes From Adderall Abuse
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Nervousness
- Moodiness
- Paranoia
- Psychosis
Overdose Symptoms of Adderall
It is possible to overdose on Adderall, which requires receiving immediate medical attention. Symptoms of an overdose include:
- Feeling disoriented
- Rapid breathing
- Chest pains
- Shaking
- Rapid heart rate
- Fever
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Muscle aches
- Blurry vision
- Dark red or brown urine
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Hallucinations
- Passing out
Moreover, an individual experiencing an Adderall overdose may also exhibit signs of aggression, anger, anxiety, panic, or depression in addition to the signs above.
Adderall Abuse Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms will occur when a person who is addicted to Adderall stops taking the drug. These symptoms can include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach cramps
- Headache
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Exhaustion
- Increased appetite
- Difficulty concentrating
- Slowed heart rate
- Intensified dreams
- Cravings for the drug
Equally important, emotional withdrawal symptoms may also develop, such as depression, anxiety, and moodiness. Furthermore, because withdrawal symptoms can be unpleasant and even dangerous, a person experiencing Adderall addiction needs to receive formal treatment.
Attempting to detox at home often results in the person risking not recognizing withdrawal symptoms that need help. As a result, they are quite likely to quit their detox attempt and begin using the drug again quickly. Fortunately, treatment programs can help ease and eliminate withdrawal symptoms. Secondly, treatment can ensure the individual remains safe throughout the detox and treatment process.
College Students Often Abuse Adderall
Abuse of Adderall is common among students who use it in order to keep up their energy levels. Additionally, many become reliant on medication in order to keep up with classwork, homework, and studying for tests. College athletes can also turn to use Adderall to increase their energy levels and be more competitive in their fields. For example, what may start off as an innocent attempt to try to accomplish as much as possible, both in terms of academics and athleticism, can in fact end up backfiring.
College students can end up addicted to Adderall whether they are using their own prescriptions or obtaining the drug through illegal channels. A recent study showed nearly 1 in 6 college students has used stimulants such as Adderall without a prescription. Roughly 79% used them for the purposes of improving their study habits and schoolwork, while others take the drug for the feel-good effects.
Financial Signs of Adderall Abuse
Sometimes the signs of Adderall abuse show up in a person’s financial life. Consequently, when they become addicted to Adderall, the amount they use increases exponentially. Paying for more and more pills adds up, whether the person is procuring multiple prescriptions or purchasing through illegal sources. A lot of people get their Adderall through friends, classmates, or drug dealers, and the cost adds up quickly. Some people go into debt in order to keep up with their constant need for the drug, or they may resort to selling off things they own to support the cost of their addiction
Whenever a person engages in illegal activities related to Adderall usage, they, in turn, run the risk of incurring costs related to the legal world. Buying, selling, and possessing Adderall without a prescription can result in getting arrested, consequently, causing an addiction to have them enter the legal system. As a result, they may face costs such as lawyer fees, court fees, bail, and probation costs, for example. Lastly, this type of event can also further negatively impact a person’s financial world in terms of their employment and college life.
Adderall Rehab West Palm Beach, Florida
If you or someone you love is showing signs of Adderall abuse, we can help treat the addiction. Ambrosia in West Palm Beach provides several types of treatment programs, including detox, inpatient, and outpatient plans. We help you get to the root of your addiction so you can learn to live a newly sober life without Adderall. Visit our admissions page to find out how to get started on changing your life today.
