Adderall is a prescribed drug that is used to treat ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder). Its main reason for being prescribed is to help those with attention problems have increased focus and attention. When used as directed with someone suffering from ADHD, it can reduce hyperactive disorder, impulsivity, and provide the focus needed to go through life smoothly. It is also used with people who suffer from narcolepsy, as Adderall provides a burst of energy thus being in the stimulant family of drugs. The drug is very easy to abuse however, making it quite easy to become addicted to Adderall.
There is a wide demographic of people who can create a bad habit of being dependent on Adderall, but college students are where it is largely abused. The reason college students find it appealing is that it can provide not only the energy to stay awake and study but an intense focus to avoid the many distractions life has to offer. Once that habit begins while doing class-work, it becomes increasingly difficult to imagine doing the same work without the drug.
Adderall is abused by a wide spectrum of people, many people struggle with fatigue due to various reasons, a stimulant like Adderall is better than any type of coffee or caffeine product in order to feel energized and productive. Teenagers and young adults often get the drug prescribed after struggling in school and needing a remedy, while many do take the drug responsibly, there is no denying there are millions of people addicted to Adderall.
Signs Of Adderall Addiction
Some of you may take Adderall recreationally by not being prescribed it but getting it from somebody who does have it prescribed. That’s the first sign of having a potential issue. Here are some common symptoms of being addicted to Adderall:
- Using more than the suggested amount
- Finding it hard to function without the drug
- Difficulty sleeping
- Ingesting the drug by different methods such as snorting
- Increasing the amount taken in order to achieve the desired effects
- Inability to control when and how often you take it
- A constant fear of running out
These are very baseline symptoms of being addicted to any drug, Adderall is a bit easier to justify however because it is a prescribed drug by a doctor. Adderall has some unique symptoms however compared to most drugs.
Symptoms include:
- Loss of appetite
- Panic
- Racing Thoughts
- Manic Behavior
- High Anxiety
- Paranoia
- Sleepless Nights
- Major mood swings
These are not common side-effects to someone using the medication properly, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms then you are struggling with Adderall addiction and should seek out inpatient treatment.
Another issue is the decrease in appetite, Adderall is a major appetite suppressant and can be another reason people like to abuse it. Instead of dieting, they can just use Adderall and lose weight, which is often achieved whether that is the intention or not. Obviously, going days without eating has severe issues to one’s body, causing major malnutrition issues. It is extremely common as well, constantly using Adderall will leave you not feeling hungry the entire time.
Quitting Adderall
It may seem possible to quit on your own, but like any other drug, quitting on your own is a near-impossible task once you have crossed a certain line. After even a few weeks of abusing Adderall, it can begin to seem inconceivable to function without it. Adderall can make someone extremely productive and even produce euphoria for some time.
The hardest thing about abusing Adderall is that after getting the initial euphoria desired, a person abusing it will spend the next few days trying to achieve that same feeling unsuccessfully. This results in constantly taking more and many experience a day or even multiple days of staying awake. Staying awake for days at a time can be extremely consequential in all areas of life and is a major disruption in living day-to-day life.
Withdrawal from Adderall
Withdrawal from Adderall is not a pleasant experience, while there is no physical withdrawal pain like there is with heroin or opiates, there are major symptoms.
They include:
- Depression
- Irritability
- Trouble Sleeping
- Stomach Aches
- Heavy Lethargy
- Lack of Motivation
- Mood Swings
The withdrawals make it extremely hard to quit cold turkey and try to continue on with your normal life activities. If you have been abusing it for long enough, you need a proper detox facility in order to stabilize yourself and be able to operate at a normal level. The problem with the withdrawal is that the only remedy to it is using more Adderall or other prescribed stimulants.
Being addicted to Adderall can begin a vicious cycle, it may seem like an easy drug to quit as all it does it provide energy and focus but it is extremely easy to become dependent on those benefits and wish to always feel them. If you feel that Adderall is disrupting your life, it’s time to reach out for help.
