Adderall is one of the top 20 most prescribed drugs in the United States, and is only growing more prevalent. 41.4 million people were prescribed Adderall in 2021, a 10.4% growth from the previous year. With 9.4% of children in the United States being diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Adderall and other prescription stimulants are incredibly widespread. They are also very easy to access for people without a prescription.
Key Takeaways
Overuse and Misuse: Adderall is prescribed for ADHD but is also used for its stimulant effects, especially among young adults as a “study drug.”
Addiction: Though Adderall is legal when prescribed, misuse can lead to addiction, same as illegal stimulants like meth.
Health Risks: Adderall abuse has physical risks: heart problems, weight loss, insomnia, headaches. Long term misuse can lead to serious mental health issues like anxiety, panic attacks, even psychosis.
Legal and Social Consequences: Misusing or abusing Adderall can get you in trouble legally, socially and at work or school.
Signs of Addiction: Tolerance, mood swings, relationship problems, poor performance, physical and mental withdrawal symptoms.
Treatment: Addiction treatment is necessary and usually inpatient or outpatient with personalized care. Evidence based interventions help you recover and not relapse.
Adderall abuse has become one of the most widespread forms of substance abuse, especially among young adults. Used by many as a “study drug,” and by others for more recreational purposes, misusing Adderall is seen by some as less serious than the use of “hard drugs” like cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine.
But in truth, Adderall misuse has serious potential for addiction and for long-term negative consequences, especially for those who become addicted. The American addiction experts at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has identified prescription stimulant misuse as a “major public health issue.” Read on to learn about the risks posed by abusing Adderall, the signs of Adderall addiction, and treatment for Adderall addiction.
How Prescription Stimulants Work
Many people are unaware that Adderall is chemically and functionally similar to methamphetamine. Most prescription stimulants belong to the amphetamine family. They increase levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, neurotransmitters that increase the user’s energy levels.
Prescription stimulants are commonly prescribed to treat ADHD, and can assist some people with focus on school and work tasks. For some people with ADHD, the increased amount of these chemicals in the brain improves their attention span and motivation.
Illicit Uses For Adderall
Treating ADHD with prescription stimulants is an evidence-based method and is recognized in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5). But in the brains of people without ADHD, the prescription stimulant acts similarly to illicit stimulants, particularly its chemical cousin methamphetamine.
Staying Awake
Like meth, Adderall creates a sense of heightened energy and wakefulness, similar to caffeine but more intense. This appeals to people who are abusing alcohol or other depressants in social settings, as well as others who may want to stay awake longer for work or studying. Adderall misuse is common in professions that require a long like truck driving
Doing Schoolwork
As noted above, Adderall is often used by students as an aid for studying. However, a study found that people without ADHD don’t actually improve their cognitive functioning by taking Adderall, Ritalin, or Provigil, another prescription stimulant. They may work harder at tasks, but they work less efficiently and take longer to achieve their goals during Adderall misuse.
Feeling Euphoric
Especially in higher doses, Adderall causes feelings of euphoria due to its effect on dopamine levels. This neurotransmitter influences mood and is involved in the brain’s reward system, releasing when people perform pleasurable activities like eating or sex.
This dopamine release is one of the key causes of Adderall addiction. People who initially misuse Adderall for school purposes may enjoy the feeling they get and begin to abuse Adderall for its mood effects. Eventually, they may develop Adderall dependence.
Misuse Vs. Abuse
You may have noticed the terms “abuse Adderall” and “misuse Adderall” being used in this article to describe different types of Adderall use. Let’s take a moment to distinguish between these two types of drug use, which are similar but distinct.
Drug Misuse
Drug misuse is the improper ingestion of prescription medications that are intended to be used medicinally without the intent to get high or cause harm. Drug misuse can be accidental or can result from misunderstandings about the proper usage of prescription drugs.
People who misuse Adderall to study or stay awake have not crossed the line into full-on abuse. But they may begin to abuse Adderall due to the addictive potential of the substance.
Even someone who is prescribed a drug can misuse it, whether by taking more than their recommended dose or taking it at a time other than what their medication prescriber recommends. College students taking Adderall (even if prescribed) for an all-night study session are contradicting the recommendation to take their medication in the morning, and thus misusing Adderall. This is a risky behavior that can quickly cross over into abusing Adderall.
Drug Abuse
Drug abuse is the intentional use of drugs (including prescription drugs) in a way that is harmful, excessive, or for non-medical purposes, such as to experience a high or escape reality. Abuse is often repetitive, intentional, and can lead to dependency and addiction (clinically referred to as a substance use disorder) over time.
Adderall abuse typically involves using the drug in a way that interferes with one’s daily life, health, or relationships. People seeking euphoric Adderall effects are abusing Adderall by definition, since they are using it to get high. This places them at high risk for Adderall addiction.
However, even Adderall misuse can lead to Adderall addiction. College students who repeatedly misuse Adderall for studying can become dependent on the substance to concentrate, and experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking it.
A person who is prescribed a prescription stimulant but overuses it may run out of their own prescription and have to resort to buying it on the street or even taking other drugs, without the medical supervision necessary for safe treatment of ADHD.
Risks of Adderall Abuse
Adderall abuse poses significant health risks and can also have social and legal risks. The followng are just a few of the risks posed by prescription stimulant abuse.
Physical Health Issues
Cardiovascular Health Issues
Adderall abuse can cause cardiovascular health issues. It causes high blood pressure and increases heart rate, placing increased strain on the heart and increasing the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and arrhythmias. The National Institute of Health has noted reports of heart attacks and sudden cardiac death among people who use prescription amphetamines.
Appetite and Weight Issues
Adderall abuse can also lead to weight loss and malnutrition. It suppresses the appetite, and addiction to prescription stimulants can lead people to go days without eating. When they stop their substance abuse, their increased appetite may lead to binge eating, which is also unhealthy.
Sleep Issues and Headaches
A person who abuses Adderall may have trouble sleeping. This insomnia can lead to physical symptoms of fatigue, which may cause the person to continue abusing Adderall to overcome these symptoms. This cycle can lead the person to become addicted to Adderall. It is notable that Adderall is sometimes used to treat narcolepsy. The National Institute of Health also describes headaches as a common side effect of amphetamines like Adderall.
Mental Health Issues
Adderall dependence can have long term mental health effects, with these issues sometimes persisting through the Adderall withdrawal process, even after acute withdrawal symptoms have subsided.
Mood Symptoms
The National Institute of Health notes that common side effects of prescription stimulants include restlessness and irritability. People with other mental disorders, like severe depression, are at risk of more serious mood problems.
Anxiety And Panic
Adderall addiction increases a person’s risk of panic attacks, as well as of overall anxiety. A fearful or anxious appearance is one of the warning signs of stimulant use disorder.
Psychotic Effects
Higher doses of prescription stimulants can lead to the same effects as methamphetamine abuse, including paranoia, hallucinations, and even symptoms of schizophrenia. An Adderall overdose may lead to a break with reality, where the person cannot differentiate reality from their delusions or hallucinations.
Legal Issues
People with a physical dependence on prescription stimulants may steal to fund their habit, and will have to purchase it illegally. As a Schedule II controlled substance, possessing stimulants without a prescription can have serious legal consequences. Young adults without an income may resort to stealing to fund their habit, placing them at further risk of legal involvement.
Issues With Other Substances
Prescription drug abuse often leads to abuse of street drugs, as in the case of people who move from painkillers to street opiates. In the case of stimulant addiction, a person may escalate from using prescription medications to using street stimulants like cocaine, crack cocaine, or methamphetamine.
Additionally, people who abuse a prescription stimulant to stay awake while drinking are at increased risk of alcohol poisoning.
Signs of Adderall Addiction
There are some telltale indicators that a person has progressed from substance abuse to addiction.
Higher Tolerance
People in Adderall addiction must take more and more adderall to experience the same effects. They will begin to seek out higher doses to experience the euphoria or alertness they are seeking.
Mood Swings
Mood swings are also a common mental health effect of Adderall abuse and Adderall addiction. People may swing from a euphoric mood to a dysphoric mood rapidly, sometimes multiple times throughout the day. The addictive nature of the substance may lead people to take higher doses in an attempt to return to a euphoric mood.
Problems With Relationships
The inconsistent mood, irritability, and poor mental health of people with Adderall addiction can cause conflict with friends and loved ones. The irritability caused by Adderall addiction leads them to snap at others and to overreact to situations that bother them.
Poor Academic or Occupational Performance
Ironically, people who become addicted to Adderall after taking it to perform better at school or work may end up doing the opposite once they develop stimulant use disorder. The fatigue they experience during Adderall withdrawal may prevent them from completing important tasks.
Physical Withdrawal Symptoms
If a person becomes addicted to Adderall, they will experience physical withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking the medication. This became apparent during a recent shortage of the medication. During the shortage, people struggling with Adderall addiction experienced nausea, stomach aches and cramps, vomiting, fatigue, and insomnia. The withdrawal process, which may last a few days or for several weeks.
Mental Withdrawal Symptoms
Adderall withdrawal symptoms are not just physical. People withdrawing from prescription stimulants can experience a dysphoric mood, meaning a consistent state of dissatisfaction and unhappiness. Withdrawal from severe Adderall abuse may even lead to suicidal ideation.
Adderall Addiction Treatment
Due to the risks described above, addiction treatment is recommended for people struggling with stimulant use disorder. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has noted the importance of targeting young adults and children who are at high risk for addiction. But people at any age may need Adderall addiction treatment.
Turning Point of Tampa
Turning Point of Tampa offers multiple treatment options, including inpatient and outpatient programs, to address addiction and prescription Stimulant Use Disorder.
Treatment for Individuals
Turning Point of Tampa recognizes that everyone’s recovery process is different. They have helped many people identify the problems caused by their Adderall use and showed them that if their addiction continued, they faced serious repercussions. Every patient is assigned an individual counselor and given a case plan targeted to their needs.
Evidence Based Interventions
There has been much research devoted to stimulant use disorder and the most effective addiction treatment. Turning Point of Tampa connects patients with practiced therapeutic interventions that help them to overcome their dependence on stimulants and live free of addiction.
FAQs
Is Adderall addictive even if it’s prescribed for ADHD?
Yes. Adderall is addictive even when used as prescribed. However, misuse (taking it outside prescribed doses or for non-medical reasons) increases the risk of addiction.
What are the signs of Adderall addiction?
Signs of addiction: tolerance, can’t stop, mood swings, physical withdrawal symptoms, impaired social and occupational functioning.
How is misuse different from abuse when it comes to Adderall?
Misuse is taking the medication improperly but without intending harm, like using it to study. Abuse is taking it for non-medical effects, like getting high, which can lead to addiction fast.
Does Adderall abuse cause mental health issues?
Yes. Long term abuse can lead to serious mental health issues like anxiety, panic attacks, hallucinations, even psychosis.
What are the health risks of Adderall abuse?
Physical health risks: cardiovascular strain, high blood pressure, weight loss, malnutrition, headaches. Mental health risks: mood instability, anxiety, psychotic symptoms.
Are Adderall withdrawal symptoms severe?
Yes. Withdrawal symptoms can be physical (nausea, fatigue, insomnia) and mental (dysphoria, irritability) and can last days to weeks depending on the severity of the addiction.
How does Turning Point of Tampa treat Adderall addiction?
Turning Point of Tampa offers personalized treatment plans through inpatient and outpatient programs, individual counseling and evidence based therapeutic interventions to support recovery.
Can you use Adderall recreationally and get addicted?
Yes. Even occasional misuse for recreational purposes increases the risk of dependency, especially since it affects dopamine which controls mood and reward responses.
What are the social and legal risks of Adderall misuse?
Adderall misuse can get you in trouble legally since it’s a Schedule II controlled substance. Social risks: strained relationships and poor performance at work or school.
What happens if you take Adderall and don’t have ADHD?
For individuals without ADHD, Adderall can cause an overload of dopamine, leading to feelings of euphoria and heightened energy. However, this can come with serious risks, including potential physical side effects like increased heart rate and emotional side effects such as anxiety or irritability.
Is Adderall hard on your body?
Adderall can strain the body, particularly the cardiovascular system. It can affect blood flow, sometimes causing numbness, pain, or color changes in fingers and toes. In severe cases, Adderall use can lead to serious outcomes like heart attack or stroke, especially for those with underlying heart conditions.
Does Adderall cause personality changes?
Adderall may alter personality traits, sometimes causing mood swings, irritability, or increased hostility. Some individuals may experience symptoms of depression, and in rare cases, Adderall can trigger psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations or delusions.
What does Adderall do for a regular person?
For someone without ADHD, Adderall can increase alertness, help with focus, and improve organization and task completion. It’s also prescribed for narcolepsy to help maintain wakefulness during the day.
Does Adderall help with anxiety?
Adderall is not approved for anxiety treatment and may worsen anxiety symptoms, causing effects like nervousness, restlessness, and irritability. It’s designed specifically for ADHD and narcolepsy and is not recommended for managing anxiety.
What is the biggest side effect of Adderall?
One of Adderall’s most significant side effects is its impact on the heart, potentially causing increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and, in rare cases, severe cardiovascular reactions like heart attack, stroke, or sudden death, particularly in individuals with preexisting heart conditions.
Sources:
https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/pep21-06-01-003.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556103
https://web.archive.org/web/20240830202410/https://clincalc.com/DrugStats/Top300Drugs.aspx
https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/adderall-abuse-addiction-signs
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5460151
https://www.verywellhealth.com/taking-adderall-ritalin-without-adhd-8546956.
