Dextroamphetamine or amphetamine, also known by the name brand Adderall, are prescription central nervous system stimulants that come in the form of a pill, capsule, or liquid.

This medication is used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or narcolepsy (characterized by an uncontrollable urge to fall asleep). Both of these disorders must be diagnosed by a medical doctor and can be successfully treated with medication like Adderall.

Adderall is highly effective in that it helps a person focus on activities and feel more alert and energetic. Adderall can also increase a person’s metabolism, as it augments heart rate and blood pressure. Adderall, like other prescription medications, should always be taken as prescribed and never abused. Due to its high potential for abuse and addiction, it’s classified as a Schedule II controlled substance by the DEA.

Users can easily become addicted to Adderall and may find themselves unable to function normally throughout the day without it. If you or a loved one is suffering from an Adderall addiction, please know you are not alone, and help is available.

Adderall works by increasing levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, three key neurotransmitters made by the adrenal glands, and responsible for feelings of increased focus, energy, and euphoria.

When a person takes Adderall, the brain becomes flooded with these hormones. Adderall works by shutting off the brain’s reuptake of the hormones, leaving them for a user to feel the positive effects longer than usual.

Addiction involving Adderall can sneak up on a person. For some people, they may go years with undiagnosed ADHD, for example, and have never known what it’s like to live a life where they can focus, make rational decisions, and control their impulses.

Once they’re prescribed Adderall, it can feel like a big relief. A person may start increasing their dosage without medical guidance and before they know it they are abusing their prescription.

For others, they might first be introduced to Adderall through an academic setting like college. Students often pull all-nighters, cram for tests, and need the extra focus to obtain information for difficult classes, so they take Adderall to make that happen.

Addiction to Adderall is a serious issue. As a person continues to abuse the medication, they’ll begin to require higher doses to feel the same effects, as this medication may not work as well if taken for prolonged periods.

Adderall addiction can eventually lead to overdose, especially when paired with alcohol or drugs, creating a potentially deadly combination.

Amphetamine has been used for over 100 years for a wide range of disorders. However, it wasn’t until 1996 that Shire Pharmaceuticals introduced Adderall as an ADHD medication. Several years later, Adderall introduced the XR capsule—a time-release pill that gives users a steady dose of the medication throughout the day.

Whether or not a person has ADHD or even narcolepsy, some people choose to take this prescription medication illegally because it can help them do better in school and at work by providing increased focus and alertness. It’s vital to remember that taking a prescription medication not prescribed to you is illegal and potentially dangerous.

Over the last several years, medical professionals have seen a big uptick in abuse and emergency room visits due to Adderall abuse in young adults. In fact, misuse is most prevalent among 18 to 25-year-olds with most reportedly obtaining meds from friends or family members, not a doctor.

One study even shows that Adderall misuse in 2018 had significant gender differences with 14.6% of college males abusing Adderall versus 8.8% of college females abusing the medication. This statistic begs the question: why are men in an academic setting more likely to abuse Adderall than women?

In any case, one of the problems with Adderall addiction is that people think they can just take it whenever they need a boost, to study for a class, or accomplish a difficult task. The reality is that one use can lead to another before a person becomes fully reliant on a pill to help them focus throughout the day.

It’s the positive effects of Adderall that has led it to become one of the most commonly abused prescription drugs today. Don’t allow you or your loved one to turn into another Adderall statistic. Help is available right now.

Adderall addiction is very serious, but oftentimes users don’t look like a typical addict because they appear high-functioning and successful. In reality, people addicted to Adderall might alter their daily lives around taking the medication and find they need it to function “normally.”

Adderall changes the brain’s reward center and over time can make it hard for a person to experience happiness or pleasure without the medication. While Adderall comes in pill, capsule, and liquid forms, some people crush pills to snort, or even resort to injecting it for faster results.

These are incredibly dangerous methods of taking this medication and often a sign of a full-blown addiction. If you or someone you know is doing this, it’s most likely time for professional help. Adderall addiction symptoms can look like:

• Trouble sleeping
• Decrease in appetite
• High blood pressure
• Increased heart rate
• Headaches
• Anxiety
• Weight loss
• Nausea
• Anxiety or depression
• Dry mouth
• Sexual dysfunction
• Paranoia or hallucination from lack of sleep

While there can be other signs and symptoms, the aforementioned are some of the most common.

Adderall withdrawal can result in an intense crash if a person quits cold turkey. Individuals will most likely experience symptoms opposite of what Adderall provides like extreme fatigue, lack of concentration and focus, and a lower heart rate.

If you or a loved one is ready to break free from Adderall, medical detox is the safest option. Adderall withdrawal symptoms can look like:

• Extreme fatigue
• Lack of concentration and focus
• Low heart rate
• Body aches
• Anxiety or depression
• Intense cravings
• Mood swings
• Headaches

While these are a few examples of typical withdrawal symptoms, it’s important to note that every person is different and can experience their own unique symptoms.

Adderall addiction can seep into every aspect of a person’s life. If you or a loved one is fighting an addiction, it’s vital to seek professional help to get your life back on track. With the right support, you can safely detox from Adderall, and AION Health Group can help every step of the way.

At AION Health Group, we offer patients a comprehensive approach when it comes to addiction recovery. Patients can choose from a wide range of treatment programs.

Northlake Recovery offers partial hospitalization addiction treatment plans, along with outpatient detox, intensive outpatient, and MAT therapy (medically assisted treatment). Northlake Recovery takes a comprehensive approach to addiction treatment, and one-on-one support provides patients with the individualized care, treatment, and counseling they require for a successful recovery.

Northlake Recovery treatment center offers customized MAT treatment to manage withdrawal symptoms due to alcohol and drug addiction. With a primary focus on detoxification, patients can start a recovery journey with a clean slate.

Northlake Recovery provides an abstinence-based recovery program* with personalized care while integrating exciting and proven-to-work activities that support a positive patient outcome. Aside from award-winning support, “Gold Seal” Joint Commission Accreditation, and hundreds of wonderful patient testimonials, Northlake Recovery also offers a total-wellness approach that includes fitness, nutrition, psychological and medical support, as well as alternative pain management techniques.

AION Health Group is an evidence-based group of recovery centers offering holistic-focused Adderall addiction treatment, and each center aims to provide patients with total healing and long-term recovery. We’ve helped thousands of patients overcome addiction with comprehensive and personalized recovery plans that combine our evidence-based and adventure-focused treatment modalities.

Adderall addiction can have devastating effects on a person’s life. If you or a loved one is suffering from this type of addiction and are ready to receive the care and support you need to start a new chapter, then call us today at 888-912-2454 or contact us online for round-the-clock help. Our compassionate admissions staff is here when you’re ready. Stop suffering today, you can overcome addiction. AION Health Group is here to help.

*Abstinence-based recovery means patients will not receive medical comfort while detoxing.