Adderall is a stimulant drug that is made up of two active ingredients, amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. These ingredients stimulate the body and provide users with enhanced concentration and attention and increased energy. Adderall is typically used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and sometimes the sleep disorder narcolepsy.
Abuse of Adderall isn’t uncommon. It is often used recreationally by people who don’t have a prescription for it, instead they get it from friends or family, or they buy it illegally. One of the most common groups of people that abuse Adderall is high school and college students. Abuse by students is common for two major reasons:
- Students will use Adderall as a study aid, to help them stay focused during long study or cram sessions.
- Adderall produces a high, or pleasurable feeling when it’s taken for recreational purposes. Users will frequently chew, crush and snort, or crush and inject the drug for these effects.
Abuse of a drug is typically defined as taking is in ways other than prescribed or for other reasons than prescribed.
Knowing the Signs of Adderall Addiction
If you suspect someone you love is abusing Adderall, or have become added to it, it’s important that you know the signs to look for. While the indicators may vary based on the specific individual, there are some that are common. Some of those common signs are:
- Stomach problems including nausea, diarrhea, or constipation
- Headaches, sometimes severe
- Dry mouth
- Problems with vision
- Trembling or shaking hands or feet
- Inability to sit still or stop moving
- Changes in appetite
- Weight loss
- Angry or aggressive outbursts and behavior
- Anxiety or nervousness
- Feeling restless
- More secrecy than normal
- Excessive and rapid talking
- Sleep problems
- Hallucinations
- Paranoia
- Unusually excitable
If your loved one is exhibiting several of these behaviors, he or she may be abusing Adderall. It’s often hard for family and friends to know how to handle such a situation. Let’s look at some tips for approaching a loved one who is addicted to Adderall.
How Do I Approach a Loved One Who is Addicted to Adderall?
There are many things that someone who is addicted to Adderall deals with – extreme mood swings, insomnia, and racing thoughts, to name a few. Approaching them must be done delicately, but firmly. Abusing Adderall can cause someone to have all kinds of different triggers; it’s hard to know what will set an individual off. When you approach your loved one with compassion and understanding about his or her addiction, it will make a big difference in the reception you receive.
Quitting using Adderall can be a difficult endeavor and discussing your loved one’s addiction with him or her can be just as challenging. You may want to have the help of an addiction specialist when you confront the addicted person. If that isn’t possible, or if you want to talk with your loved one alone, it’s worth your time to discuss how to do so with a therapist or addiction specialist before your meeting. Going in with the knowledge of what and how to say things will make your meeting with your loved one more productive.
Keep in mind that the most important thing you can do for your loved one is express your support for his or her sobriety. Be sure to explain how your relationship has suffered as a result of the addiction and express your concern (in a nonjudgmental manner) about his or her addictive behavior. Actively listen to what your loved one has to say and encourage seeking help at a drug rehab facility.
Finding an Adderall Addiction Rehab for Your Loved One
When your loved one is ready to accept help for his or her addiction, it’s essential that you have a rehab facility chosen and available. You don’t want your loved one to have a change of heart and think that he or she doesn’t need the help.
Adderall addiction is best treated first with a detox program and then followed up with an outpatient or inpatient treatment program. Detox alone isn’t enough for long-lasting sobriety and recovery. In an addiction treatment program, your loved one will be educated about addiction, have therapy, learn coping skills and relapse prevention techniques, and have any underlying psychiatric issues addressed. All of these things increase the chances that your loved one will get and stay sober.
At My Time Recovery, we have experience helping Adderall addicts detox and learn the tools they need to maintain sobriety and recovery. Contact one of our addiction professionals for help deciding how to proceed with your loved one.
