Adderall Addiction

The demand for prescription medications like Adderall has skyrocketed over the past decade. As a result, there are a lot more medicine cabinets across the country housing these stimulants within easy reach of those looking for their benefits. Prescription sharing has become an overwhelming problem and while people are becoming more educated about the risks involved, it happens on a regular basis. The demand for Adderall prescriptions has also caused an influx of patients who figure out how to manipulate symptoms in order to obtain a prescription for Adderall. It is important to note that not every patient who uses Adderall will develop a dependency or addiction to the drug. The problem stems from manipulation of the dosing in order to increase its desired side effects. Adderall functions much like speed and increases the individual’s ability to concentrate for longer periods of time. Abuse crosses over to dependence once normal functions cease to exist without the drug.

In order to recognize an addiction to Adderall, the changes in an individual’s character and behavior must have escalated to the point where family and friends take notice. These changes can begin to disrupt their lives in ways that become dangerous and risky. Drug-seeking can push Adderall addicts to do things they would never have attempted previously. The inability to function properly without the drug in their system often drives people to desperate measure to gain access to some. For those with full-blown Adderall addiction, the ability to manage the amount of the drug ingested becomes more and more difficult. Family members often begin questioning their loved ones as they become distant and consumed with their own needs.

For most individuals who choose to misuse Adderall, the motivation is not always to cause harm. For some seeking relief from medical conditions, the relief experienced while taking Adderall can often push them to take more than the prescribed amount. There is a misconception that because a drug is prescribed to younger children that it is safer than other drugs. This is false and can lead to many drug-related ailments. In actuality, Adderall is an especially powerful stimulant that causes dangerous and possibly fatal side effects. Adderall abuse can quickly lead to an Adderall overdose. There are other major health risks associated with Adderall abuse. Some of these are cardiac events, strokes and organ failure. Individuals using Adderall in combination with other drugs or alcohol increase their risk of dangerous consequences.

In the year 2005, Canadians halted the distribution of all Adderall XR to its citizens after there were numerous deaths directly contributed to its use. Adderall has been shown to cause noticeable changes within the brains circuit system. This might cause individuals to exhibit unusual behaviors which may contribute to mental illnesses such as depression. There are incidences where patients taking this prescription drug have exhibited higher incidences of suicidal thoughts. Some Adderall abusers have been known to inject the drug, often hoping that they will experience a better high. This is highly risky and has been known to cause death.

The incidents of athletes who have been taking prescription Adderall have suffered strokes or cardiac arrest as a result of fluctuations in blood pressure. All amphetamines are banned from major competitions such as the Olympics due to the risks associated with the drug.