Stimulant Addiction: Signs and Types of Abuse
Prescription stimulants are legal but still have addictive properties. Oftentimes stimulants like Ritalin are misused by busy, tired, and hardworking parents who find that it helps get them through stressful tired times. Other times stimulants are abused on the streets, like methamphetamine use or using prescription stimulants purchased illegally on the streets.
There are some scary adverse psychological and physical effects from abusing stimulants, some of these symptoms include hostility, paranoia, aggressive behaviors, irregular heartbeat, headache, nausea, social withdrawal, hallucinations, and more. If you or someone you know has been abusing stimulants, it’s important to consider stimulant addiction treatment.
Stimulant addiction rehab centers have the tools and support to lead you into recovery. One of the best things about stimulant addiction treatment is finding support along the way and learning new ways of coping with stressful situations in you daily life.
Why are Stimulants Addictive?
Stimulant drugs can make you feel alert and energized and these effects are often the reasons stimulants become abused. All stimulant drugs effect communication in the brain by raising neurotransmitter levels and the reaction stimulates alertness and awareness more potently than caffeine.
There are high increases of dopamine in the brain when taking stimulant drugs which makes you feel good. Abuse towards these drugs may result in tolerance and withdrawal which creates drug dependency and addiction.
Dangerous long-term effects of stimulant addiction include blood vessel damage, psychosis, and high blood pressure. If you or someone you know has been struggling with stimulant drugs and their affects you may want to consider stimulant addiction treatment.
Stimulant addiction treatment at stimulant addiction rehab centers will provide you with healthy tools to combat your addiction and start the recovery process.
Treatment for Stimulant Abuse and Addiction
When abusing stimulants, your body creates a tolerance for the drug that then creates withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms lead to drug dependency. When considering treatment for stimulant addiction its important to know how long you will need to detox from the drug.
While this depends on the individual, generally withdrawal is not life threatening when under medical supervision and may last between just a few days or a few weeks.
After you’ve completed detox withdrawal from stimulants, it will be time to focus on programs like inpatient treatment, residential treatment, outpatient services, individual counseling for mental health and addiction, and group therapy.
Types of treatment will be based on the severity of your addiction and varies from person to person. Once you’ve completed these steps in your recovery, it will be time to consider sober living facilities to get yourself ready to transition back into normal daily life.
Prescription Stimulants
Prescription stimulant drug examples that are most common are Adderall, Dexedrine, or Ritalin. These drugs are classified as stimulants because they are used to treat disorders like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is stages of uncontrollable episodes of deep sleep.
Stimulants in this form are usually taken by mouth from a tablet or liquid. You may be misusing prescription stimulants if you are taking the drug in a way other than prescribed, are taking someone else’s medication, or taking it only for the effects and the high.
It is very possible for someone to overdose on prescription stimulants. Overdose symptoms look like restlessness, tremors, overactive reflexes, rapid breathing, confusion, aggression, hallucinations, panic states, abnormally high fever, muscle pains, and weakness. If any of these symptoms occur, you should dial 911 immediately.
Psychomotor stimulants are stimulant drugs that stimulate the central nervous system which increases motor activity. Antidepressant stimulant drugs are used to treat and ease depression symptoms.
Mechanisms of Addiction to Stimulants
Why are stimulants so addictive?
More than 50 million individuals have abused stimulant drugs. Individuals abuse these drugs in an attempt to increase energy, focus, and productivity. A very common group of individuals who use these drugs for their energizing effects are students. These drugs are easy to obtain as a student because oftentimes their friends are prescribed to them.
Stimulant drugs are looked at as a safer drug to get high from than cocaine of methamphetamines, but this is not the case. Using and abusing stimulants can lead to stroke, coma, and overdose.
This drug can also make you rapidly lose weight because it decreases your appetite. This may seem appealing but can be very dangerous.
Drug addiction can happen over time or very quickly. Sometimes we don’t even know we are addicted until it is too late. If you have been experiencing any symptoms of drug addiction, consider treatment today.
Side Effects of Stimulant Addiction
How do you know if you have a stimulant addiction disorder? There are common behaviors and symptoms that come from all kinds of stimulant drugs such as:
- Taking more stimulants than intended
- Failing to cut back on stimulants when needed
- Spending excessive amounts of time around stimulant activities
- Experiencing urges and cravings
- Continuing to use even though you know it’s a problem
- Failing to do normal duties like work or school
- Continuing use even though it’s cause relationship problems
- Withdrawing from your work or social life
- Using stimulants when it’s physically hazardous to you
- Tolerance and withdrawal symptoms
Short term side effects of stimulant abuse vary upon how much of the drug you have ingested. Symptoms include increased wakefulness, reduced appetite, accelerated heart rate, vasoconstriction, elevated body temp, hostility, paranoia, psychosis, and violent behavior.
Long term effects with chronic stimulant use are more dangerous and impactful on various parts of the brain and body. There can be permanent brain alterations, increased risk of stroke, heart attack and angina may occur.
Other symptoms may include faster breathing, dry mouth, dilated pupils, decreased fatigue, and blurred vision.
What is the most addictive and dangerous stimulant in use today?
The most addictive and dangerous stimulant in use today is Adderall according to the Addiction Group. Adderall is a prescription medication that is used to treat ADHD. It allows you to stay awake and suppress appetite which can be appealing to young adults or even parents struggling with keeping up with their stressful routines.
Stimulant Addiction Treatment Options
The road to recovery is challenging, but can be done with courage, hard work, and lots of healthy support. Sometimes this means unlearning health behaviors and learning new ones such as not engaging with other drug users or people who could trigger you into relapsing.
The longer you stay in treatment, the less likely it is that you will relapse. Below is a list of some of the best stimulant addiction rehab centers around the United States.
- Haven House: Addiction Treatment & Rehab Center in Los Angeles (havenhouseaddictiontreatment.com)
- Outpatient Detox and Addiction Treatment at Parallax Center-New York City
- Best Drug Rehab Treatment Centers in Forth Worth, TX (fortworthdrugtreatmentcenters.com)
- Rehab Addiction Treatment Center, Temecula Riverside County (hillrecovery.com)
- Our Locations | Belmont Behavioral Health System
Do not hesitate for a moment to reach out to an addiction professional to help start you on your road to recovery. Drug addiction is nothing to be ashamed about and can be treated.
If you or a loved one is seeking information on addiction or mental health resources please call (888) 564-4780.