What to Know About Adderall Addiction

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSignsRisk FactorsAdderall Addiction vs. Adderall DependencyEffectsTreatmentHow to Help Someone

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Signs

Risk Factors

Adderall Addiction vs. Adderall Dependency

Effects

Treatment

How to Help Someone

You are even more likely to develop an addiction to Adderall if you take it without a prescription. This is because addiction to Adderall takes time to develop. It typically begins with taking small prescriptions to get through certain tasks or activities.

This article discusses the signs of Adderall addiction, risk factors, its effect, and treatment. It also explains how you can help someone who is dealing with an addiction to Adderall.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Signs of Adderall Addiction

Some of the most common signs of an addiction to Adderall include:

Adderall Side Effects in Men

Students, athletes, young professionals with demanding jobs, and people with eating disorders are the most common groups to develop an Adderall addiction.

Research shows that Adderall abuse is particularly prevalent on college campuses. Students abuse the medication hoping that it can improve their concentration and help them get better grades.

Substance Use vs. Substance Abuse: What Are the Differences?

People often conflate Adderall addiction with Adderall dependency. However, most people with an Adderall addiction might develop it from illegally obtaining the drug. On the other hand, Adderall dependency most often occurs in those who have been prescribed the medication.

A dependency on Adderall can be expected when the medication is prescribed long-term to a person. A person with an Adderall dependency doesn’t abuse the medication or take unnatural quantities to stimulate a “high.”

A person with a dependency might be weaned off the medication, while a person with an addiction to Adderall needs addiction treatment. Additionally, a person with an addiction will typically go through extreme measures to get this medication.

Effects of Adderall Addiction

The effects of Adderall addiction can be very damaging, especially long-term, without treatment. In addition, a person abusing this medication could potentially develop serious health problems and, in some cases, might evensuffer from an overdose.

People who have been addicted to Adderall for a long time might experience some of the following effects:

In severe cases, Adderall abuse could cause symptoms like delusions and damage to the heart. Trying to quit an Adderall addiction on your own could also triggerwithdrawal symptomswhich often mirror the effects of abusing the drug.

This is why it’s advisable to seek immediate treatment if you suspect you or someone has an addiction to Adderall.

If you or someone you love is experiencing Adderall addiction, it’s important to seek help. It’s challenging for a person with an addiction to this medication to quit on their own. However, there are treatment centers that specialize in treating addiction. Treatment options include enrolling in an outpatient program or an inpatient rehab center.

An outpatient program allows the person seeking treatment to be at home with their friends and family.

At an inpatient rehab center, you’ll be required to stay within the premises of the facility until you are declared fit enough to go home. Several people prefer this option as it is sometimes more effective in eliminating factors that could lead to a relapse.

A type of behavioral therapy known as the Matrix Model has been found to be very effective for treating Adderall addiction. The Matrix Model makes use of family and individual therapy sessions, frequent drug testing, and drug education to help a person with a stimulant addiction kick the condition.

What to Expect From Drug and Alcohol Rehab Programs

How to Help Someone With an Adderall Addiction

If you’ve noticed a friend, relative, or close loved one exhibiting signs of an addiction to Adderall or to any other type of stimulant medication,they need your help.

The first step to helping them overcome their addiction is seeking professional treatment for their condition. It’s most important for you to continue to support them throughout the treatment and recovery process.

You can join them in attending support group meetings for people addicted to Adderall or help them work through their treatment plans.

An Adderall addiction can be particularly challenging on the loved ones of the person with the addiction. So, seeking help from a therapist to navigate the difficult emotions that could arise is advisable.

In case of a relapse, it’s important to remember not to give up hope and guide your friend or loved one through the treatment process again.

A Word From Verywell

If you or someone you know is displaying signs of an addiction to Adderall it’s important to seek help immediately. Trying to treat addiction on your own can be difficult and the withdrawal symptoms often mirror signs of the addiction itself.

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Food and Drug Administration.Adderall. March 2007.United States Drug Enforcement Administration.Drug SchedulingSussman S, Pentz MA, Spruijt-Metz D, Miller T.Misuse of “study drugs:” prevalence, consequences, and implications for policy.Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy. 2006;1(1):15. https://dx.doi.org/10.1186%2F1747-597X-1-15National Institute on Drug Abuse.The matrix model(Stimulants). January 2018.

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Food and Drug Administration.Adderall. March 2007.United States Drug Enforcement Administration.Drug SchedulingSussman S, Pentz MA, Spruijt-Metz D, Miller T.Misuse of “study drugs:” prevalence, consequences, and implications for policy.Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy. 2006;1(1):15. https://dx.doi.org/10.1186%2F1747-597X-1-15National Institute on Drug Abuse.The matrix model(Stimulants). January 2018.

Food and Drug Administration.Adderall. March 2007.United States Drug Enforcement Administration.Drug SchedulingSussman S, Pentz MA, Spruijt-Metz D, Miller T.Misuse of “study drugs:” prevalence, consequences, and implications for policy.Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy. 2006;1(1):15. https://dx.doi.org/10.1186%2F1747-597X-1-15National Institute on Drug Abuse.The matrix model(Stimulants). January 2018.

Food and Drug Administration.Adderall. March 2007.

United States Drug Enforcement Administration.Drug Scheduling

Sussman S, Pentz MA, Spruijt-Metz D, Miller T.Misuse of “study drugs:” prevalence, consequences, and implications for policy.Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy. 2006;1(1):15. https://dx.doi.org/10.1186%2F1747-597X-1-15

National Institute on Drug Abuse.The matrix model(Stimulants). January 2018.

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Signs of Adderall Addiction#

Effects of Adderall Addiction#

How to Help Someone With an Adderall Addiction#

A Word From Verywell#

Signs of Adderall Addiction

Effects of Adderall Addiction

How to Help Someone With an Adderall Addiction

A Word From Verywell