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adderall facts

Adderall Addiction Facts and Statistics Everyone Should Know

Adderall is one of those drugs that through extensive prescriptions and a little bit of media presence became normal. Most people start taking Adderall by the time they reach senior year in high-school and on occasions parents are the ones that introduce them to the drug through their doctors. However, the abuse of this drug is breaking havoc among the young adult population. Let’s explore some Adderall addiction facts to understand how this drug is even replacing coffee at some workspaces. 

What is Adderall?

Adderall is a prescription stimulant medication under the category of stimulants. It operates similar to other addictive drugs like meth. Adderall increases dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the central nervous system. Doctors prescribe Adderall to treat symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. However, some people fake symptoms to get prescription medication. 

The effects of Adderall are so strong and effective that people without ADHD use it to increase productivity on a stressful day at work or to power through studying sessions during college. However, people take these pills even when they’re not experiencing symptoms. Some people even use it instead of other daily stimulants, like coffee. 

5 Interesting Adderall Addiction Facts You Should Know

Since Adderall is such an important factor in college life and even corporate life, there’s a lot of information about the drug. Unfortunately, when it comes to Adderall addiction facts, the truth is that numbers keep increasing significantly. The more we understand why these numbers keep increasing, the better we’ll be able to help those struggling with drug abuse. 

1. Adderall Dependency is Normal

Due to our body’s physical response to the drug, Adderall dependence is natural. People develop a physical dependence because of how the drug interacts in the body. At this point, most people feel they need the drug to tamper their symptoms. However, they don’t struggle with a psychological dependency on which they crave the drug. 

When we talk about Adderall addiction, this happens when individuals start showing specific addictive behaviors. When someone can’t cope without the drug and will do anything to obtain more of the medication, they’re hindering addiction. These individuals run out of their prescriptions faster, tend to go doctor shopping, and even experience withdrawal symptoms when they don’t take their daily dose. At this point, cravings and obsessive thoughts about Adderall are common. 

2. A Specific Demographic Abuses Adderall

Unlike other drugs that affect people of various walks of life, Adderall seems to be popular among a specific group. Mostly students, young professionals, and athletes are the ones that abuse the drug the most. Trying to maintain high-performance levels, focus, and countering fatigue are all important things for these groups. Adderall can help them conquer this effectively. 

Another group that’s also at high risk is people struggling with eating disorders. Since Adderall also works as an appetite suppressing drug, those with an eating disorder might abuse the drug to sustain their mental health illness. In this case, people should check into treatment facilities that offer dual diagnosis programs to treat both illnesses simultaneously. 

3. Mixing Drugs with Adderall is Normal But Dangerous

Combining Adderall with other drugs and substances is so common that at many college areas you’ll easily find “Adderall cocktails” at most parties. People combine Adderall to enhance their effects. Some even try to take relaxing drugs or substances when Adderall is preventing them from sleeping. The most common drugs people combine with Adderall are cocaine, alcohol, and marijuana. 

Not only do these combinations make people more prone to abuse these other drugs in the future. But it also places a higher risk of alcohol poisoning or intoxication, which can have fatal consequences. 

4. Adderall Tablets Are Not Tamper-Proof

Today, many addictive drugs are available in tamper-proof presentations to help lower the number of people misusing the pills. However, Adderall, which is available in tablet and capsule form is not. To maximize the effects, abusers crush and snort this stimulant. Some people even dilute it and use a syringe to inject it. With Adderall being so easy to access, not having tamper-proof pills only makes the problem worse. 

5. Quitting Adderall Alone is Dangerous

Similar to other drugs, quitting Adderall abruptly can be dangerous. When people stop taking it without supervision they can experience a “crash” that triggers other problems. Long-term Adderall abusers can suffer major health hazards and produce symptoms of Adderall withdrawal side effects like mood swings and chronic fatigue. Adderall withdrawal symptoms can lead to paranoia, depression, and even schizophrenia-like symptoms.

Adderall Addiction Statistics

There’s no doubt that Adderall addiction is a major problem among younger users. Most Adderall addiction statistics prove that high-school and college students, alongside young professionals, are amongst the most vulnerable. 

  • In 2010, there were 18 million Adderall prescriptions in circulation. 
  • Since 2000, the FDA has issued a citation to every major ADHD pharmaceutical company, including the makers of Adderall for false and misleading advertising.
  • Only 2 percent of undergraduate college students considered using Adderall to be “very dangerous.”
  • Between 2007 and 2012, the number of adults with ADHD prescriptions tripled.
  • In 2012, over 116,000 people were admitted to rehab for an addiction to amphetamines like Adderall.
  • Full-time college students are twice as likely to abuse Adderall than their peers who aren’t in college.

Treatment Options for Adderall Addiction

While Adderall is incredibly addictive, those who are willing to break the addiction cycle can seek treatment. Because cutting cold-turkey can be incredibly dangerous, it’s best to start with a partial hospitalization program (PHP) and a detox process to prevent severe withdrawal symptoms such as paranoia. It’s paramount that people find an addiction center to treat their abuse.

Speaking with an addiction treatment specialist as soon as possible is the best way to start seeking help for addiction. At Lighthouse Recovery Institute, our drug addiction recovery programs include:

  • Medical Detox: In this clinically supervised detox process at treatment centers, we ensure the patient’s safety and make the withdrawal phase as comfortable as possible by minimizing withdrawal symptoms and using medication-assisted treatment services to guarantee a complete detoxification process. 
  • Dual Diagnosis Treatment: Since many long-term addicts often struggle with mental health disorders, a dual diagnosis program can get them the help needed to treat both conditions simultaneously. 
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Most of the time, these sorts of addictions develop due to compulsive behaviors that must be treated at the source, with CBT being one of the most popular evidence-based treatments to treat addiction. 
  • Intensive Outpatient Treatment Programs: When patients are looking to seek addiction treatment while maintaining daily obligations like work, school, or caregiving, IOPs are a more flexible option that still gives people access to the help they need. 
  • Long-term Recovery Programs: With long-term recovery assistance, patients can have the ongoing support they need to maintain long-lasting sobriety. Recovery programs are crucial to relapse prevention. 

Get Help Today

If you or someone you love is addicted to Adderall or other stimulant medications, seek help immediately. Contact Lighthouse Recovery Institute today and speak with our addiction specialists to learn more about our comprehensive and personalized addiction treatment programs.

We believe in treating each patient in a case-by-case scenario because no two addiction stories are alike. Start walking towards your recovery, and we’ll be here supporting you and your family every step of the way. Please don’t wait another day to start addiction treatment, primarily when your life depends on it. 

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