How to Cope With an Adderall Addiction

Adderall is a prescription stimulant often prescribed to alleviate the inattention and impulsivity associated with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is also used in narcolepsy, which is an illness characterized by uncontrollable fits of sleep. Because Adderall is comprised of the stimulants dextroamphetamine and amphetamine, it can create weight loss and more energy when abused. There are many health and legal risks associated with abusing prescription stimulants such as Adderall, but there are ways to cope with and even recover from an addiction.

Instructions

• 1

  Realize that you could die from an Adderall addiction. Heart attacks, dangerous spikes in body temperature and stroke can result from taking too much of the stimulant. Crushing, snorting and injecting the drug makes the death risk even higher.

• 2

  Ask someone for help--whether it be a family member, friend, employer, professor, doctor, therapist or other responsible individual. Do not be ashamed, even if you bought the drugs illegally. Breaking the silence is a key to ending any drug addiction. While there are no medications to help someone quit abusing Adderall, there are support resources available.

• 3

  Attend meetings of groups such as Narcotics Anonymous or SMART Recovery to learn more about coping with Adderall addiction. These meetings are free, do not require membership in a specific religion and are confidential.

• 4

  Enter inpatient drug treatment if you are unable to cope with Adderall addiction without extensive help. You can find programs through the federal government website Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator, your doctor, college, church, employer, a local health clinic or social-service agencies.

• 5

  Visit a therapist regularly if you do not already have one. The Mayo Clinic recommends individual psychotherapy as a key to coping with drug addiction.

• 6

  Ask your doctor or other health-care professional about getting a thorough psychiatric evaluation. Those in inpatient-drug treatment programs usually receive one. If you are coping with an Adderall addiction without hospitalization, be sure that any untreated mental illnesses are uncovered. Depression is a major factor leading to all kinds of drug abuse. If you are prescribed antidepressants, be sure to take them regularly to receive maximum benefit.