Adderall and Ritalin are central nervous system stimulants and have a high potential for abuse. However, they have different chemical structures. Ritalin contains the chemical methylphenidate. Adderall, on the other hand, contains a mix of amphetamine salts. While these drugs contain other ingredients, too, those are the two main ones.
Because of these differences, people don’t respond the same to Adderall and Ritalin. For example, some people are more likely to experience decreased appetite and sleep problems with Adderall. Ritalin users, however, are more likely to experience stomach pain. Once again, these differences are the result of the chemicals with which manufacturers make these drugs.
If you need help from an Adderall addiction treatment program, contact Crestview today at 866.262.0531.
Is One Brand More Addictive Than the Other?
First, it’s important to make clear that both Adderall and Ritalin are extremely addictive drugs. In fact, they’re Schedule II controlled substances. However, some studies suggest that Adderall might have a slightly higher potential for abuse.
Most experts believe that the greater abuse potential comes from the bigger rush that people get from abusing Adderall. Unfortunately, only a few studies can back up these findings. Other experts simply think that the addictive nature of the drug depends on the people who use them. Their age, health, how often they use, the dose that they take, and other factors affect how their bodies react.
So, if you or someone you know is struggling with an Adderall or Ritalin addiction, don’t hesitate to get help. It’s a very serious problem, and it’s not something that you can overcome on your own. There are many resources available to help you, and you should definitely take advantage of them. With the right treatment, you can get your life back on track and avoid the devastating consequences of Adderall or Ritalin abuse.
Detoxing From Adderall and Ritalin
Detoxing from these two drugs is very similar. In both cases, doctors prescribe sleep aids and antidepressants during the process. They also lower the dose in increments instead of taking away the drugs all at once. At Crestview Recovery, we offer the following drug rehabilitation programs for people recovering from Adderall or Ritalin dependency:
- Partial hospitalization: Patients in this program live at home but come to our facility for most of the day. They receive intensive treatment and support during the day, then return home in the evening.
- Intensive outpatient treatment: In this program, patients live at home but come to our facility for several hours each day. This level of care is less intense than partial hospitalization but more intense than traditional outpatient therapy.
- Sober living: Patients in this program live in a sober living house with other people in recovery. They follow a set of rules and guidelines designed to help them maintain sobriety.
With proper medical help, people can manage Adderall and Ritalin withdrawal symptoms. If they take large doses of either drug, they should avoid quitting all at once. Instead, they need to gradually step down to keep withdrawal symptoms in check.
What Is Polysubstance Abuse?
In simple terms, polysubstance use means that you are consuming more than one drug at a time. Users want to feel more of what they feel when they use cocaine or alcohol, for instance. Their appetite is never satisfied. More is more. The idea is to combine drugs that enhance the primary drug’s effect. What people don’t realize – or don’t care about – is that while the combination of these drugs will make the effects greater, polysubstance use can also make the negative effects of the drugs greater.
Dealing With Stress
More than reminders of a patient’s past substance use, it’s stress that is the top cause of relapsing. Some patients struggling with recovery and remaining sober may even turn to substance use as a way to cope with the stress they’re feeling in a maladaptive way. This can happen if their substance use disorder developed because using became their primary coping mechanism.
Mental Health, & Relapse
Stress is not the only negative emotion that can affect a patient. Other feelings like grief or distrust can also be triggers, particularly if the person managed and made sense of those emotions through their substance use in the past.
Let Us Help You Recover From ADHD Medication Abuse
At Crestview Recovery, we help people just like you with Ritalin and Adderall addiction treatment. We don’t worry as much about the debate between Adderall vs. Ritalin. Instead, we focus on getting you the help that you need to overcome either drug. Some different programs that we use include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Outdoor therapy
- Holistic treatment
- Group and individual counseling
- Outpatient treatment
Find out what it takes to stop drug cravings in their tracks. Turn to us to find out why so many people put their trust in us. Call us at 866.262.0531 for more information about how we can help.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
