On the street, you can buy study drugs. These are the prescriptions doctors typically give for ADHD. They include Adderall, Concerta, and Ritalin. If one of these drugs has you hooked, here’s what you need to know.
Who Uses Study Drugs?
Students in high school or college are at high risk. They look to study drugs as ways to improve academic performance. These medications act as stimulants. They can help you pull all-nighters and not stop for food.
You might make the excuse that it’s only for this one exam. Then there’s the next one. Maybe you like that the drug’s helping you to lose weight. Also, you seem to have boundless energy.
Dangers of Stimulant Drug Abuse
However, when you use ADHD medications without an actual need, you put yourself at risk for developing an addiction. There are also physical risks. Misuse of stimulants can result in heart problems and other organ failures. Since you won’t have the medical checkups that people with the condition undergo, you won’t know how your health suffers.
When your body gets used to the dose, you might increase it. This can lead to severe psychological problems. For example, you may suffer from paranoia, impulsivity, and anger. In severe cases, people may act out on these feelings and experience arrest as well as other legal problems.
A False Sense of Security
You may think that study drugs are safe. After all, doctors prescribe them. But the off-label use of the medications isn’t safe at all. These drugs can affect your emotions and thinking processes.
You may suddenly develop anxiety and suffer from panic attacks. Some people have a difficult time organizing their thoughts. They feel as if they’re wading through molasses when trying to think straight.
Quitting the Habit
Overcoming a dependency of Adderall and similar ADHD medications is a lot like overcoming an amphetamine addiction. You stop taking the drug. Suddenly, you feel exhausted. Fatigue can last for days.
Your moods seem to be on a rollercoaster. There are bouts of depression. You get hungry, which can result in binge eating. If you quit using without medical supervision, you might be gaining weight, which could then lead to deeper depression.
Rehab plays a vital role in a healthy end to a study drug addiction. Examples of treatments include:
- Individual therapy, which helps you to understand why you reached for the drug in the first place
- Family therapy, which benefits program participants with loved ones in their support networks
- Group therapy that introduces you to others in recovery, who are also dealing with similar struggles
- Life skills rehab to help you live independently after discharge
- Holistic rehab that assists you with handling stress in healthy ways
If you’re taking study drugs in an off-label way, it’s time to quit. Get help and do it the right way. At Crestview Recovery, caring therapists want to assist. Call 866.262.0531 today to talk to a counselor.
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.
