Adderall Addiction
For as long as teenagers have been acting out and kids haven’t been paying attention in class, parents have been looking for a pill, a supplement or any kind of instant cure to help their kids pay attention. While Ritalin was once commonly prescribed, today, it is Adderall. The problem (one of many) with Adderall is the similarities it has to crystal methamphetamines. The drug is extremely addictive and although the “high” isn’t comparable to meth, the way it can change a person’s behavior, often for the better (at least it seems that way by the person addicted and by clueless parents) makes it a difficult addiction to diagnose and treat.
The main difference between Adderall and crystal meth is that Adderall is an amphetamine and meth is a meth-amphetamine. Adderall is significantly more pure than any street drug, but the drug is designed in a way that makes it much easier for your body to break down and absorb. People who use Adderall on a regular basis, and people who are addicted to it, often claim that the drug helps them focus and get things done, often the exact same description used to describe speed. Most people who take the prescribed amount don’t even describe the experience as being “high,” but simply as finally feeling normal. The obvious problem arises when the drug wears off or the prescription runs out and then you no longer have the ability to feel “normal.” Despite the shocking number of people who feed Adderall to their kids, the drug does contain a stigma and is well known on the street as a popular, easy to get and clean high if abused. Many teenagers have learned that if they simply sell their daily pills at school, they can make a fortune.
Unlike so many other drugs, both prescription and street, Adderall is predominantly prescribed to young children and to teenagers. The true impact of this kind of adolescent drug addiction isn’t even known yet since it is possible that an entire generation of children could either be current drug addicts or recovering drug addicts. Most drug experts will tell you that once you have been addicted to one drug, there is an increased likelihood that addiction will resurface later on. It is almost impossible to know what the impact of drug addiction on this kind of scale has on growing bodies since drug addiction has almost exclusively been studied in fully grown adults. The true impact of Adderall addiction likely won’t be known for at least another generation. As for the immediate impact, Adderall addiction can completely change someone’s personality; turn a normal, albeit hyper, child or teenager into a basket case, criminal or both; and/or teach an entire generation of children that if you feel bad, even just a little, the answer is to take drugs. As harmful as prescription drugs can be to an adult, the damage to a child borders on incalculable.
If you are watching your teen or child closely as they use Adderall, you will likely notice the extreme mood swings that come with withdrawal first. Of course, these mood swings are often ignored and chalked up to normal unpredictable teenage behavior. You will also notice increased body aches, pain, nausea, vomiting, and excessive sweating. A person will also begin doing and saying dangerous things to obtain more drugs, such as stealing, lying, and even selling themselves. The severity of Adderall addiction should not be taken lightly and it can completely ruin a person’s life.
The long term consequences of Adderall addiction are directly proportional to the length of the initial addiction (in most cases). The more damage a person manages to do to themselves, their reputation, and their legal standing, the worse the impact of Adderall addiction can be. Even if your addiction period is brief, you must live the rest of your life knowing that you are a recovering drug addict. You should try to avoid any other kind of addictive behavior, from gambling to cigarettes, and you will need to tell every one of your doctors for the rest of your life so conditions in the future can be treated appropriately.
