Physical Signs of Adderall Addiction

Not sure whether you’re addicted to Adderall? Here are the physical signs of Adderall Addiction.

Adderall is the brand name for a medication that contains amphetamine and dextroamphetamine salts and is prescribed for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. A central nervous system stimulant, Adderall increases alertness and focus in people with ADHD. Adderall has a high potential for abuse and addiction. If you’ve been using Adderall in a way other than as prescribed by your physician, you may be addicted. Knowing the physical signs of Adderall addiction can help you decide whether you need help ending an addiction to Adderall.

Abuse, Addiction, and Dependence

Drug abuse, addiction, and dependence are not the same thing, and understanding the differences between them can help you determine whether you’re addicted.

Adderall abuse is the act of using Adderall in a way other than as prescribed. If you take more Adderall than you’ve been prescribed, use someone else’s Adderall, or use Adderall in a way that causes problems in your life, it’s considered abuse. Adderall abuse isn’t the same as addiction, but it can lead to addiction.

Adderall addiction is characterized by the inability to stop using Adderall even though it’s causing problems in your life. Addiction is the result of changes in the brain’s physical structures and chemical functions that leads to compulsive behaviors and unhealthy ways of thinking that perpetuate the abuse. People who are addicted to Adderall almost always need Adderall addiction treatment to end the addiction for the long-term.

Adderall dependence is characterized by withdrawal symptoms that occur when you stop using Adderall cold-turkey. Like addiction, dependence is the result of brain changes that occur with heavy Adderall abuse. When you abuse Adderall, your brain changes its chemical operation in order to compensate. This leads to tolerance, which means that you need increasingly larger doses of Adderall to get the desired effects. But as you use more, your brain continues to change, and at some point, it may begin to operate more comfortably when Adderall is present than when it’s not. Then, when you stop using, normal brain function returns, and this causes physical withdrawal symptoms, including agitation, anxiety, insomnia, nightmares, fatigue, and deep depression. Tolerance and withdrawal are the two major indicators that dependence has developed.

Physical Signs of Adderall Addiction

The most important of the physical signs of Adderall addiction is the inability to stop using Adderall even though you want to or have tried to quit. Addiction causes compulsive drug use despite the negative consequences of using, which often include relationship and legal troubles as well as financial problems and physical and mental health issues.

Other physical signs of Adderall addiction include:

• Using more Adderall than you intended or for a longer period of time than you planned on.
• Intense cravings for Adderall.
• Engaging in risky behaviors to obtain Adderall or while under the influence.
• Spending a lot of time obtaining, using, and recovering from using Adderall.
• Wanting to cut down or quit but finding that you can’t.
• Neglecting duties at home, work, or school due to Adderall use.
• Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed.

If you think you may be addicted to Adderall–or on your way to becoming addicted–treatment can help you end the addiction once and for all.

Adderall Addiction Treatment is Essential for Successful Recovery

The National Institute on Drug Abuse stresses that once an addiction has developed, willpower is not enough to end it for the long-term. Professional help is almost always needed. That’s because addiction leads to dysfunctional thought and behavior patterns that must be modified in order to successfully recover. Additionally, addiction almost always has underlying causes that must be addressed, which often include chronic stress, a history of trauma, or a co-occurring mental illness.

Adderall addiction treatment through a high quality treatment program involves a variety of traditional and complementary therapies that help individuals learn to think and behave in healthier ways, address the underlying causes of the addiction, develop essential coping skills, and find purpose and meaning in a life without Adderall.

If you or someone you love is addicted to Adderall, WhiteSands Treatment offers a holistic program that can help you end the addiction for good, restore your life on many fronts, and enjoy a higher quality of life and wellbeing for the long-haul.

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.