The Most Effective Ways to Help Someone With an Adderall Addiction
Key takeaways:
Adderall is a safe and effective prescription medication. It is often used to treat symptoms of ADHD and narcolepsy.
People who misuse Adderall are at risk of developing an addiction. Learning the signs and symptoms of Adderall misuse and addiction can give you valuable information to help a loved one.
Finding the best time to talk, staying calm, and expressing yourself clearly are effective ways to help someone with Adderall addiction.
Adderall is an effective and valuable prescription medication. In some situations, though, it can lead to misuse and addiction.
You can help your loved one by learning more about the signs of Adderall addiction and treatment below.
How can you help someone with an Adderall addiction?
If a loved one is dealing with mental health issues and addiction, you need to respond in the appropriate way. Your response should recognize and address your needs and theirs. And while you may want to support them, you also must care for yourself.
At the beginning, you may hesitate to speak to your loved one. You may worry that:
It’s not your place to get involved in their business
They will get mad at you
They will reject your attempt
Do not let these thoughts sway you. Drug addiction is dangerous and a leading cause of death. Your action may seem difficult. But it is likely the best thing to do.
How can I talk to someone about their Adderall addiction?
There is no perfect way to talk to a loved one about their substance use or addiction. But the following tips can help improve your chances of success:
Be calm. Have the conversation when the person is attentive and sober. Interactions when either of you are angry, tired, or distracted could only make the situation worse.
Be clear. Describe your concerns about their substance use and how it is affecting your life and theirs.
Be prepared. Their reactions could range from remorseful to infuriated. Present them with information about local treatment centers or available support groups to help with their recovery.
Be consistent. They may need many conversations to understand the seriousness of their addiction. Be persistent in your communication, even if it means having the same conversation multiple times.
Helping someone with an Adderall addiction is a great goal. Remember that you are not a mental health professional, though. Know when to get the assistance you need.
Addiction is a chronic problem with possible relapses along with the recovery. Professional treatments lower the risks and help maintain healthier outcomes.
What is Adderall used for?
Adderall is a prescription stimulant medication. It is a combination product, which means it is made of two separate active ingredients: dextroamphetamine and amphetamine.
Medical professionals may prescribe Adderall to help manage the symptoms of:
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): ADHD is a condition marked by poor concentration, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The medication is approved for both children and adults.
Narcolepsy: This is a medical condition linked to sudden bouts of falling asleep.
As a stimulant, Adderall speeds up chemical messaging throughout the body and changes levels of chemicals, like norepinephrine and dopamine, in the brain. These changes can cause effects like:
Improved attention
Greater energy
Higher blood pressure
Higher pulse rate
Decreased appetite
How do you get addicted to Adderall?
It is important to always take Adderall exactly as prescribed by a medical professional. Failure to do so could lead to an addiction.
Some ways people can misuse Adderall are taking more than prescribed or taking it without a prescription. Adderall misuse raises the risk of addictions and stimulant use disorders.
The release of dopamine in particular raises the risk of addiction. As people use more Adderall, the substance can release enough dopamine that can lead to a euphoric or “high” feeling.
Who’s most at risk of developing an Adderall addiction?
The people who are most at risk for Adderall addiction are the ones who misuse the medication. People can misuse the medication by:
Taking more of the medication than prescribed
Taking the medication more often than prescribed
Taking the medication to get high
Taking Adderall without a prescription
Mixing the medication with alcohol or other drugs
Adderall misuse occurs anytime you use the medication in ways other than prescribed. Prescription stimulants are normally in a tablet or capsule form. Crushing the medication to snort, smoke, or inject it is clear misuse.
What are the signs of an Adderall addiction?
Adderall addiction may be challenging to identify in another person, especially if they are prescribed the medication. If you think someone you know may be addicted to Adderall, you should track differences in their appearance, mood, and behaviors.
People who misuse Adderall may want to experience a high. Others may misuse Adderall in order to enhance the normal effects of the medication. They may want to:
Have more energy to stay awake
Decrease their appetite to lose weight
Improve their focus
Perform better in physical or athletic competitions
Other common signs of substance misuse include:
Engaging in more risky or dangerous behaviors
Failing to complete responsibilities at home, work, or school
Being more secretive
Sudden and unexpected changes in personality or mood
Changes in friends and hobbies
Weight loss
Regularly taking more medication or running out of their prescription early
If a person is starting to let their whole life revolve around getting, using, and recovering from Adderall, they could have an addiction.
What are the dangers of Adderall misuse?
Mentally, Adderall misuse can lead to significant problems. If someone repeatedly misuses the medication, they could experience:
Extreme anger
High anxiety and panic
Paranoia and other delusional thoughts
Hallucinations that include seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not present
Physically, misusing Adderall can have immediate consequences. The person could experience very high body temperature or severe cardiac issues. In the worst situations, they can have a seizure, heart attack, or overdose.
Someone overdosing on Adderall could experience:
Restlessness
Shakiness
Confusion
Aggression
Fever
Panic
Pain in muscles
Weakness
Faster breathing
Coma and death are also possible effects of Adderall misuse, addiction, and overdose.
How do you treat an addiction to Adderall?
Professional treatments can help manage addictions to prescription stimulants. Therapy options can help a person end their addictions and establish a period of recovery from Adderall and other drugs.
One psychotherapy treatment called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help your loved one change their thinking and actions related to Adderall use. It can also help manage stress and find triggers of use.
Contingency management (CM), sometimes called motivational incentives, is a behavioral plan that rewards people for abstaining from substances and engaging in sober activities. When people use this program, they receive cash or prizes for going to treatment and reaching recovery goals.
Currently, there are no medications available for Adderall addiction.
When should you get medical care for an Adderall addiction?
You or a loved one should get medical care for an Adderall addiction anytime use begins to interfere with your life. Consider getting medical care if your loved one:
Is behind on bills
Has been missing school or work
Seems physically or emotionally unwell
Has frequently changing moods or energy levels
Is angry, isolative, or always running short on their medication
How can you support someone recovering from an Adderall addiction?
To support someone in recovery, do your best to stay consistent and positive. Find appropriate ways to engage in their treatment. Even the act of giving them a ride can show your dedication.
Be sure to remember that addiction is a lifelong process. They will not simply “get over” their addiction. They will need a lifetime of assistance and support.
The bottom line
Adderall addiction is a serious mental health concern that needs attention. Do your best to express your concerns to your loved one. Also, call in the professionals for treatment when needed. Along the way, make sure to care for yourself as well.
Why trust our experts?
References
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2011). Research Report Series: Prescription drug abuse.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). Prescription stimulants DrugFacts.
New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports. (n.d.). Supporting a loved one in recovery.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Resources for families coping with mental and substance use disorders.
Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. (n.d.). Warning signs of drug abuse.
University of Rochester Medical Center. (n.d.). Helping a friend with an addiction.
If you or someone you know struggles with substance use, help is available. Call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 to learn about resources in your area.
