GoodRx Guide
Stimulant Use Disorder: Your GoodRx Guide
Comprehensive information for you or a loved one — including treatment options and discounts on popular medications.
The basics
Stimulant use disorder is a condition where a person misuses stimulant drugs or medications to the point that it has negative effects on their life. A 2020 national survey found that approximately 3.5 million Americans over age 12 had stimulant use disorder.
Stimulants include illegal drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine (meth), as well as legal prescription amphetamines like Adderall. These substances can be taken orally, snorted, smoked, or injected.
People with stimulant use disorder have difficulty controlling their stimulant use. They may continue to use these substances even though they have negative effects on their health, relationships, and functioning. They may experience legal and financial problems and difficulty finding pleasure in other activities.
Using stimulants can have negative effects on a person’s physical and mental health. Long-term use can lead to:
Nasal and lung damage
Dental problems
Insomnia
Anxiety and depression
Heart problems
Severe itching and skin sores
Paranoia
Psychosis
Like other substance use disorders, stimulant use disorder is treatable with therapy and support.
What is the difference between stimulant use disorder and stimulant addiction?
Stimulant addiction and stimulant use disorder are the same thing. The difference is that “stimulant use disorder” is the official medical diagnosis for addiction, according to the DSM-5. The DSM is a handbook used by healthcare providers to identify and diagnose psychiatric illnesses.
Keep in mind: Stimulant use disorder can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on how many symptoms you have. Sometimes, the term “addiction” is used specifically to indicate a severe stimulant use disorder, rather than a more mild condition.
What causes stimulant use disorder?
Like other substance use disorders, stimulant use disorder is not caused by one specific thing. Instead, there are factors that increase a person’s risk of developing a disorder. These risk factors are divided into biological and environmental factors:
Biological factors include genetics and the brain. Genetics affect about 40% to 60% of a person’s risk. Because drugs and alcohol affect the brain, people who use them at an earlier age are at greater risk of developing an addiction.
Environmental factors include the home environment and peer influences. Growing up in an environment where drugs and alcohol are easily accessible increases a person’s risk.
The more risk factors a person has, the greater their chances of developing an addiction.
How a person uses a substance can also affect risk. Smoking and injecting cause the drugs to reach the brain quickly, which makes them highly addictive. People who use cocaine or meth in this way have a greater chance of becoming addicted.
Which drugs can cause stimulant use disorder?
Stimulants include the following drugs and prescription medications:
Meth
Cocaine
Prescription amphetamines, like Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, and Dexedrine
What conditions are treated with stimulant drugs?
Prescription amphetamines are most often prescribed to treat the following conditions:
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Narcolepsy
Taking prescription amphetamines that are prescribed for you by a doctor isn’t the same as having stimulant use disorder. However, if a person takes stimulant medication without a prescription or misuses their own prescription by taking more than prescribed, then they may have stimulant use disorder.
What are the signs and symptoms of stimulant use disorder?
People with stimulant use disorder can have noticeable symptoms. They might seem anxious, paranoid, and erratic or have odd eating and sleeping patterns.
Symptoms of stimulant use disorder include:
Taking more stimulants than planned
Difficulty controlling use
Failing to keep up with other responsibilities because of stimulant use
Continuing to use stimulants even though they negatively affect a person’s relationships
Spending long amounts of time using stimulants
Cravings
Giving up activities that were once important because of stimulants
Using stimulants in dangerous situations
Continuing to use stimulants even though they negatively affect a person’s physical and mental health
Needing more stimulants to feel the same effects
Withdrawal
When a person stops using stimulants, they may experience withdrawal symptoms like:
Depression
Anxiety
Irritability
Drug cravings
Increased appetite
Sleep problems
Paranoia
Fatigue
Problems concentrating
Suicidal thoughts
How is stimulant use disorder diagnosed?
Diagnosis is the first step in treating stimulant use disorder. Diagnosis involves screening and assessing whether a person is experiencing symptoms of a substance use disorder.
During screening and assessment, a healthcare provider will ask about a person’s substance use, mental health, and background. They do this by asking direct questions and having the person complete self-report measures. They will also assess for any withdrawal symptoms and co-occurring mental health disorders.
The following types of healthcare providers may screen for and diagnose stimulant use disorder:
Physicians
Psychiatrists
Psychologists
Therapists
Addiction counselors
Depending on the provider’s approach, they may also complete a physical exam, bloodwork, and urine toxicology test to help make a diagnosis. Once they have gathered enough information, they will provide a diagnosis and treatment recommendation.
How do you treat stimulant use disorder?
Stimulant use disorder is treated with therapy in either an inpatient or outpatient setting. People with severe cases may require inpatient treatment, where they stay at a facility and attend daily therapy sessions. People with mild cases may benefit from outpatient treatment, where they receive therapy once or more per week.
People with stimulant use disorder don’t usually need medical supervision when they stop using. But they may if they are misusing other substances, like alcohol, too. There are currently no FDA-approved medications to treat this condition.
There are several different types of therapy that are effective for stimulant use disorder:
Contingency management provides rewards for positive behaviors like abstinence.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people change unhealthy thought patterns that lead to substance use.
Motivational interviewing focuses on building motivation to change by exploring the costs of a person’s substance use.
Community reinforcement approach helps people make changes in their lives so that recovery is more rewarding than substance use.
How to help yourself or someone else with stimulant use disorder
What resources are available to help with stimulant use disorder?
If you or someone you know is dealing with stimulant use disorder, help is available:
For assistance finding a treatment provider or program, you can contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). The Helpline operates 24/7 and is available in English and Spanish. This information source can assist you in finding a treatment center, support group, and other community services.
You can also search SAMHSA’s Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator to find a facility in your area.
Support groups can also be beneficial in addition to treatment. These groups are free and run by either a peer in recovery or a trained facilitator. Depending on the group, they may focus on offering social support or tools to aid in recovery. Groups for people recovering from stimulant use disorder include:
Common concerns
No. Stimulant dependence and stimulant addiction are different — though it is possible to have both at the same time.
When you take prescribed stimulant medication over time, your body can develop a physical dependence. This can happen with other prescription medications too. Dependence means your body has learned to rely on the medication to function normally. It also means that you could have side effects (or go through withdrawal) if you stop taking the medication suddenly.
Being physically dependent on your medication does not automatically mean you have stimulant use disorder — especially if you’re only taking the medication as prescribed.
Yes. These two terms can be used interchangeably, though “stimulant use disorder” is the official medical term. Both refer to the same complex mental health condition, where a person is misusing meth to the point that it’s causing significant problems in their life.
If you admit that you have been misusing stimulants, your healthcare provider will evaluate you for stimulant use disorder. They will then talk to you about a treatment plan or refer you to another provider or treatment center that specializes in substance use disorders.
If your healthcare provider was prescribing you stimulant medications for ADHD or narcolepsy, they might work with you to find alternative ways to treat your condition.
More information
Prescription Stimulants DrugFacts | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (nih.gov)
Commonly Used Drugs Charts | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (nih.gov)
If you or someone you know struggles with substance use, help is available. Call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) to learn about resources in your area.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2020). What is a substance use disorder?
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2015). Stimulant and related medications: Use in adults.
Cocaine Anonymous. (n.d.). Cocaine anonymous.
Crystal Meth Anonymous. (n.d.). Crystal meth anonymous.
Narcotics Anonymous. (n.d.). Narcotics anonymous.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). Prescription stimulants DrugFacts.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). The science of drug use and addiction: The basics.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020). Commonly used drugs charts.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020). Drugs, brains, and behavior: The science of addiction.
SMART Recovery. (n.d.). SMART recovery.
Society for the Study of Addiction. (2021). Reading around… Screening and assessment.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). Behavioral health treatment services locator.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2006). TIP 45: Detoxification and substance abuse treatment.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Treatment of stimulant use disorders.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2021). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). SAMHSA’s national helpline.
Tracy, K., et al. (2016). Benefits of peer support groups in the treatment of addiction. Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation.
United States Drug Enforcement Administration. (n.d.). Amphetamines.
Yale Medicine. (n.d.). Stimulant use disorder.