Adderall Abuse Information

Adderall Abuse Statistics

While statistics for the prevalence of Adderall abuse in particular are somewhat lacking, there have been some estimates provided that demonstrate the increasing severity of this substance abuse problem. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that nearly 6.4% of college students, aged 18 to 22, use Adderall for nonmedical purposes. Another population that is cited as frequently abusing Adderall are women between the ages of 20 and 44. In the last ten years alone, the number of women in this age range who use Adderall for recreational purposes has increased by an astonishing 264%. Additionally, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) reports that between 5% and 9% of children through high school age have abused prescribed stimulants, including Adderall.

Causes and Risk Factors for Adderall Abuse

The causes and risk factors that can contribute to the onset of Adderall use disorder are described briefly in the following:

Environmental: The APA notes that the environment that surrounds an individual can play a significant role in affecting his or her susceptibility to beginning to use and abuse stimulants like Adderall. Being surrounded by other individuals who abuse illicit drugs or prescription medications can increase a person’s risk for engaging in the same type of behaviors. Additionally, living in an unstable home environment and/or being exposed to community violence during one’s childhood can also increase an individual’s susceptibility to developing an addiction to stimulants like Adderall.

Risk Factors:

• Suffering from comorbid antisocial personality disorder, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder
• Suffering from childhood conduct disorder
• Being a college student
• Being a female between the ages of 20 and 44
• Exposure to violence during childhood
• Being highly impulsive or having other similar personality traits
• Growing up in an unstable home environment
• Abusing other types of substances
• Ease of access with which one can obtain Adderall
• Being surrounded by others who abuse Adderall or other types of substances
• Working in a highly stressful environment or feeling under immense pressure to succeed academically

Signs and Symptoms of Adderall Abuse

The signs and symptoms that may displayed by someone who is abusing Adderall can vary from person to person, but may include some or all of the following:

Behavioral symptoms:

• Alterations in one’s performance at work or school
• Hypervigilance
• No longer adhering to obligations at home
• Engaging in repetitive movements
• No longer participating in activities that were previously enjoyed
• Change in social interactions
• Rapid speech

Physical symptoms:

• Appetite reduction
• Weight loss
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Muscle weakness
• Dilated pupils
• Elevated or lowered blood pressure
• Seizures
• Insomnia
• Increase in bodily temperature
• Rapid heartbeat

Cognitive symptoms:

• Cravings for more Adderall
• Confusion
• Impaired judgment
• Experiencing the ability to hyperfocus or, alternatively, struggling to focus at all

Psychosocial symptoms:

• Loss of emotional reactivity
• Psychological distress
• Anger
• Anxiety
• Agitation

Effects of Adderall Abuse

Abusing Adderall can produce a number of negative effects in various areas of an individual’s life. Examples of such effects may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Changes in temperament, resulting in a deterioration of close relationships
• Familial or marital discord as a result of no longer taking care of daily responsibilities
• Taking part in dangerous and/or illegal activities in order to illegally obtain Adderall, resulting in possible injury and/or interaction with law enforcement
• Increase in blood pressure
• Malnutrition
• Irregular heartbeat
• Seizures
• Cardiac arrest

Adderall Abuse & Co-Occurring Disorders

When people are struggling with Adderall use disorder or another type of stimulant use disorder, it is not uncommon for them to simultaneously suffer from co-occurring mental health conditions as well. Examples of such conditions may include the following:

• Bipolar disorder
• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Antisocial personality disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Gambling disorder

Effects of Adderall Withdrawal and Overdose

Effects of Adderall withdrawal: If someone has been taking Adderall consistently but then suddenly ceases his or her use, it is likely that a period of withdrawal will ensue. Symptoms and effects of Adderall withdrawal can include the following:

• Occupational impairment
• Social impairment
• Other functional impairments
• Psychomotor agitation
• Dysphoric mood
• Increased appetite
• Vivid, often unpleasant dreams
• Fatigue

Effects of Adderall overdose: If someone takes so much Adderall that his or her body is incapable of metabolizing it, he or she will likely experience an overdose. Should this occur, it is imperative that medical treatment be sought immediately in order to prevent a devastating outcome. Signs that someone may have overdosed on Adderall can include:

• Panicked feelings
• Heart palpitations
• Chest pain
• Irregular breathing
• Hallucinations
• Cramping
• Extreme confusion
• Excessive sweating
• Vomiting
• Hypertension
• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Seizure