Adderall Addiction Treatment

Adderall is a prescription stimulant that helps with concentration and alertness. Because it is prescribed for many people for ADHD and narcolepsy, it’s not widely perceived as a “problem” drug like meth or cocaine. However, Adderall is commonly sold on the street and can have harmful effects if it is abused. It’s also highly addictive.

Why is Adderall Addictive?

Adderall increases levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the central nervous system. Norepinephrine increases the brain’s response time to stimuli, which is why it’s used by people who want to have more focus and productivity. Dopamine is responsible for feelings of pleasure, so users of Adderall experience both increased pleasure as well as alertness.

When Adderall is abused, the brain gets accustomed to the increased dopamine and norepinephrine, and without it, the abuser experiences mental fogginess and can no longer feel the same pleasure. This is considered a dependence on the drug, and that dependence becomes an addiction when seeking and using Adderall begins to be a central focus in the person’s life.
Over time, Adderall users develop tolerance to the drug and begin to use more and more. This overuse can lead to complications such as increased heart rate, body temperature, and blood pressure, as well as insomnia and paranoia. Long term effects include cardiovascular disease, malnutrition, psychosis, and depression.

Overdosing on Adderall is also a significant risk and can lead to death.

It’s important to note that high school and college students are among the most vulnerable to Adderall dependence and addiction. They often start using prescribed Adderall to increase their school performance, but over time, they use more than prescribed and begin to seek the drug from illegal sources.

How is Adderall Addiction Treated?

When Adderall abuse is stopped, withdrawal symptoms occur, so medically supervised detox is the first step in Adderall addiction treatment.

Withdrawal symptoms include:

• Depression and/or anxiety
• Fatigue
• Nightmares
• Irritability
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Increased appetite
• Difficulty concentrating
• Achiness
• Suicidal thoughts

These symptoms generally last about two weeks.

After detox, which should be done in an inpatient setting, inpatient treatment should continue and is followed by outpatient treatment which includes a partial hospitalization program (PHP) and an intensive outpatient program (IOP). All of these programs include both individual and group therapy.

Once the programs are completed, ongoing regular therapy is recommended, as well as involvement in support groups and peer support programs.

What are the Most Effective Treatment Approaches for Adderall Addiction?

Several types of therapies have shown success in treating Adderall addiction.

Medically supervised detox

During the detox phase of inpatient Adderall addiction treatment, patients are medically supervised to watch for complications from withdrawal and kept as comfortable as possible. Generally, they will be put on a tapering schedule, where their Adderall doses are decreased over time. This can help to ease withdrawal symptoms and keep the patient safe.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) involves learning to manage thoughts and emotions. Adderall addicts generally have thoughts that are not healthy, like “I need Adderall to study. I can’t pass without it.” In CBT, the patient learns how to recognize these thoughts and reason through them. This might involve facing all the life problems that they’ve experienced due to Adderall abuse.

CBT also involves learning coping skills. For example, the patient can learn to use other methods to focus such as distraction removal, deep breathing, or breaking down large tasks into smaller tasks. They will also learn relapse prevention strategies, like recognizing and avoiding triggers that can lead to drug cravings.

Contingency management

Contingency management involves positive reinforcement for meeting addiction recovery goals. The patient receives some kind of reward for being abstinent for a certain amount of time, or for having a clean drug test.

Family therapy

Family therapy is also an important tool, particularly for younger Adderall abusers. Family members learn better ways to communicate and to understand how to support the addicted person during the recovery process.

Coexisting disorder treatment

Many people who become addicted to Adderall have a coexisting mental health disorder such as depression or anxiety, so it’s important to address those issues. Treatment may involve CBT and other ongoing therapy, or treatment with medications such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications. This treatment generally starts in the inpatient program once the disorder is recognized and will continue throughout the other treatment phases and for the long term.

Bridges of Hope Can Help

At Bridges of Hope, we offer several options for Adderall addiction treatment, as well as long-term support during recovery. You’ll experience treatment in a comfortable and safe setting and receive compassionate support and care. Give us a call today to discuss treatment options. You’ll be taking the first step on a journey to a healthier, more fulfilling life.