Adderall use is at an all-time high in the United States. For many, this use is legal and prescribed by a physician. Taken responsibly, Adderall can help individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to concentrate, focus, and lead more productive lives. However, the issue for adolescents and Adderall is that many of them are not prescribed the drug. When they do have a prescription, they are often not taking it responsibly. The ultimate issue is that many people are unaware of the dangers of Adderall for adolescents.
What Exactly Is Adderall?
In very simple terms, the best way to define Adderall is that it is a prescription stimulant. Understandably, those two words together can seem slightly paradoxical. After all, “stimulants” are always considered substances that have a high likelihood of abuse. However, the concept of “prescription” medicine connotates “safe” for many people. The truth is that yes, Adderall is safe and effective if prescribed and used responsibly. However, Adderall is classified as a Schedule II drug for a reason. There is still a high likelihood of abuse.
Stimulants like Adderall can be defined quite concretely in a clinical sense. However, in common use, these stimulants are being discussed in a skewed manner. According to the medical journal Brain and Behavior:
“Indeed, many consider stimulants – whether obtained by prescription or illicitly – a convenient option to improve performance or to induce euphoria (get ‘high’). Major daily newspapers such as The New York Times have reported a trend toward the growing use of prescription stimulants, commonly called ‘smart pills,’ by high school and college students for enhancing school or work performance. Unfortunately, media reports appear to condone this behavior as 95% of articles mentioned at least one possible benefit of using a prescription stimulant for neuroenhancement, but only 58% mentioned any risks/side effects.”
Mixed Messages With Dire Consequences
How are we to expect teenagers to use stimulants responsibly if they are hearing about the benefits of Adderall without also hearing about the dangers? Sadly, the answer is that we can’t. Instead, we should expect exactly what is happening. According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), there has been an estimated “17.8% of high school students [taking] a prescription drug without a doctor’s prescription…once or more in the past year.” As we can see, the dangers of Adderall must be presented because they are real and they are potentially deadly.
What Are the Dangers of Adderall?
Referencing back to the journal Brain and Behavior, “Stimulant misuse is often predicted on individuals’ misconceptions or simple lack of knowledge of associated risks.” This is why presenting and knowing the dangers of Adderall use is so critical. The following are just a few of the dangers that non-prescribed Adderall use can have:
- Adderall abuse can cause problems with sleep patterns. Specifically, it can cause severe insomnia.
- It can cause regular gastrointestinal problems, including nausea, vomiting, cramping, and constipation.
- Adderall abuse can lead to feelings of nervousness and paranoia (even psychosis).
- It can lead to extreme feelings of anxiety and in turn associated depression.
- Because Adderall is addictive, it can lead to both physical and psychological feelings of withdrawal.
- Individuals who abuse Adderall are much more likely to become codependent on other substances like alcohol or other illicit drugs.
What Are the Specific Dangers of Adderall for Adolescents?
Adderall abuse also poses a quite specific danger to adolescents. This is because the human brain is not fully developed until the mid-to-late 20s.
According to the journal Clinical EEG and Neuroscience, “Substance use during adolescence has been associated with alterations in brain structure, function, and neurocognition.” Adderall abuse can quite literally change the way a child’s brain develops. This makes it all the more critical to know the warning signs of Adderall abuse. Doing so can help you get help before these long-term developmental side effects take place.
What Are the Warning Signs of Adderall Abuse?
The following are a few of the warning signs to look out for if Adderall abuse is suspected:
- An individual appears more jittery and nervous than usual.
- They have trouble stopping their hands and legs from trembling and shaking.
- An individual’s pupils may become dilated and they may struggle with regular “dry mouth.”
- They may begin to act paranoid regarding certain people, places, and institutions.
- For adolescents, it is not uncommon for a decline in academic achievement to occur.
- They may exhibit signs of withdrawal, such as headaches and lethargy, when they are without the substance.
The Recovery Mission at Clearview
The students who come into our care struggling with Adderall addiction often feel like they have nowhere to turn. They often feel like they are less than capable without the substance making them “whole.” We make sure they know that between God, their parents, and us, they always have someone they can turn to and rely on. Additionally, we remind them that they are much stronger than they know. They don’t need Adderall or any other substance to make them great, because they already are.
Whether it be issues of mental health, addiction, or both, our mission at Clearview remains the same. That mission is to help our students recover at all costs and to shape the future leaders of tomorrow.
Adderall is a prescription stimulant that is currently being widely abused among teenage populations. While there are many reasons for this, one primary reason is that these drugs are often readily available. Another reason is that currently, Adderall is being glorified and its dangers are being minimized by the media. This is unfortunate because Adderall can be incredibly dangerous as well as highly addictive. This is why being able to spot some of the early warning signs of Adderall abuse and knowing where to seek treatment can be so critical. If you think your daughter needs help, please reach out today. For more information on Adderall addiction and how to treat it, call Clearview at 866-584-4788.
