What Are the Signs of Adderall Addiction/Abuse?

There is a fine line between substance abuse and addiction, but abuse is often the precursor for addiction. Spotting the signs of Adderall abuse in yourself or others can be beneficial in heading off a bigger problem.

Purchasing without a prescription: Whether the Adderall is acquired casually from an acquaintance, or ordered directly from an Internet pharmacy that requires no prescription, you are abusing the drug if you obtain it this way.
Faking symptoms to get a prescription: Some physicians will readily prescribe Adderall to healthy patients who present with self-described symptoms of ADHD, which are easy to research for this purpose.
Using for purposes other than those for which it is intended: You’re abusing Adderall if you take it to feel better and more confident, to heighten your capacity to study and take exams, or to lose weight--rather than to control ADHD symptoms that make it difficult to learn, or some other diagnosed medical problem.
Over-use: Even if you have an Adderall prescription, taking more than the prescribed dosage for heightened effect is abuse.

Adderall is abused as:

A study drug. Its nicknames include “college crack” or “cognitive steroid.” Students who take Adderall for studying report that they can concentrate on their books for hours at a time, and can then do better on the subsequent exam than they would without the drug.
A party drug. Adderall contains dextroamphetamine, which creates a feeling of well-being, confidence and enhanced libido, and enables users to go without sleep for extended periods.
A weight-loss drug. Appetite suppression is often a side effect of Adderall and is particularly welcomed by young women looking for an easy way to shed some pounds.

Students’ general acceptance of Adderall abuse contributes to this problem, as does the fact that Adderall and Adderall XR are relatively inexpensive and easy to obtain by purchase from a friend with a prescription, or from online pharmacies.

When Does It Become Adderall Addiction?

Adderall use can slide easily from abuse to addiction because of the way the drug acts on the brain. Like other amphetamines, it stimulates a part of the brain sometimes called the Pleasure Center and causes a release of potent neurotransmitter chemicals. But the same stimulants also prevent the neurotransmitters from being reclaimed and re-used normally by brain cells, so that the user feels the need to take more and more Adderall to re-create or sustain the rush. Some people are at greater risk than others for becoming addicts; risk factors include a family background of alcohol or dug abuse, stressful circumstances that the drug seems to alleviate initially, and individual emotional or personality traits. Signs that an Adderall user has crossed the line between abuse and addiction:

Increasing tolerance to the drug, which makes it necessary to take more Adderall to achieve the same effect;
Snorting, smoking or injecting the drug (rather than taking it orally as indicated) for a “quick fix;”
Dependence on taking Adderall simply to feel normal and cope with everyday situations, to the point where discontinuing the drug seems impossible;
Making access to Adderall a priority ahead of other concerns such as friends or work;
Resorting to theft or other illegal means to get Adderall;
Continuing to abuse the drug in the face of negative consequences and damaging side effects.

Why are Adderall and Adderall XR Abused?

The same properties that make Adderall (and its extended-release formulation, Adderall XR) effective in treating many cases of ADHD have made it a drug of choice for non-ADHD students, who find it appealing for other reasons.

Adderall acts by changing the brain’s chemistry in a way that helps ADHD patients pay attention to the task at hand despite distractions. In non-ADHD users, Adderall produces a surge of focus and energy and an accompanying loss of appetite. Although casual Adderall consumption is regarded as acceptable among students at many schools, use of any prescription drug for a purpose other than its prescribed use, or by a person for whom it hasn’t been prescribed, constitutes abuse.

The Consequences of Adderall Abuse

Misusing or abusing Adderall can cause a range of problems including difficulty sleeping, feelings of hostility, anxiety or paranoia, and a hyper-energetic, aroused state (mania). Some users may experience undesirable or unhealthy weight loss. Especially when snorted, Adderall can cause a potentially dangerous increase in heart rate, body temperature and blood pressure. Caregivers screen ADHD patients to avoid prescribing Adderall to those with conditions (such as bipolar disorder, seizure conditions or possible cardiac issues) that could make the drug dangerous for them. Abusers who take the drug without a prescription don’t have the benefit of such screening. Ironically, although the primary reason for Adderall’s abuse on campus is to enhance academic performance, students in whom the drug causes a manic state may not be able to exercise good judgment about the quality of the papers or exams they produce while influenced by Adderall.

After abusing Adderall, users often experience a “crash” and suffer from exhaustion, nausea, depression or irritation. Some Adderall abusers smoke marijuana as an antidote for these distressing symptoms. After long-term abuse, your body depends on Adderall for normal function and trying to discontinue the drug can result in withdrawal symptoms including panic, suicidal thoughts and nightmares.

Adderall abuse also has potential long-term consequences.

For some people, it increases the likelihood of other addictions (for instance, to methamphetamine) in the future.
Symptoms caused by Adderall abuse (including psychosis such as schizophrenia or paranoia) can persist long after the use of the drug has stopped.

Concern about Adderall abuse and addiction is heightened by the explosion in the number of ADHD diagnoses and the corresponding use of medications to treat them. A University of California/Berkley study co-funded by the National Institute of Mental Health found that spending worldwide on drugs to treat ADHD rose 274 percent between 1993 and 2003, with the United States accounting for 83 percent of the market by the end of that decade.