Adderall is a prescription stimulant that contains different types of amphetamines. It is used primarily to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in people of all ages. Despite its stimulating effects on the central nervous system, it actually helps those who have ADHD calm down and become more focused. The drug may also be prescribed as an antidote for narcolepsy, which can cause severe drowsiness and sudden and unwanted sleep.
While it has legitimate uses, Adderall is often obtained illicitly and taken for its stimulating effects by those who have no medical condition. Adderall is often used in this way by high school and college students who use it to improve their stamina, alertness, and concentration while preparing for exams or finishing difficult assignments. It is also sometimes taken by athletes looking for a boost in performance, or by men and women trying to counteract job-related stress or fatigue.
This pattern of irresponsible use is a recipe for disaster. The use of Adderall for non-medical purposes has been linked to many cases of addiction, and when Adderall dependency develops, treatment will be needed to halt the disturbing progression of this serious medical condition.
If a person who has become dependent on Adderall suddenly stops taking the drug or starts using less of the drug, it can result in Adderall withdrawal. Going through withdrawal is an extremely unpleasant experience that causes many people to relapse in order to relieve the discomfort. Everyone’s withdrawal experience and duration are different and depend on a number of factors. Adderall withdrawal can also cause or exacerbate serious psychological or physical conditions.
Alta Mira’s Adderall addiction treatment program can provide the best support, care, and resources to maintain long-term recovery.
Adderall use can quickly lead to tolerance and dependence. When Adderall is consumed, the pleasure center in the brain releases a chemical called dopamine, which creates feelings of pleasure. Repeated Adderall use causes the brain to adjust to these high levels of dopamine, and the brain eventually stops producing dopamine on its own.
When dopamine production slows or stops, the user begins to feel sad or depressed without the drug. Eventually, someone who is abusing Adderall may require more of the drug to achieve the original pleasurable effects. This is referred to as tolerance. Tolerance of the drug leads to greater and more frequent use, which can quickly spiral into dependence and addiction.
Residential rehab and behavioral therapies have been shown to be the most effective treatment option for addiction to Adderall and other prescription stimulants.
One of the most important goals of our Adderall addiction treatment program is to prepare clients for life after residential care. When clients leave treatment they have to face a lot of distractions, temptations, and triggers while trying to stay sober. At Alta Mira, clients learn many things that will help them later, such as trigger avoidance, relapse prevention, healthy coping strategies, and stress-relief techniques. Highlights of our Adderall rehab include:
A common misconception is that prescription medications are safe to use (or even misuse) because they come from a doctor. However, prescription medications can be just as harmful as illicit drugs.
Signs and side effects of Adderall addiction include:
Over time, continued Adderall use can develop into Adderall addiction. Prolonged Adderall misuse or consuming Adderall in large quantities can cause:
Getting help for an Adderall dependency is a big decision. But it is an important and potentially life-transforming move for anyone who has tried to manage addiction on their own and failed. Alta Mira is staffed by caring professionals with experience helping people make long-term changes in their behaviors.
Reaching out to loved ones and professionals who understand Adderall addiction should be your next move. It’s frightening to think about going through withdrawal, but our medically supervised detox can help you manage the symptoms of withdrawal. As you stabilize during our 30 Day Detox, Stabilization, and Assessment period, you will physically and mentally be preparing yourself for the next phase of your recovery transformation.
Prescription medications like Adderall can produce fierce drug dependency when they’re used exclusively for their mind-altering effects. If someone you love has been taking Adderall to help them stay alert and awake while studying or working, or just to get high, you need to educate them about the grave risks associated with the abuse of this drug.
Adderall addiction is just as hazardous and potentially as deadly as any other type of drug dependency. If your loved one’s misuse of it has morphed into addiction, it will have profoundly negative effects on their life that will become increasingly apparent over time.
If your loved one refuses to seek evaluation and treatment for their Adderall misuse, consider organizing an intervention, in coordination with a trained specialist who understands how an intervention should work.
At Alta Mira, we can help you find a skilled interventionist in your area, and we can answer any questions you have about diagnostic procedures and residential treatment for Adderall addiction. Once you convince your loved one the time has come to seek help, we’ll consult with you and advise you throughout the treatment center admissions process, to make sure your whole family understands what the coming months will entail.
You’ll have the opportunity to contribute directly to your loved one’s recovery from drug addiction as well, through your participation in dynamic family therapy sessions and enrollment in our innovative four-day family program, which focuses on education, relapse prevention, and preparing for life at home after treatment ends.
During your stay at Alta Mira, you’ll have an individualized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. This will include comprehensive services for any co-occurring conditions that might be complicating or supporting your Adderall addiction.
For many, Adderall addiction treatment at Alta Mira will begin with private, medically supervised detox. During this time, our detox specialists will keep you safe and secure, as you rest in the privacy of your own room.
You can also expect:
Following stabilization, clients move on to the next phase of their recovery process at Alta Mira, key elements of our Adderall rehab program include:
We believe individuals are best able to focus on their recovery when immersed in a secure, serene, healing setting. That’s why we provide comfortable surroundings while maintaining the most advanced and sophisticated luxury Adderall rehab program in Northern California. Clients can expect compassionate care from our best-in-class Adderall addiction specialists.
Seeking a helping hand to guide you through these difficult times is not an easy decision. Our caring and experienced team at Alta Mira can help guide you through the next steps toward achieving lasting recovery.
Don’t let Adderall addiction control your life. To begin your life-changing transformation, contact us today.
Overdose is extremely common with extended Adderall abuse. Because a person struggling with Adderall addiction will feel the need to take more and more of the drug over time to experience the same effects, many individuals accidentally take too much of the drug and experience an overdose.
Overdose is also common when someone has stopped taking the drug after building up a tolerance, then resumes abusing the drug at the same level. During the time one abstains from the drug, tolerance levels drop. Resuming Adderall abuse after a period of abstinence can lead to a dangerous overdose.
Signs and symptoms of Adderall overdose include:
If someone who is abusing Adderall abruptly stops taking the drug, he or she will experience Adderall withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms are a sign that you have become addicted to the medication. To get through Adderall withdrawal and achieve recovery from Adderall abuse, it is important to understand the effects of withdrawal and the best Adderall treatment options available.
Withdrawing from Adderall abuse can be an extremely uncomfortable and distressing experience. According to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), withdrawal from stimulants like Adderall occurs when a person stops taking the drug or reduces the amount of the drug he or she is consuming. Withdrawal is a sign of addiction and should be taken very seriously.
In addition, many people who go through detoxification and withdrawal from Adderall and other stimulant drug abuse experience symptoms such as:
Because Adderall is an amphetamine, it has a longer half-life than other stimulants, which means that it remains in the body for a longer period of time. Drug detox from Adderall usually lasts anywhere from six to 36 hours, which is then followed by the acute withdrawal phase. For most stimulants, acute withdrawal lasts one to two weeks. However, stimulants like Adderall affect everyone differently, so everyone’s detoxification period is different.
There are also several factors that will affect an individual’s unique drug detox and addiction treatment process, including:
Relapse prevention is about maximizing one’s strength and minimizing any factors that may threaten sobriety. In order to do that, a relapse prevention plan is necessary. A relapse prevention plan is a list of options or steps one can take if they feel themselves weakening to the possibility of relapse.
Everyone goes through periods of self-doubt or difficult days when they think about using again. A relapse prevention plan is a guide to dealing with those thoughts and feelings in a way that does not derail an individual’s goals and helps them become stronger. An effective relapse prevention plan includes:
Over time, an individual’s relapse prevention plan may change as they meet new people, learn more about themselves, discover new interests, and find new ways to stay strong.
“ Alta Mira was an exceptional experience for me given my dual diagnosis. Over my 3 plus month stay, I was able to gain the insights and the tools to move forward and embrace a healthy life abundant with choice. Thank you, Alta Mira ”
