Adderall Addiction: Effects, Symptoms, and Overdose Prevention

Often called a “study drug,” prescription stimulant medications like Adderall are used to treat attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These medications affect attention span, impulse control, self-discipline, and hyperactivity (in the case of ADHD). Unfortunately, Adderall addiction is now extremely common.Adderall is one of the most popular prescription stimulants on the market today; it is a brand name prescription amphetamine. Among healthy people, especially college and high school students, Adderall abuse is a widespread problem due to its alleged potential to enhance learning and working capabilities.

What is Adderall and How is it Used?

Adderall is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of ADHD.¹ It is believed that Adderall affects norepinephrine and dopamine activity in the brain by increasing the availability of those specific neurotransmitters, which ultimately helps to treat symptoms of ADHD.¹Essentially, the drug stimulates the brain in a way that makes it overproduce norepinephrine and dopamineAdderall comes in two forms: IR tablets (immediate-release) and XR (extended-release) capsules. The tablet form quickly delivers the dose of amphetamine. The extended-release capsules take longer to break down and deliver sustained amounts of the drug throughout the day. Adderall is typically abused by mouth, and tablets are also chewed or crushed up to be snorted

Common Names for Adderall

Adderall is the brand name for amphetamine, but this drug goes by many different names. Between drug dealers and their customers, people tend to use slang when referring to Adderall in order to avoid raising anyone’s suspicionsCommon slang terms for Adderall include:

Addys
Beans
Bennies
Black Beauties
Blue Pill
Copilots
Dexies
Smart Pills
Speed
Study Buddies
Truck Drivers
Zing

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Adderall has a high potential for addiction. As a result, it’s classified it as a Schedule II controlled substance.²Schedule II drugs have some recognized medical use, but they also come with the potential for abuse. Since the drug has medical value, it’s only legal for those who have a legitimate prescription.

How to Recognize Adderall Addiction

college student stress Like all addictions, Adderall addiction is characterized by the continued use of the drug, despite recognizing that it harms your relationships, your finances, or your employment. In fact, a substance use disorder impacts virtually every aspects of a person’s life.Even if you take Adderall exactly as it’s prescribed, there’s a chance of becoming addicted. When you abuse the drug, however, there’s an extremely high chance that you’ll develop an Adderall addiction.College and high school students often abuse the drug to stay awake and focus on school work and assignments. Since it’s widely passed around on college campuses, Adderall is often referred to as a “study drug,” and there’s a common misconception that it can help students get better grades.Students take stimulant drugs like Adderall in hopes that it will help them stay awake or have improved concentration for exams. Because these drugs can improve focus for those with ADHD, students often assume it will have the same effects on everyone, but that’s not the case.

Researching Prescription Stimulants

According to research published in the Journal of Addictive Diseases, taking unprescribed Adderall does not improve students’ grades. In fact, the GPAs of students who abuse study drugs are typically lower than non-abusers.³
In 2018, a study by the University of Texas found 18% of students had used prescription stimulants without a prescription.⁴
A similar University of Ohio survey found 16% of college students and 12% of high school students admitted to abusing study drugs.⁵
Research from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that, over a six-year period, abuse of study drugs among young adults rose 67%, while related emergency room visits increased by an astounding 156%.⁶

Side Effects of Adderall Abuse

Adderall works by boosting dopamine and norepinephrine levels, but because it’s an amphetamine, it can become addictive. Once an addiction is developed, Adderall can cause uncomfortable side effects like sweating, tremors, and an irregular heartbeat.

Short-Term Effects of Adderall

Insomnia
Mood swings
Headaches
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Abdominal pain
Anxiety
Episodes of mania
Elevated blood pressure

Long-Term Effects of Adderall

Fatigue / lack of sleep
Weight loss
Poor concentration
Rapid breathing
Sustained high blood pressure
Numbness or tingling of the extremities
Anxiety
Depression
Cardiomyopathy

Long-term abuse of Adderall can cause severe health problems that are often characterized by:

Abnormal brain activity
Hallucinations
Suicidal ideations
Psychosis
Death

Signs & Symptoms of Adderall Addiction

If Adderall addiction is present, you’ll likely notice the following signs and symptoms, (Keep in mind, however, people tend to experience different symptoms depending on a number of factors, including the severity of addiction.)Common Indicators of Adderall Abuse:

A decline in personal hygiene
Talking much faster than usual
Aggressive behavior
Unexplained anxiety
Chest pains
Dizziness
Fatigue
Headaches
Insomnia
Paranoia
Weight loss

Are You Are Addicted to Adderall?

If you think you might be dependent on Adderall, ask yourself if the following signs of addiction are familiar.

Do you have to increase your Adderall dosage to get the same effects?
Do you experience withdrawal symptoms if you don’t use Adderall?
Do you continue using Adderall despite all the dangers and negative effects it causes?
Have you tried – and failed – to quit using Adderall?
Have you stopped taking part in activities you used to enjoy in order to use Adderall?

What Happens During Adderall Withdrawal?

Adderall withdrawal occurs when you either stop taking the stimulant drug or significantly decrease the dosage. The symptoms usually develop within the first few days of stopping the drug.Here are some of the most common withdrawal symptoms:

Fatigue
Sweating
Insomnia
Abdominal discomfort
Headaches
Nausea
Irritability
Depression

While Adderall abuse creates a high, the comedown brings with it a very deep low. People who abuse higher dosage rates consistently are more likely to struggle with suicidal thoughts once they stop taking Adderall.

Adderall Overdose

If a person takes large doses of Adderall, an overdose may occur. And an Adderall overdose is undoubtedly an emergency, as it can lead to heart attack, stroke, or liver failure.As with many other medications, there is a risk of accidental overdose with Adderall. That’s why it’s very important to know the signs and symptoms of an Adderall overdose. And when other drugs are used in combination with Adderall – drugs like alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, or Xanax, for example – it increase yours risk of experiencing an overdose.

Signs of an Adderall Overdose

The following symptoms may indicate that someone is experiencing an Adderall overdose:

Abdominal discomfort
Nausea/vomiting
Tremors
Increased heart rate
Chest pain
High body temperature
Dilated pupils
Unconsciousness
Hallucinations

Emergency Actions During an Adderall Overdose

If you suspect someone has overdosed on Adderall, take the following actions immediately:

Call 911 to report the overdose
Check for responsiveness
Stay with the person until emergency services arrive.
Answer every question asked by EMS workers or medical professionals to ensure the person gets proper medical care.

Sources:

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2022, February). Adderall XR label
United States Drug Enforcement Administration. (2019). Drug Scheduling.https://www.dea.gov/drug-scheduling
Arria, A. M., & DuPont, R. L. (2010). Nonmedical Prescription Stimulant Use Among College Students: Why We Need to Do Something and What We Need to Do. Journal of Addictive Diseases, 29(4), 417–426. https://doi.org/10.1080/10550887.2010.509273
Study Drugs. (n.d.). www.healthyhorns.utexas.edu. https://www.healthyhorns.utexas.edu/studydrugs.html
Key Findings. (n.d.). https://cssl.osu.edu/posts/632320bc-704d-4eef-8bcb-87c83019f2e9/documents/cpds-key-findings-2018.pdf
Benham, B., & Health, J. B. S. of P. (n.d.). Adderall Misuse Rising Among Young Adults. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. https://www.jhsph.edu/news/news-releases/2016/adderall-misuse-rising-among-young-adults.html
Dextroamphetamine and Amphetamine: MedlinePlus Drug Information. (2023). https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601234.html