Adderall Abuse: Help is out there
When you think of someone who is a drug addict, or needs to go to rehab or an inpatient treatment center, you usually do not think of a college student making straight A’s and who seemingly has their life together and a bright future. However, people like this exist on every college campus, every city, and in every town. Countless students get caught in the cycle of Adderall abuse every year and do not know where to turn. Help is out there though, and it is important to address this powerful illness before it gets worse.
I remember my own experience with Adderall abuse. I was a freshman in college, studying for one of my first big tests. A group of friends and I went to the library to get some studying done. While we were sitting at a table going over our notes, another student in our class came over and offered to sell us some Adderall. Not knowing what it was at the time, and with the promise that it would “help me study all night,” I indulged.
As soon as I took it, I experienced a feeling, a rush of energy and focus and stayed up the entire night studying for my test. The next day however, I fell asleep in the middle of the afternoon, and missed an important work commitment I had. I felt the sting of the downside of Adderall right away. One of my friends, who was at the table that night in the library, experiences more severe consequences.
For the next three years, he abused Adderall and was caught in its grips. He would say things like, “It is from a doctor and it helps me study,” yet we would see him exhibit irritability, sleeping at strange hours, erratic behavior, and he even stole something from another one of my friends to fund his Adderall addiction.
In the last couple of decades, the Adderall problem on campuses has gotten worse. Now you can visit any campus in the country, and just by asking a couple of people, you can easily find Adderall. Thousands of college students are addicted and trapped in a cycle they may not understand the severity of. Adderall addiction can be extremely dangerous, and even life threatening, which is why it is so important to seek help.
Some signs of Adderall Abuse include:
- Being overly talkative
- Loss of appetite
- Unusual excitability
- Social withdrawal
- Financial troubles
- Aggression
- Sleeping for long periods of time
- Secretive behavior
- Convulsions
- Paranoia
- Irregular heartbeat
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Insomnia
- Hallucinations
- Sexual dysfunction
- Depression
From my own personal experience, my friend suffered from many of these warning signs. Finally, after sleeping through an important final, he realized he had to get help. When I talked to him, he said “It’s hard for me to imagine myself as a drug addict, yet I am. I used to think an addict was under a bridge somewhere, but now I know it doesn’t matter where you are from or where you live, but your relationship with an addictive substance.”
Addictions to stimulants like Adderall can wreak havoc in the lives of individuals with a substance abuse disorder, but the good news is help is out there. If you know someone who is struggling with Adderall abuse, please arm yourself with the facts about the illness, and be ready to suggest treatment options for the person. Many times, going to treatment is not something the person wants to do, but it is the very thing that will save their life. Don’t wait any longer if you know someone struggling. Help is out there. Be proactive and get on the road to recovery as soon as possible.
For more information on Adderall abuse visit our friends at TheRecover.com:
https://www.therecover.com/college/adderall-abuse/
