Stimulant Use Disorder
In a nutshell, it means someone is addicted to drugs that stimulate the mind and / or body. Most commonly, this includes prescriptions for ADHD like adderall & concerta, in addition to street drugs like methamphetamines (speed), and cocaine that are sold on the street under a variety of different names.
Before we dig deeper, let’s take a look at the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) and how it defines stimulant addiction, which is it refers to as “Stimulant Use Disorder). The DSM-5 is what psychologists and psychiatrists use to diagnose different types of mental illness
Pattern of Amphetamine-like substance, Cocaine or other stimulant AND
- Use leads to Clinically Significant Impairment or distress AND
- At least 2 of the following criteria within 12 months
- Stimulant take in larger amounts or over a longer period than intended
- Persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control Stimulant Use
- Significant amount of time spent trying to obtain, use or recover from the stimulant
- Craving or strong desire or urge to use the stimulant
- Recurrent Stimulant Use resulting in failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school or home
- Use continues despite persistent or recurrent stimulant exacerbated social or interpersonal problems
- Important social, occupational or recreational activities are abandoned or reduced due to Stimulant Use
- Recurrent Stimulant Use in physically hazardous situations
- Use continues despite persistent or recurrent stimulant-related physical or psychological problems
- Tolerance not due to prescribed Stimulant Medication (e.g. Attention Deficit Disorder or Narcolepsy)
- Marked increase in stimulant amounts needed to reach Intoxication or desired effect OR
- Markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same stimulant amount
- Withdrawal not due to prescribed Stimulant Medication (e.g. Attention Deficit Disorder or Narcolepsy)
- Characteristic stimulant withdrawal symptoms (see above) OR
- Stimulant or similar agent is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms
Many people start taking stimulants they receive from prescriptions as well, and they are just as vulnerable to stimulant addiction. Oftentimes, tolerance becomes a problem and patients are not able to get enough through their prescription, so they turn to substances on the street that are almost always cut with dangerous drugs like Fentanyl.
As always, it’s important to contact your local mental health officials to get a proper diagnosis. Those without health insurance or the ability to get in touch with a local mental health professional or treatment center should reach out to SAMSHA:
https://www.samhsa.gov/
1-800-662-HELP (4357)
While the above definitions from the DSM-V may be a bit difficult to understand, they all boil down to a few simple questions one must ask themselves before determining if they suffer from stimulant use disorder.
Is my stimulant tolerance too high to get the same effects as before?
If you have been taking a prescription drug for ADHD, then your doctor may prescribe an alternative medicine or a higher dose. This is due to something called “tolerance”. If this happens, it means that over time, the medication has become less effective at treating your symptoms of ADHD. Your doctor will want to find out why this happened so they can help you avoid future problems with your medications.
What should I do if I am experiencing side effects from using Adderall or Ritalin?
• Difficulty sleeping. If this happens, take a short nap during the day instead of going straight to bed at night. This will help you get more restful sleep.
• Headaches. These can be caused by caffeine withdrawal headaches that occur when people suddenly quit drinking coffee or tea. They usually go away after about 24 hours.
• Nausea or vomiting. You may feel nauseated for no reason.
The most common prescription for ADHD, Ritalin, has been linked to psychosis in children who take it regularly. The same goes for Adderall which contains amphetamine. These drugs can cause hallucinations, paranoia, anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, aggression, hostility, agitation, impulsivity, mania, depression, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts. Narcolepsy is another condition where people have reported similar symptoms after taking these medications.
Side effects are even more common on stimulants purchased on the streets, since they are often contaminated with other toxic chemicals due to poor chemistry practices. In other cases, dealers will ‘cut’ their drugs with all manner of things that are also often toxic.
• Tachycardia or fast heart rate. This is usually not dangerous but may be an indication that your body has become accustomed to taking these drugs over time. If you experience this effect, it will go away when you stop using them.
• Increased blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to stroke or other cardiovascular problems if left untreated.
Do you take more stimulants than prescribed or purchase them off the street?
Taking more than prescribed or purchasing from the street is almost always an indicator of addiction. It’s a sign that you are ‘going off the rails’, a vicious cycle that only gets worse and harder to escape over time.
Have you wanted to, or tried to quit, with any success?
Likely the strongest indicator is that one feels a desire to quit but is unable to do so. This is very common, but there is also a silver lining. Since there are so many influences from friends, work, family and the environment, it’s no wonder millions of americans feel trapped in their addiction. Those suffering from stimulant addiction, or any addiction from that matter, only have a chance at success when they are finally ready to quit.
What can stimulants treat?
Prescription stimulants are medicines generally used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy.
What is the strongest stimulant medication?
Methylphenidate, also known as Ritalin or Concerta. It’s a prescription medicine that helps control ADHD symptoms in children and adults. Methylphenidate can be taken by mouth or injected under the skin.
Why arent stimulants used for dysthymia and or depression?
Stimulants are used in prescriptions to deal with a different type of brain chemistry. The core problem with depression is that depressed people have an issue experiencing positive feelings. People with depression often experience stimulant use disorder, but not to self medicate, though they may think so. In these situations, potential for addiction is very high, and also a risk factor for stimulant addiction
What are the potential negative effects of long term stimulant use?
The negative effects from long term stimulant use can be catastrophic. Stimulant abuse is a major public health problem in the United States, with an estimated 2 million people abusing prescription drugs for nonmedical purposes. Stimulant abuse has been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and sudden cardiac death. The most common form of stimulant abuse involves taking these medications without medical supervision or guidance.
This is especially true for those in need of Cocaine Addiction Treatment and Meth Addiction Treatment.
What are some solutions for addiction?
Addiction is a chronic disease that requires long term care. The most effective treatments include both medication and behavioral therapy, which can be combined with other therapies such as counseling or psychotherapy. Medication alone may not always work in the short term but it will help you get through withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings. Behavioral therapy helps people learn new ways of coping with their problems so they don’t need drugs anymore. It also teaches them how to avoid situations where drug use might occur.
How can one quit meth without treatment?
Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug that causes the brain’s dopamine levels to rise. This leads to increased feelings of pleasure, which makes it very difficult for people who use methamphetamine to stop using this substance. Methamphetamine withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, depression, irritability, insomnia, restlessness, fatigue, sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps, tremors, headaches, chills, fever, and weight loss or gain. The most common method of quitting meth is through substance abuse counselling.
Substance abuse counseling can be done in many different ways. It may involve individual therapy sessions with an experienced counselor, group therapy, family counseling, 12 step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, etc., self help groups like Overeaters Anonymous, Weight Watchers, etc., or even medical detoxification from drugs and alcohol.
What is substance withdrawal and substance dependence?
Substance use disorders, also known as drug abuse or addictive behavior, can be defined by the presence of a pattern of repeated substance use that results in clinically significant impairment or distress.
What are addiction recovery tools?
Addiction Recovery Tools is a website that provides information about the various types of treatments available for drug abuse. It also includes links to other websites with more detailed information on each type of treatment, as well as resources such as books, articles, etc., which can be helpful in understanding what you need to do if you decide to seek help for your substance use problem. Addiction Recovery Tools has been developed by Dr. Michael J. Smith who specializes in treating patients suffering from addictions.
Addiction Recovery Tools are a range of techniques and practices that help individuals increase their emotional intelligence to mitigate addiction triggers that lead to relapse.
What to Look for in a Rehab Center?
When looking for a rehab center to overcome stimulant addiction, it’s important to consider a variety of factors. The first thing you should do is find out if the facility has experience treating people with your specific condition. If they don’t have any experience in this area, then that could be an indication that their program isn’t going to work. You also want to make sure that the facility offers individualized care. This means that each patient will receive different types of therapy depending on what he or she needs most at the time.
Seachange Recovery is a JCAHO accredited addiction treatment center with staff who have a passion for helping addicts recover.
The first step in recovery from any drug or alcohol problem is admitting that you need help, which can be difficult if you’re not ready to admit it yet. But the sooner you start your journey toward sobriety, the better off you will be. If you think you may have an addictive personality, consider seeking professional counseling before making important decisions about your life.