The below physical and behavioural signs that can suggest an amphetamine addiction. The U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse also notes that 1 in 9 people between the ages of 12 and 25 used prescription amphetamines for nonmedical reasons or misused them without a prescription at all. If you suspect that you or a loved one is struggling with amphetamine addiction, seek professional help to start the journey toward recovery and a brighter future. Additionally, behavioral therapy techniques, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), can help individuals identify and modify the thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to their addiction.
How to spot the signs of Xanax addiction
During the 1960s and early 70s, Japan, the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and most other countries that regulate pharmaceuticals banned or severely restricted legal use of amphetamines. Despite this legislation, and medical recommendations to limit amphetamine use, some physicians continued to write off-label prescriptions, often with insufficient follow-up monitoring, and abuse continued to grow. In a 1971 survey, 30% of college students reported using amphetamines without a prescription 74.
An amphetamine addiction comes in various shapes and sizes, but all cases share one thing in common; there is always a root cause driving the amphetamine addiction. Such causes may not be easy to see or understand immediately but talking therapies and holistic treatments can pinpoint precisely how and where the amphetamine addiction started. To give you a general idea, below of some of the common underlying causes that contribute to amphetamine addiction. While there are promising candidates, no pharmacotherapy for the treatment of AMPH/MA dependence/use disorder has provided convincing results.
Amphetamine Abuse & Addiction Symptoms, Signs, Causes & Effects
This is referred to as the “amphetamine come-down,” and withdrawal symptoms may include headaches, irritability, blurry vision, confusion, dizziness, periods of anxiety and cravings for more drugs. Amphetamines are strong stimulants that are used to medically treat such disorders as narcolepsy and ADHD. The side effects experienced depend upon the individual and the amount of time the substance has been used. Spotting the signs of amphetamine addiction early is crucial for ensuring help is sought when needed. Whether for yourself or a loved one, understanding these signs can prevent further harm and pave the way for recovery.
How to overcome amphetamine addiction?
While the effects of amphetamines are almost immediate, tolerance builds quickly, which frequently increases the amount needed to produce the desired effect. During periods of non-use, the user may recall the feeling of euphoria produced by the drug and desire to take it again. Methamphetamine was developed early in the 20th century from its parent drug, amphetamine, and was used originally in nasal decongestants and bronchial inhalers.
Abuse of methamphetamine can cause long-lasting brain damage along with other problems. The drug amphetamine addiction is typically made in clandestine laboratories with relatively inexpensive over-the-counter ingredients. The time it takes to recover from amphetamine addiction varies depending on the individual, the severity of the addiction, and the treatment plan. Detoxification typically lasts a week, while comprehensive rehabilitation and recovery take several months to years. Over time, chronic use of amphetamines causes neuroadaptive changes in the brain, resulting in tolerance, dependence, and difficulty experiencing pleasure without the drug.
Amphetamines have a high potential for addiction, with some individuals becoming so reliant on the drug they feel they need it just to get through the day. Therefore, it is vital for those struggling to seek support in overcoming their addiction through amphetamine rehab. If you are concerned for yourself or a loved one that is abusing amphetamines, this page will talk you through the signs, causes, and implications of amphetamine addiction. No pharmacotherapy yielded convincing results for the treatment of AMPH/MA dependence; mostly studies were underpowered and had low treatment completion rates. However, there were positive signals from several agents that warrant further investigation in larger scale studies; agonist therapies show promise. Future research must address the heterogeneity of AMPH/MA dependence (e.g. coexisting conditions, severity of disorder, differences between MA and AMPH dependence) and the role of psychosocial intervention.
- A family history of drug abuse and/or addiction, as well as mental health disorders, increases the chances of someone developing an amphetamine addiction.
- But if you use them longer than your doctor suggests, you may become dependent and need them to sleep.
- Common examples include amphetamine, dextroamphetamine (found in medications like Adderall), methamphetamine (known as “meth”), lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse), and methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta).
- However, the data we reviewed herein was disparate in respect to the reported outcomes and measures.
Prescription and illicit types of amphetamines are abused through different methods, most often including oral consumption of pills or powder, snorting crushed substances, smoking crystalline forms, or injecting dissolved solutions. Each method carries progressively higher risks of addiction and health complications. To support someone who is being treated for amphetamine addiction, you can first and foremost encourage them to keep up with their treatment. It may help to encourage them to set goals, learn something new or simply spend more time with friends and family.
FIND TREATMENT:
The broad selection of outcomes and measures render it difficult to meta-analyse or otherwise collectively synthesise the study results as reported. Future endeavours to standardise outcome measures across clinical trials in addiction medicine would make it easier to interpret study results collectively and better translate research results to clinical practice. Importantly, only three studies reviewed here (7%) provided information on adverse events/serious adverse events, despite the standard reporting format adopted by most publishers (CONSORT 83) including a minimum standard of harm reporting. This limits the capacity to appropriately assess the risk versus benefit of the pharmacotherapies reviewed here. We elected to include studies in this review irrespective of safety reporting, marijuana addiction to provide a comprehensive review of the current status of research. No study we reviewed directly compared outcomes between outpatient- and inpatient-treated participants.
Drugs in Schedule II required a fresh prescription each time they were filled, and doctors and pharmacists had to keep strict records or face prosecution. Misuse and abuse, especially of the cheap nonprescription Benzedrine Inhaler but also of tablets, were not uncommon. However, as often occurs in the first flush of enthusiasm for new pharmaceuticals, abuse, adverse effects, and other drawbacks had not yet attracted much notice. Some alternative drugs have been marketed as having lower abuse potential than amphetamine. For example, in a direct comparison, methylphenidate scored below amphetamine in ratings of “Willing to Take Again”, perhaps the closest subject-rated approximation of the reinforcing effects of a drug 86.
Learn about amphetamine addiction and substance use disorder
It is estimated that each year there are about 24.7 million amphetamine abusers in the United States. In 2008, it was reported that 13 million people over the age of 12 had used amphetamines without the supervision of a doctor; 529,000 were regular speed abusers. If you or someone you care about is struggling with amphetamine addiction, reaching out to a rehab centre can make all the difference. Professional support ensures you’re not facing this journey alone, with tailored care to help you safely detox, address underlying causes and build a healthier future.
Nonmedical amphetamine use is common with amphetamine, dextroamphetamine and methamphetamine. This includes using them without a prescription or in a way other than prescribed. It also includes using them in other ways, like smoking or injecting them. Participating in a 12-step treatment program and getting individual counseling may reduce your chances of relapse and improve your chances for recovery. Both prescribed and street amphetamines can be misused and cause use disorder. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional.