Prescription Stimulant Addiction: What You Need to Know

Prescription stimulants are central nervous system (CNS) medications often prescribed to manage Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy, and binge eating disorder. While these drugs can be of immense help to people with these conditions, they also have a high potential for abuse and addiction.

Prescription stimulant drugs work by increasing brain levels of dopamine and norepinephrine. This effect on neurochemicals helps improve focus, attention, and wakefulness, but also causes a “high” that leads them to get taken in excess. 

But why are prescription stimulants like Adderall, Ritalin, and Vyvanse becoming a cause for concern? From hidden risks to real-life impact, here is what you need to know to stay informed, safe, and aware of these medications.  

Who is at Risk of Prescription Stimulant Addiction?

Stimulants are often misused by people who feel overwhelmed by the pressure to enhance their performance or those with stress. Many youths and young adults misuse stimulants to stay awake, improve concentration, or study longer. Being in a high-pressure environment like college or having easy access to medications also increases risk.

Since LGBTQ people have to deal with minority stress, they are at risk of taking prescription stimulants to feel better about their lives. LGBTQ people also have a higher risk of co-occurring mental disorders like anxiety, depression, and PTSD because of the isolation and discrimination they face, and since they also face higher barriers to accessing healthcare, they may self-medicate with stimulants. 

Impact of Prescription Stimulants 

Because stimulants are often called "study drugs" or “productivity hacks,” their risks can feel invisible or easy to brush off. But the truth is that drug misuse always carries consequences. Some of these consequences are:

• Cardiovascular Disease: Stimulants can overwork your heart, raise blood pressure, and cause arrhythmia and other life-threatening heart conditions.
• Emotional Shifts: Stimulant drugs can worsen anxiety, trigger mood swings, and fuel paranoia and confusion.
• Sleep Disruption: You may find it harder to fall or stay asleep, leading to chronic fatigue and exhaustion.
• Appetite Changes: These medications often suppress hunger and can lead to unintentional weight loss. This experience can be especially triggering for LGBTQ people who have struggled with body image or disordered eating.
• Emotional Crashes: After the effects wear off, you might feel low, sad, or even hopeless. Because stimulants impact brain chemistry, stopping cold turkey can feel almost impossible.

How Psychological Distress Contributes to LGBTQ Stimulant Use Patterns

Stimulant misuse does not occur in a vacuum. This type of substance use disorder is often wrapped in layers of lived experience. Many LGBTQ people feel the need to go above and beyond in proving their worth. Whether it is school, work, or home, many of us feel like we need to be exceptional just to be accepted. Even when they are in supposedly inclusive spaces, LGBTQ people experience daily microaggressions like being misgendered and ignored, and these make them more prone to all kinds of substance abuse. 

Because LGBTQ people also live with high levels of anxiety, deep depression, multiple traumatic experiences and dysphoria, they often carry unimaginable pain beneath the surface. With such heavy weights on their shoulders, stimulants begin to look like an escape from constant overthinking or emotional exhaustion. 

Signs You Have a Problem

There is no need to judge yourself if any of these feel familiar. You are human. You only need to seek professional help from an LGBTQ-affirming stimulant addiction treatment center like Pride Detox.

Ask yourself:

• Do I feel like I need a pill just to function?
• Am I hiding how much I use or feeling ashamed about it?
• Am I constantly wired or drained?
• Is my sleep, eating, or mood affected in ways that feel out of control?
• Do I feel scared to stop, but also scared to continue?

Overcome Prescription Stimulant Addiction with the Right Support

If you have noticed the signs and symptoms of prescription stimulant addiction in yourself or your loved one, know that there is help out there. While addiction can make you feel like there is no other way to live, this is very far from the truth. 

With Pride Detox’s prescription stimulant detox, you can reclaim your energy, self-worth, and self-love. Do not be scared to reach out for a helping hand; there is nothing shameful in recognizing that you can have an addiction-free life. Contact Pride Detox today at 561-621-3984 to speak to a representative who is more than willing to assist you.