10 Facts About Amphetamines

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, help is available. Speak with a Recovery Advocate by calling (855) 602-7202 now.

In the spring of 2018, WebMD came out with a stern warning suggesting that the United States is about to experience widespread amphetamine misuse. As the nation struggles to handle the opioid epidemic, amphetamine addiction is spreading.

What are the 10 most important things you need to know about amphetamine addiction? How can the drug be both helpful and harmful to the human beings that use it?

The Facts on Amphetamine Misuse

Like many drugs on the black market, amphetamine has its uses to help humans cope with medical disorders. Amphetamines are stimulant drugs that doctors prescribe to treat diseases like narcolepsy, where the person has the uncontrollable desire to go to sleep, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These drugs work to speed up messages in the brain, releasing dopamine, which is a feel-good chemical that causes a euphoria or rush.

However, illegal amphetamines have a much more dangerous side. The website myDr.com points out, “There is no safe level of amphetamine use.” Even when prescribed by a physician, all drugs have side effects and unintended consequences.

Check Your Coverage

Your insurance plan may cover some or all of the cost of treatment for drug or alcohol addiction. Our online health insurance verification system will estimate your in-network and out-of-network deductibles, coinsurance percentages and out-of-pocket maximums. Within 5 minutes, you’ll receive an email with these details - free of charge.

Date of Birth

Your information is secure

10 Facts About Illegal Amphetamine Use.

1. Amphetamines work by providing a blast of energy, confidence and focus to the brain. These drugs affect the brain’s neurons and how they absorb the natural chemicals that help transmit data in the brain.

2. Amphetamine misuse is different from opioid misuse. While opioids work to calm the person, an amphetamine amps the person up. Combining both drugs for an up and down effect can be dangerous and can quickly cycle into amphetamine addiction.

3. Amphetamine use is climbing, according to WebMD. In 2016, amphetamine misuse was higher than the number of people taking opioids in the U.S.

4. The number of people dying from amphetamine addiction increased by 30 percent between the years 2016 and 2017.

5. The effects of amphetamines are hard on the body, causing high blood pressure, heart and/or lung disease and stroke. These stimulants can also permanently damage the brain, according to WebMD.

6. Amphetamine addiction is often more challenging to treat than opioid addiction. There are currently no medication-assisted therapies to treat an addiction to stimulants.

7. Legal prescriptions of amphetamines like Ritalin and Adderall are increasing.

8. High doses of amphetamines can cause violent behavior, seizures, stroke or coma.

9. Mixing amphetamines with other drugs can cause unpredictable effects ranging from paranoid delusions to violent behavior or even death.

10. Withdrawal from amphetamines causes a host of unpleasant symptoms, like aches and pain, extreme exhaustion and cravings for more of the drug.

Illegal amphetamines can be snorted, eaten or injected. They include cocaine, pep pills or speed, meth, or even legally prescribed stimulant medications for the treatment of disease. These drugs are highly addictive, dangerous and widely available. However, there are resources for helping you with amphetamine addiction. Contact The Recovery Village Ridgefield to learn more about admissions.