Embedded Files
Amphetamine/Dextroamphetamine (brand name Adderall) is a medication that is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and also treats Narcolepsy. (Mayo Clinic, 2020). Adderall is a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine which are central nervous system stimulants that alter the brain chemicals that are involved in hyperactivity and impulse control. (WebMD, 2019)
Important Vocabulary for Adderall
(some obtained from WebMD and class notes)
ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder): A mental condition characterized by hyperactivity, short attention span, and socio-occupational dysfunction. (WebMD, 2019)
Narcolepsy: A neurological disorder that causes irregular sleep-wake cycles. Characterized by a rapid tendency to fall asleep throughout any activity. (obtained from notes)
Dopamine: A compound present in the body as a neurotransmitter and a precursor of other substances including epinephrine. (obtained from notes)
Stimulant: A substance that increases the body's nervous system or physiological activity (obtained from notes)
Noradrenaline: a hormone with neurotransmitter properties that is secreted by the sympathetic nervous system and the adrenal medulla. It's also a medication used to increase blood pressure. (WebMD, 2019)
Neurotoxicity: poisonous to the nervous system (obtained from notes)
Facts about Adderall:
(Drugs.com, 2023)
Adderall is used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy.
Other medications can interact with Adderall and can cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.
Having a history of depression may cause new or worsening of psychosis when taking Adderall.
Adderall enhances the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the neural synapse by preventing their reuptake.
How Adderall Affects the Brain
(Healthline, 2023)
People with ADHD typically have decreased amounts of dopamine, a neurotransmitter generated by the brain that makes you feel happy. People with ADHD have a continual need for stimulation due to a shortage of dopamine. Adderall works by raising dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine levels, restoring the brain from overstimulation to normal stimulation.
Adderall Addictiveness and Misuse
(Editorial Staff. (2019)
Adderall is a drug that treats patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Unfortunately, a lot of people abuse Adderall use and start developing addiction problems which potentially leads to putting their health in danger.
A person can quickly progress from recreational Adderall usage to abuse to addiction because of the drug's propensity for addiction. Although the majority of those afflicted are adolescents and young adults, anybody may become addicted to Adderall.
Misuse of Adderall will result in the development of a tolerance to the medication. An individual will eventually need to take more Adderall in order to get the desired high. Withdrawal symptoms will appear after the last dose.
Statistics on Adderall Usage, Misuse, and Addiction
(Addictiongroup.org, 2023)
According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, about 614,000 adolescents ranging from ages 12 through 17 have taken Adderall non-medically for some time.
Between 2006 and 2011, non-prescription Adderall usage by young adults increased by 67 percent, with related emergency room visits increasing by 156 percent.
Full-time college students are twice as likely to misuse Adderall as their non-college peers.
Common Adderall Side Effects
(WebMD, 2019)
Trouble Sleeping
Weight loss
Dizziness
Chills
Diarrhea
Headaches
Nausea
Dry mouth
Adderall Withdrawal Symptoms
(WebMD, 2021)
Depression
Irritability
Mood Swings
Unusual Fatigue
Insomnia
Stomach Cramping
Vomiting
Cravings of drug
This video will show extra information about Adderall:
Study shows expectations that drug will cure all puts people at risk of drug abuse
Looby and his colleagues (2023) conducted a study of college students at risk for nonmedical prescription stimulant use (NPS). 121 people at risk for NPS were randomly assigned to one of 3 conditions: 1) expect and receive no drugs, 2) expect to be given Adderall but receive a placebo, or 3) expect to be given Adderall but receive caffeine. it was discovered that the expectation of obtaining a placebo in the form of Adderall had a substantial impact on subjective mood and medication effects. The researchers also investigated the effect of contemporaneous caffeine administration on Adderall-related placebo effects but found no significant incremental improvements. However, there was no discernible impact on cognitive performance. The findings imply that the expectation of prescription stimulant effects increases subjective outcomes in high-risk college students, which could help develop treatments to reduce NPS. Meaning, if people have high expectation that Adderall will make them feel better than they will feel better even with a placebo. This suggests that those high expectation could lead to drug abuse.
Page updated
Report abuse