What Is Adderall?
Adderall is a brand name for the combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine. It’s a prescription drug used principally for ADHD treatment or to treat narcolepsy (daytime sleepiness). The medication adjusts certain naturally occurring chemicals in your brain by enhancing the effects of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine. However, the combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine can be habit-forming and may cause Adderall addiction.
Adderall abuse can be consumed in multiple ways, with the most common being ingesting higher doses. Other forms of consumption can be snorting Adderall, smoking, or injecting the drug to achieve a pure and potent high. College students are typically the primary abusers of snorting Adderall because of the focus effect when consumed.
Dextroamphetamine/amphetamine belongs to a class of drugs known as central nervous system stimulants. The Drug Enforcement Administration/Food and Drug Administration classifies these medications as schedule II drugs with high potential for abuse in the United States.
Immediate-release and sustained-release amphetamine medications are FDA-approved to treat ADHD and narcolepsy in both adult and pediatric populations. Non-FDA-approved clinical uses for dextroamphetamine/amphetamine include cerebrovascular accidents. [1] Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is the medical term for a stroke.
Can You Snort Adderall?
Adderall can be addictive; therefore, improper use can develop substance abuse tendencies in people. One standard indicator of snorting substances to get high is when blood is visible in a person’s pillow, or nosebleeds become more noticeable. A person who is snorting Adderall can also sniffle a lot as they use their nose to consume hard objects.
What Happens If You Snort Adderall?
Snorting substances have a quicker delivery to the brain compared to oral fixation. Therefore, when Adderall is snorted to get high, the brain receives an extreme surge of norepinephrine and dopamine, which gives an intense euphoric feeling. The rush people receive from snorting Adderall and other drugs like pharmaceuticals and cocaine often develops addiction due to the fantastic sensation they get from it.
Dopamine allows people to “feel good,” a naturally occurring hormone heightened by Adderall’s usage. Excessive dopamine bombardment can make users experience rewarding sensations that will make them want more and more each time, and that is when drug addiction builds up.
Why Do People Snort Adderall?
Adderall is a highly regulated drug, and it has a strict hold for a good reason. Pharmaceutical substance abuse is extremely dangerous, as these medications’ chemical nature has harsh side effects. When used recreationally and consumed through means like snorting Adderall or other non-orally fixated methods, this can lead to addiction and, eventually, death. [2]
Adderall Overdose
In case of a drug overdose, if the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can’t be awakened, immediately call emergency services. [3] Yes, a person can overdose on prescription stimulants such as Adderall. An overdose happens when the person uses enough of the drug to produce a life-threatening reaction or death.
Symptoms Of Adderall Overdose
- Restlessness
- Confusion
- Aggressive behavior
- Feelings of panic
- Hallucination (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
- Fast breathing
- Uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body
- Fever
- Dark red or cola-colored urine
- Muscle weakness or aching
- Tiredness or weakness
- Depression
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Fainting
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Upset stomach
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Seizures
- Coma (loss of consciousness for some time)
Snorting Adderall XR Addiction
One of the biggest dangers of snorting Adderall is the risk of becoming dependent on the medication. Like other amphetamines, the drug has high abuse potential and can be extremely addictive, which is why it is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, the active ingredients in Adderall, raise dopamine levels in the brain, creating sensations of pleasure or euphoria.
But once your brain gets used to higher levels of this neurotransmitter, you will need to take more of the drug to experience those pleasant feelings or to reach the same degree of concentration. This condition is known as tolerance.
Eventually, your craving for the drug can become so intense that you resort to criminal or dangerous behavior just to get Adderall. You may not be able to quit, even if you want to. You might continue to seek and use the drug at any cost, even to the detriment of the well-being and safety of the people you love. This condition is known as addiction.
There are specific risks associated with snorting amphetamine drugs. Users who snort the drug tend to take more Adderall than those who take the drug in oral form, which means that they may develop a tolerance or dependence more quickly.
Inhaling the drug through your nostrils can damage the membrane that lines your respiratory tract, making you more vulnerable to airborne infections and illness. Extended misuse of this amphetamine may even damage the internal structures of your nose and sinuses.
Because Adderall acts much more quickly when it is snorted, users experience the impact of its effects almost immediately. Adderall XR, a drug that is intended to last all day when you take it in prescribed doses, is even more potent and can cause more severe side effects, such as high fever, shock, and sudden death.
Psychosis is one of the potential side effects of Adderall misuse. During a psychotic episode, you might see or hear things that are not real or have severe misconceptions about reality. You might become extremely agitated or violent, even towards people you care about. When amphetamines enter your blood too quickly, you are more likely to experience disturbing or frightening misperceptions. Although Adderall can initially make you feel more focused and productive, you may experience an emotional and physical crash when the drug wears off. [4]
Signs of Adderall Abuse
How Do People Misuse Prescription Stimulants Like Adderall?
Most prescription stimulants come in tablet, capsule, or liquid form, which a person takes by mouth. Misuse of a prescription stimulant means:
- Taking medication in a way or dose other than prescribed
- Taking someone else’s medication
- Taking medication only for effect it causes—to get high
When misusing a prescription stimulant, people can consume the drug in its standard form. Alternatively, they can crush tablets or open the capsules, dissolve the powder in water, and inject the liquid into a vein. Some can also snort or smoke the powder. [5]
The brain of an addicted person is dependent on Adderall to stimulate alertness and productivity. Without Adderall, addicted people often feel tired and mentally foggy. These are symptoms of Adderall withdrawal, a vital sign of an Adderall addiction.
Adderall Addiction Treatment
Adderall addiction is a complex issue that requires long-term treatment – not a quick fix. Therefore, the first step in overcoming substance abuse is to seek help from your medical provider or a trained professional. Clearing prescription drugs from the body and overcoming withdrawal symptoms is the goal of detox, which is the first step of treatment for addiction.
For anyone who suffers from Adderall addiction, just the thought of having to stop using can cause severe mental distress. Given that, the medical Adderall detox process is managed with the help of a medical detox center. In addition, a comprehensive team prescribing medications can alleviate your withdrawal pains while monitoring your health 24 hours. Thus, assuring both your safety and comfort. [6]
We Level Up TX’s thorough approach to rehabilitation supports several levels of care to ensure the best possible outcome for every client who enters our doors. The Adderall addiction treatment tailors the program to the individual and the individual to the recovery program. Medical specialists begin by assessing the client’s history of mental health, drugs, and alcohol-related past. The needs of each client are specific and personalized, as the center aims to provide comprehensive support for mental health, addiction, and dual diagnosis treatment.
Clients in the residential therapy programs will live comfortably within the facility during this crucial and fragile time. This supportive environment is designed to give patients 24-hour care for sobriety, removing temptations for relapse and applying an air of recovery into every component of the treatment timeline. We Level Up TX treatment center finds that when clients are living in a supportive community, especially during their early recovery process, they can truly focus on what matters most: their recovery.
Make this your opportunity to reclaim your life. Call today to speak with one of our treatment specialists if you have questions about snorting Adderall and what are harmful effects of it. We will help you explore Adderall addiction treatment options. Your call is private and confidential, and there is never any obligation.
Sources:
[1] Dextroamphetamine-Amphetamine – National Center for Biotechnology Information
[2] Snorting Adderall: Dangers and Signs of Abuse – https://www.drugaddictionnow.com/2020/11/28/snorting-adderall/
[3] Dextroamphetamine and Amphetamine – The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists / U.S. National Library of Medicine
[4] Snorting Adderall or Adderall XR: Dangers and Side Effects – https://rehabs.com/stimulants/adderall/snorting/
[5] Prescription Stimulants DrugFacts – National Institute on Drug Abuse
[6] Adderall Addiction – We Level Up, Adderall Addiction – We Level Up FL
