Adderall [1] is a recognisable trade name for a combination drug known as mixed amphetamine salts.
These four salts are central nervous stimulants, meaning they play a role in altering our brain chemistry.
By increasing the availability of dopamine and norepinephrine, our main pleasure chemicals, Adderall produces a euphoric effect.
Here in the UK, doctors prescribe Adderall to those with ADHD, a hyperactivity disorder characterised by impulsive behaviours.
Often the first line of treatment, Adderall improves attention and focus by reducing overstimulation to regular stimulation, helping ADHD sufferers function as they should.
When responsibly prescribed, typical doses of Adderall fall anywhere in the range of 2.5 – 60 mg daily and are given 1-3 times a day.
Depending on what it’s being used to treat, capsules are given in strengths of 5mg, 7.5mg, 10mg, 12.5mg, 15mg, 20mg, and 30mg.
While extended-release pills can prolong the effects, Adderall’s duration is between 4-8 hours, with effects peaking at around 90 minutes.
While most commonly used to treat hyperactivity disorders, this drug is also helpful for those with narcolepsy.
Because they struggle to stay awake during the day, stimulants such as Adderall help to maintain alertness, allowing patients to maintain a normal sleeping schedule.
But because of its effectiveness in helping people stay awake, Adderall has become a favourite among university students and partygoers[2] who abuse it for the feel-good effect.
When this drug is abused, people refer to it by one of its many street names; speed, uppers, or Addys.
Known for its recreational use, people often forget that Adderall is an effective prescription drug both in the UK and globally.
Its status as both an addictive study drug and an effective treatment [3] for multiple disorders complicates matters.
Marketed under the name Obetrol in the 1960s, Adderall’s earliest form was used by people to lose weight, and later as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease.
It wasn’t until 2005 that it would be approved for use as an ADHD or narcolepsy treatment, and its popularity has grown ever since.
Rather than stay as a prescription-only treatment, word would quickly spread regarding Adderall’s stimulant effects, and it would be increasingly used recreationally.
Since 2005, it has been used illicitly for cognitive enhancement, athletic performance, recreational euphoria, and even appetite suppression.
As such, it’s one of the most used drugs in the UK.
Despite being a class of medication, Adderall is only safe when taken within the strict guidelines of a prescription. [4]
As such, the legal policies surrounding Adderall can be confusing to say the least.
Prescribing regulations combined with the known risk of abuse have created a tricky situation.
Essentially, Adderall is a Class B controlled substance in the UK.
This means anyone in possession without a prescription is acting against the law.
As a class B substance under the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act, strict regulations surround Adderall’s prescription.
So, what happens if you are caught with Adderall on your person, but don’t have a verifiable prescription?
Illegal possession of this prescription drug may result in severe legal repercussions.
This often means paying a substantial fine but can extend to imprisonment depending on the circumstances.
Specifically, the penalties for carrying Adderall unlawfully are up to 5 years in prison with an unlimited fine.
But if you’re caught supplying Adderall then you can be imprisoned for up to 14 years with an unlimited fine.
Even if someone wasn’t dealing Adderall at the time they were caught, possessing enough to warrant supplying will land them in serious trouble.
As a performance-boosting drug, Adderall is also banned from various amateur and professional sporting events.
Nicknamed “mental steroids”, amphetamine-related suspensions, performance-enhancing or otherwise, have become commonplace since the early 2000s, with some athletes banned from their sport entirely.
Prescribing CNS stimulants such as Adderall is still a common practice and is the preferred medication for ADHD in this country.
According to recent NHS mental health statistics, [5] stimulant prescriptions for ADHD increased by 32% in adults over 18 and 12% in children aged 17 and under.
2023 also marked the first year that more adult patients have been prescribed drugs such as Adderall than child patients since 2015, when the Medicines Used in Mental Health records date back to.
The same report indicated that CNS stimulants and drugs for ADHD were the only instances with more identified patients who were male than identified patients who were female.
Despite the evidence of Adderall being used correctly, this stimulant is frequently used for the wrong purposes here in the UK.
Drug-taking trends are dismantling the misconception that prescription drugs aren’t commonly abused.
The abuse of prescription stimulants is more prevalent than ever.
Because illegal drugs such as cocaine are becoming harder to access, people are turning to convenient alternatives with similar effects.
Despite attempts made by medical authorities to control Adderall prescriptions and limit illicit use, the problem is widedspread.
The problem is that most people who take Adderall don’t realise how addictive it is, and aim to use it short-term to complete a goal.
For example, students often turn to Adderall to cope with mounting academic pressure, as it helps them stay awake and remain focused enough to finish an essay.
However, they risk becoming dependent on the drug’s performance-enhancing effects.
Whether it’s used as an off-label “smart drug” or an “upper” for staying on the dancefloor, Adderall is known as a moreish stimulant.
Because it can be procured as an over-the-counter medication, it’s more easily accessed than drugs with similar properties, such as ecstasy or cocaine.
As such, Adderall is a popular party drug here in the UK, [6] making users feel more energetic or euphoric high in larger doses.
However, taking any amphetamine recreationally can be dangerous, and have both physical and psychological ramifications.
In the short term, taking a high dose of Adderall can make you feel dehydrated and light-heated, and can also suppress your appetite.
Other adverse symptoms include:
All these effects can be uncomfortable, but they are rarely life-threatening.
What’s more, the way that Adderall is taken recreationally creates additional risks.
Methods such as snorting, otherwise known as ‘plugging’ Adderall can increase the risk of health complications.
Because the effects of Adderall are more intense this way, snorting also increases the risk of long-term addiction.
The true dangers of Adderall abuse occur in higher doses, either when someone has misjudged the amount or is trying to achieve a more intense high.
An Adderall overdose can be lethal [7] and requires urgent medical care to be properly treated.
However, it’s difficult to predict the amount of Adderall it takes to be dangerous or lethal.
According to research, fatal cases of Adderall overdose have been reported with strengths of between 1.5 mg/kg to 20–25 mg/kg of weight.
So, for someone weighing 90 pounds, a dose of around 820 mg would be enough to cause concern.
In addition to someone’s weight, various other factors can influence the lethal dose of this stimulant drug.
These include:
If you’re also taking other drugs or medications, it can be far easier to overdose on a smaller dose of Adderall.
These worrying drug interactions occur most intensely with alcohol, other stimulants, and anti-depressants.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) [8] are a class of antidepressants can increase the effects of Adderall, and are often sold under brand names such as Marplan and Nardil.
In addition, common antidepressants such as Prozac are known as CYP2D6 enzyme inhibitors, which can increase the effects of Adderall.
Worryingly, these interactions can cause a dangerous condition known as Serotonin Syndrome, [9] when both types of drug are taken in higher doses.
As the name suggests, this medical emergency occurs when too much of the chemical serotonin builds up in someone’s system.
While serotonin is a mood stabiliser produced naturally by our bodies, too much of it can be fatal.
When someone develops this condition from combining Adderall with an antidepressant, they can experience mild symptoms such as diarrhoea or vomiting, to severe symptoms, such as high fever or hallucinations.
If serotonin toxicity isn’t recognised and treated immediately, it starts to affect the sufferer’s organs and become life-threatening.
Worrying complications include trouble breathing and kidney failure caused by the breakdown products of muscles due to spasming.
While combining Adderall with alcohol won’t cause serotonin syndrome, it may make an overdose more likely.
It’s also more common for young people to take Adderall with alcohol in clubbing settings, as the combination allows them to dance all night.
When used together, Adderall and alcohol can cause dangerous reactions, [10] with the most serious including overdose, heart and respiratory problems.
Despite the risks, the act of mixing these substances is common in recreational settings, such as at parties or clubs.
However, because Adderall can suppress the symptoms of being drunk, many people drink more to try and feel the effects.
This leads to a dangerous mix of a stimulant and a depressant, which can cause manic behaviours, high blood pressure, blurred vision and an increased risk of seizures.
Moreover, the opposing nature of alcohol and Adderall may lead to severe dehydration.
When we take stimulant drugs, our central nervous system is working on overdrive, increasing body temperature and the risk of dehydration.
Combining this with alcohol, which has diuretic effects, causes the body to get rid of excess fluids through the urine.
Soon, the diuretic effects compound with the dehydration to create a life-threatening situation.
Anyone can become dependent on Adderall, [11] whether they’re someone trying to lose weight, an athlete wanting to boost performance or a university student.
When this drug is abused long-term, it can change the brain’s chemistry and reward centre, leading to physical and psychological addiction.
Essentially, the brain of someone using Adderall starts to associate the drug with periodic dopamine release.
Over time, the substance becomes the only thing an individual looks forward to, as their brain fails to recognise anything else as conducive to happiness.
Because CNS stimulant use can quickly spiral out of control, it’s important to identify the signs as early as possible.
While this isn’t always easy, especially if someone has started with an Adderall prescription, getting professional help is crucial.
Here are some of the major symptoms of Adderall addiction [12] to look out for in yourself for a loved one:
Deciding it’s time to tackle Adderall addiction is a momentous step towards long-term recovery, but the process will be challenging.
Part of the reason many people relapse in the early stages of sobriety is withdrawal symptoms. [14]
In the case of Adderall and other amphetamines, adverse symptoms can be uncomfortable, hard to manage, or even fatal.
While symptoms vary from person to person, Adderall withdrawal typically sets in 2 days after quitting and can last for weeks without a proper tapering schedule.
Because those addicted to Adderall are both physically and psychologically dependent on the drug, they’ll experience both sets of symptoms.
Initially, symptoms may include mood swings, fatigue, and an increase in appetite accompanied by a period of exhaustion and low mood.
As time goes on, Adderall’s withdrawal can morph into a more dangerous situation.
Severe symptoms include dizziness, hallucinations, trouble breathing, and rapid heartbeat. Psychologically, people can feel incredibly down or start experiencing signs of psychosis. [15]
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to treating Adderall addiction, and it’s important to consider each option carefully.
In the UK, the availability and cost of treatment services will vary greatly depending on your needs.
Typically, you’ll choose between free NHS services and private rehab facilities.
Opting to begin recovery via the NHS will likely mean outpatient treatment.
Outpatients frequently visit their local hospital or clinic for addiction treatment and therapy sessions to help kick their Adderall dependency.
While this is by far the cheaper option, it often means navigating the withdrawal stage at home without access to immediate medical help.
On the other hand, patients with a severe addiction can choose to enter a private rehab facility.
This involves staying in the rehab clinic’s provided accommodation and undertaking personalised treatment on-site.
Depending on the severity of their Adderall addiction, inpatients may spend anywhere between 2-8 weeks solidifying their recovery.
While private rehabilitation is more costly, these programmes provide the highest quality treatments and tailored care.
Some of the best treatments and styles of therapy for Adderall addiction include:
For anyone navigating the world of Adderall abuse and addiction, it’s important to know that there are resources that can help.
From visiting a GP and receiving a referral, to NHS outpatient care and charities offering assistance, there’s a wealth of non-judgemental support in the UK.
But despite the number of resources, accessing them and researching options can be overwhelming.
That’s where our expert team here at Rehab 4 Addiction can help.
By giving us a call, you’ll be able to go through treatment options at your own pace and have your needs taken into consideration.
When we work together, any addiction can be beaten.
Get the help you need to overcome addiction once and for all by calling us for free on 0800 140 4690
[1] https://www.drugscience.org.uk/adderall
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6165228/
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK69423/
[5]https://www.google.la/books/edition/The_Amphetamine_Debate/6vfMjBwzpIgC?hl=en&gbpv=0
[6]https://www.google.la/books/edition/ADHD_Medication_Abuse/p6uQBQAAQBAJ?hl=en
[7] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23796480/
[8] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9680847/
[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6184959/
[10] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4628434/
[11] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4147667/
[12] https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/adderall-abuse-addiction-signs
[13] https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/adderall-withdrawal
[14]https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.642798/full
[15] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9403214/
[17] https://smartrecovery.org.uk/smart-recovery-programme/
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an addiction expert with more than 20 years in the field. His expertise covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process. Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the BBC, Verywell Mind and Healthline. You can connect with Boris online at LinkedIn or X.com.
