Stimulants question | ADHD Information
For me it works opposite. Without it my mind races and I do stupid impulsive things and cant seem to stop myself from doing them. Ive already done it by the time I realize I shouldn't. It dosen't "speed" me up at all. But meds work differently on everyone.The research has been fairly clear and consistant that Adderall is not addictive if taken as prescribed. A person in treatment can become dependant, but more so because of the desire to maintain the benefit.
MaxDad
[QUOTE=edbson]
ADHD meds will usually not help a person who does not have ADHD, some do abuse them.
Studies have shown that Children and teens who are undiagnosed/refused meds will self medicate as they get older.
[/QUOTE]
THis is what I've read, I think. Thank you.
KIDD....it troubles me to think that by trying to make my life better
for myself, my husband and my daughter that I will most likely end up
being a "speed freak" some day. I realize you have passionate
views on this...obviously. So whatever I'm trying to say, (who
knows) you have your right to tangents, beliefs and knowledge gained by
past experience, but I have my right to be really irritated right now
at the prospect of becoming AN ADDICT and lumped into your categories.
Deep breath....
Sorry. I'm trying to figure out my meds. I'm worried. For me, for my daughter, for my husband.
Just trying to figure out how exactly these chemicals work in the brains of different people.
JennyMamma39149.3739814815
Okay, but how does one discern the difference between an "addict" and someone who "takes their meds regularly"? By all INward appearances, the two behaviors could appear identical. The question really is: How does the drug-taking person interact with society?
Actually... and I say this only out of my personal experience, an addict can take their meds regularly and interact with society just the same as a non-addict, especialy if they have a perscription which allows them to legally obtain their medication. I have done so unfailingly for over 5 years and never once have I had to withdraw from society out of fear of rejection and/or incarseration. No worry about where my next fix will come from or pre-occupation about how I'll get more, no short changing my family by spending all my doe on dope... I am ADHD, and I am also an addict. Simply to take my meds as directed does not exemplify me from being an addict.
Addicts are usually defined as people who cannot control their behavior as it is connected to the substances in question. The addict could be defined as someone who takes a drug or alcohol, and almost always displays odd, dysfunctional, or unsafe personal and social behavior, like always trying to get more of the drug, acting really different or strange when under the influence, rapid weight loss, and especially work/school/money/legal problems that suddenly appear when they begin taking the drug. In other words, they seem to become a different person for the worst.
On the other hand, a non-addict is someone whose life is improved when taking the drug, even if they take the drug constantly. They don't display dangerous or socially unacceptable behaviors, and the drug(s) seem to actually improve the quality of their life, and the people close to them can see the difference. Just because a person takes a potentially "addictive" drug every day does not always mean they are an addict.
Some people, especially AA types, disagree with this definition, and believe an addict is someone who takes any kind of substance at all. Any kind of "drug" or alcohol use is bad. In that case, ADDers who take their speed everyday are by that definition, speed-freaks. Even kids.
I am one of those 'AA types', and while that view may be held by some individuals in AA, it is by no means AA's view. NA- (Narcotics Anonymous) is the fellowship that states 'We must abstain from all drugs in order to recover', and I have fun with that every time I go to an NA Meeting. They tell how their lives were controlled by drugs and that they now practice complete abstainence from all mood changing mind altering substances. "Drugs kill"! Then they hurry out the door so they can light up a cigarette. I make fun of them and when they say... "Oh, cigarettes aren't mood changing mind altering substances" to which I say oh yeah? Take away my cigarettes for the day and watch my mood change... talk about anti-social, whew!
Sometimes friends and family overreact to the discovery of a person's drug use, in which case, the problem is not with the drug taker, but with the family. In that case family counseling might be the best option. If the drug taker has not exhibited odd behavior, then it's probably okay for them to continue.
If you believe the concern of family and friends is the problem, your way wrong. Many times the addict's reality is so far out of whack that their using seems normal to them. An addict would agree with you 100%. Its not my problem, its theirs, they should go get counsiling and get off my back. You see, this is the cunning feature of addiction. Not only do addicts rationalize their drug use, they also rationalize faulting others who point it out to them.
I am pressed for time, but one point I'd like to stress;
The symptoms of addiction vary from person to person or drug to drug, but the one thing that stands true of all addicts... and certainly even non-addicts, when it makes you feel goooooooood, you develope a desire to do more. That desire is addiction. Even Gamblers who take no drug yet are compelled to continue spinning the wheel, sometimes taking them down as hard and fast as the most hardened drug addict who holds on to their dreams all the way to the gates of death.
While stimulants may affect an ADD subject in some ways differently than a non-ADD subject, they effect the same areas in both. A speed freak (or addict) will certainly acknowledge they function much better while self-medicating..."oh, I feel so much better, I can concentrate, I have energy to get my work done, loosing all those unwanted pounds".... I am certain that a large portion of patients who are diagnosed ADD are...or will become speed freaks. Addiction doesen't discriminate. It will grab innocent people...even children for God's sake, just as easily as it grabs criminal addicts running willy-nilly through the allies & streets robbing and killing to feed their addiction... hell, they may have got started as ADD patients.
KIDD
I still haven't told anyone in my family that I've been diagnosed and
am taking stimulants. But a month or two ago, while I was waiting
to see the psychiatrist, I sort of tested the waters a bit and
mentioned something about Adderall to my brother. (I had just
heard of my sister-in-law's boyfriend getting busted for possessing it
without a prescription.)
Anyway, I made the point that if he had the Adderall, he might possibly
have needed it...as in, he probably has ADD. I've met the guy and
he seemed to have definate symptoms.
My brother's response was, "It just makes you super focused."
Kind of like his view was that it would make ANYONE focused.
It also made me wonder if my brother had ever taken it....just my intuition. Got a funny vibe.
So, if you take a stimulant and it works, do you have ADD? What
happens if you don't have ADD? Nothing? I am guessing in my
naiveness that if someone who does NOT have ADD possesses and uses
stimulants, they are probably taking quite a bit of it, abusing it, to
get an effect.
Clue me in....
[QUOTE=KIDD_ROCKS4444]
.... I am certain that a large portion of patients who are diagnosed ADD are...or will become speed freaks. Addiction doesen't discriminate. It will grab innocent people...even children for God's sake, just as easily as it grabs criminal addicts running willy-nilly through the allies & streets robbing and killing to feed their addiction... hell, they may have got started as ADD patients.
KIDD
[/QUOTE]
Okay, but how does one discern the difference between an "addict" and someone who "takes their meds regularly"? By all INward appearances, the two behaviors could appear identical. The question really is: How does the drug-taking person interact with society?
Addicts are usually defined as people who cannot control their behavior as it is connected to the substances in question. The addict could be defined as someone who takes a drug or alcohol, and almost always displays odd, dysfunctional, or unsafe personal and social behavior, like always trying to get more of the drug, acting really different or strange when under the influence, rapid weight loss, and especially work/school/money/legal problems that suddenly appear when they begin taking the drug. In other words, they seem to become a different person for the worst.
On the other hand, a non-addict is someone whose life is improved when taking the drug, even if they take the drug constantly. They don't display dangerous or socially unacceptable behaviors, and the drug(s) seem to actually improve the quality of their life, and the people close to them can see the difference. Just because a person takes a potentially "addictive" drug every day does not always mean they are an addict.
Some people, especially AA types, disagree with this definition, and believe an addict is someone who takes any kind of substance at all. Any kind of "drug" or alcohol use is bad. In that case, ADDers who take their speed everyday are by that definition, speed-freaks. Even kids.
I completely disagree with that approach. Humans have been deliberately changing the chemistry of their brains in various ways since the dawn of time. For example, someone who works out every day is altering their chemistry by increasing the amount of endorphins in their brain. Regular work-outs can become "addictive" because of this. Does that make them an addict? Perhaps. If the person spends all their spare time working out, and neglects other responsibilities like family, then yes, that person could be "addicted" to exercise.
I think regular drug use, (usually with a physician's approval) of certain drugs with certain people is fine, as long as they don't cross certain lines, like violent or dysfunctional behavior. They have to behave themselves, and their friends and family shouldn't "notice" anything odd about them. But once a person attracts attention in a seriously negative way, or if they are suddenly showing negative physical symptoms, and it seems to be from the drug, then that person needs to reconsider whether or not they should be taking the drug. If they absolutely refuse, or deny they are having problems, or if they agree and then fail to meet that agreement, then they might be an addict.
Sometimes friends and family overreact to the discovery of a person's drug use, in which case, the problem is not with the drug taker, but with the family. In that case family counseling might be the best option. If the drug taker has not exhibited odd behavior, then it's probably okay for them to continue.
Obviously, if the drug use is illegal or unauthorized, then it probably is a problem, period. Unfortunately, that's the way our society operates, and until our laws change, that's simply the way it is. With marijuana, some states and countries have very relaxed laws, so this is a grey area for now. But with all the other Schedule I drugs, then, yes, just taking them is not a good idea because of the possible legal problems.
This may seem too lenient to some folks, but it's the only way to reconcile people taking socially-approved "speed" every day for ADD or methadone for opiate addiction, or even insulin or cholesterol meds caused by a person's poor, high-sugar or high-fat diet. They made the decision to eat all those steaks, even though they probably knew it would cause heart problems later. Are they "addicted" to steaks? Well yes, in a way, they are. Of course, chronic sirloin consumption is probably not as dangerous as chronic cocaine consumption!
As long as the drug taking person is aware of their personal and social responsibilities when taking or under the influence of the drug, and they don't cause harm in the ways mentioned above, then they should not be considered an addict.
ADHD meds will usually not help a person who does not have ADHD, some do abuse them.
Studies have shown that Children and teens who are undiagnosed/refused meds will self medicate as they get older.