Stimulant Addiction: Signs and Symptoms

Prescription and illicit stimulants are common drugs of misuse. Learn more about the side effects, signs and symptoms of stimulant use.

Stimulants are a large class of drugs that work by stimulating the central nervous system (CNS). These drugs can promote wakefulness, alertness and concentration. Stimulants include illicit drugs like methamphetamine, prescription drugs like Adderall and over-the-counter drugs like caffeine and nicotine. Stimulant drugs can be natural or synthetic.

Because the drug class is so large, there is a range of risks that are associated with different types of stimulants. Many types of stimulants can cause the development of tolerance, dependence, and addiction. Prescription and illicit stimulants also have additional risks associated with use.

Stimulant drug abuse is widespread, and “study drugs” like Ritalin and Adderall have been a source of concern recently. High school and college students are at high risk for misusing these drugs, which can lead to potentially negative outcomes.

Before getting into the details of stimulant addiction, it may be helpful to understand a few terms:

The various classes of amphetamines are chemically diverse, and each type of amphetamine can have very different effects on the brain. One amphetamine may lead to only mild dependence, but another may lead to significant dependence or addiction. If dependence or addiction occurs, a person would need constant drug administration and ever-increasing doses to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

Are Stimulants Addictive?

In most cases, legal stimulants are associated with a risk for dependence. When taken as prescribed, stimulant medication for ADHD treatment has a relatively low risk for addiction. However, tolerance to stimulants develops rapidly when they are taken regularly, even as directed. Chronic misuse of legal stimulants increases the risk that dependence will progress into an addiction.

Commonly abused prescription stimulants include:

Many illegal stimulants have a high risk for addiction. For example, cocaine and methamphetamine are notoriously addictive. People who have developed a serious addiction to these drugs may behave uncharacteristically in order to obtain more of their drug of choice. For example, someone struggling with addiction may steal from loved ones to purchase more drugs.

Commonly abused illicit stimulants include:

Stimulant effects often include:

Large doses of potent stimulants like methamphetamine may reduce the ability to focus. It can also cause paranoia, aggression and abnormal or repetitive behaviors (toe-tapping, pacing). Some people may compulsively perform mechanical tasks like organizing or sorting objects.

Stimulant Addiction Statistics

Data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) shows that prescription drugs were misused by 2.1% of American adults, and 0.2% met the criteria for having a stimulant use disorder. According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 2.2% of American adults reported having used cocaine within the previous year, and 0.7% had used methamphetamine.

The group with the highest rate of prescription stimulant abuse is college students. In 2018, 2.5% of students reported that they had misused prescription stimulants within the past year. Compared to students, only 1.1% of people aged 18 to 22 who were not enrolled in college reported misusing stimulants. However, college students were less likely to use methamphetamine (0.1%) than people of the same age who were not enrolled in college (0.3%).

Young people have the highest risk for long-term adverse consequences associated with stimulant misuse. Studies have shown that chronic stimulant misuse is associated with worse academic performance and increased risk for future substance use disorders.

How Are Stimulants Abused?

Stimulants can be misused in many ways. In most cases of stimulant misuse, someone with a legitimate prescription will take more stimulant pills than they are directed to take. In addition, people may crush and snort the powder, dissolve the pills in liquid or even inject the dissolved stimulant into a vein.

When someone abuses stimulants, they put themselves at risk for serious adverse short- and long-term health consequences. These include high blood pressure, heart damage and increased risk for mental health disorders and addiction.

Signs of Stimulant Addiction

There are a few signs of stimulant abuse and addiction that can be observed by friends or family members. Common signs of stimulant abuse include:

Side Effects of Stimulant Addiction

Legal and illegal stimulants often have overlapping short- and long-term side effects:

Short-term effects associated with stimulant misuse include positive effects like high energy levels, reduced need for sleep, increased motivation and improved ability to focus. Negative effects include anxiety, jitteriness, rapid heart rate, increased blood pressure, increased body temperature, excessive sweating, and headache.

Long-term side effects may not be present in all cases of stimulant misuse. When they are present, they typically include prolonged depression, loss of pleasure, high blood pressure and manic episodes. In rare cases, chronic stimulant misuse can lead to stimulant-induced psychosis and hallucinations.

Combining stimulants with other drugs or alcohol can be very dangerous and even lethal. Many people enjoy combining stimulants and depressants like alcohol because stimulants can enhance the effects of other drugs and increase the amount of time that someone can use other drugs. This is incredibly dangerous, however, and many drug overdoses are associated with polysubstance abuse.

Can You Overdose on Stimulants?

It is possible to overdose on stimulants, including legal, over-the-counter drugs like caffeine. Signs of a stimulant overdose include:

Stimulant overdoses can be life-threatening. If an overdose is suspected, call 911 immediately. Overdose treatment should be done in a hospital setting where medical professionals can administer sedatives to limit the risk of a stroke or heart attack.

Stimulant Withdrawal and Addiction Treatment

Stimulant withdrawal symptoms set in when someone reduces the dose or quits taking the drug altogether. Withdrawal symptoms can be very uncomfortable, but these symptoms typically vary from person to person. Withdrawal symptom severity is typically related to the amount used, frequency of use and the level of dependence or addiction.

Withdrawal symptoms usually set in within 12–24 hours after the last dose. People often experience anxiety, restlessness and drug cravings. In the next couple of days, fatigue and long periods of sleep are common. After the first few days, insomnia, depression, irritability and mood swings are common. These symptoms may last for a week or more, depending on the severity of withdrawal.

For people who are struggling to quit using stimulants, professional treatment may be the best course of action. In addition to providing a safe and supportive environment, professional rehab facilities help to minimize triggers that can derail the early recovery.

See Related: How long does Vyvanse withdrawal last?