Posts Tagged adderall

Amphetamines: The Good And The Bad

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Addiction, Prescription Drug Abuse on November 7th, 2010

Hundreds of years ago, getting sick was like receiving a death sentence. The absence of medication and the lack of knowledge about how to deal with certain illnesses – as well as the inaccessibility, or total absence, of health care – limited treatment options. The rich and the poor alike succumbed to the same illnesses, and there was hardly anything anyone can do about it.

Nowadays, there is more knowledge about medical conditions and how to treat them. Unfortunately, there are certain treatments that, while basically helpful to a legitimate patient, can bring harm when abused. Amphetamines are one of them.

Amphetamine-based medications are a known treatment option for ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. These medicines, which include Adderall and Dexedrine, have a calming effect on patients suffering from ADHD, and allow them to focus.

AdderallWhen taken by someone who doesn’t need them, however, amphetamines become harmful. According to a feature on The Clinical Advisor, amphetamines are taken by people who want to improve sharpness, or those who want to lose weight. Some abusers crush amphetamines, then inject or snort them; taking the drug in this manner produces a high that can be addictive.

According to the results of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), around 6.4 percent of full-time college students admitted to using stimulants such as amphetamines for non-medical purposes. Due to its popularity among college students, who use the drug so that they can perform better in school, Adderall is sometimes called “college crack” or “the Adderall advantage.”

This so-called “advantage,” however, comes at a price. Amphetamine abusers put themselves at risk for such serious side effects as seizures and mood disorders – and even stroke.

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Addiction to Prescription Drugs is on the rise

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Prescription Drug Abuse on July 20th, 2009

The untimely death of pop star Michael Jackson has once again raised the question “Are prescription drugs beneficial or harmful for health?” I believe that a majority of people will speak for the motion. But a few, like me who have had the opportunity to know the reality, will speak against it. Yes, addiction to prescription drugs is scaling up.

Such drugs are definitely useful when used as directed by the physician. But often they are misused – taken in larger doses.

A survey conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in 2007 has shown that around 15% of the US high school students abuse prescription drugs. Addiction to such drugs is prevalent mostly among young adults between 18 – 25 years who are unaware of the inherent danger.

The causes are easy availability and a common belief that such drugs are not harmful since they have been prescribed by doctors. “A safe way to get the high” said a senior student.

3 groups of prescribed drugs are generally abused –

• Opioids prescribed for relieving pain e.g. Morphine like Kodian and Avinza, Oxycodone like OxyContin and Percocet.

• Central Nervous System depressants that are used for treating anxiety, sleeplessness, e.g., Barbiturates like Mebaral and Nembutal, Benzodiazepines like Valium and Xanax.

• Stimulants that are prescribed to treat ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), obesity, narcolepsy e.g. Detroamphetamine like Dexedrine and Adderall, Methylphenidate like Ritalin and Concerta.

So please be aware of prescribed drugs. Keep in mind the fine line that differentiates between using and abusing such drugs. Remember they are as dangerous as illegal drugs like brown sugar since they are highly addictive and dangerous. Consult a doctor immediately if you feel that someone in your family is abusing prescription drugs.

Take the Tour: http://www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/prescription_dangerZones.asp

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