Adderall abuse treatment works to help the person detox and stop using Adderall, prevent relapse, and live a satisfying and productive life through a variety of counseling and behavioral therapy programs. Unlike opioid addiction treatments, there is no standard pharmacological approach for Adderall abuse treatment.
The Need for Adderall Abuse Treatment
Adderall is a prescription stimulant that has a high potential of abuse for its amphetamine producing effects of energy and euphoria when taken in higher than therapeutic doses. It is a preferred ADHD medication among college students who abuse it to gain an academic advantage by increasing wakefulness and concentration when studying for and taking exams.
According to the NIDA, “The reasons for the high prevalence of prescription drug abuse vary by age, gender, and other factors, but likely include greater availability.” Like other psychoactive drugs, Adderall abuse can lead to tolerance, dependence, and ultimately, addiction as well as the possibility of long-term health impairments, or worse, fatal overdose.
Providing a Safe and Effective Detox
Ceasing use can result in withdrawals that may require special medical or psychiatric interventions to prevent the person from harming their self or others. Adderall detox treatments work by helping the person eliminate the Adderall from the body safely and under-qualified staff supervision who can monitor for any complications that may occur.
The person may experience extreme anxiety, depression, suicidal or violent tendencies, hallucinations, and other psychosis as well as potentially life-threatening physical circumstances. Maintaining the comfort and support that these individuals need during detox is only a prelude to what they may need going forward.
Counseling and Behavioral Therapies
Counseling and behavioral therapy are an important part of Adderall abuse treatment.
In the long term, an Adderall abuser can suffer many ups and downs before, during, and after treatment. Learning how to identify problematic areas and cope with them, without having to use, is a process that requires making the right positive and healthy choices and changes in life.
Often, the negative physical and psychological issues are a result of neurological adjustments that have taken place over the repeat courses of use. The person’s brain actually becomes “hard-wired” to respond to cues or reminders of use that triggers cravings and the whole conditioned thought processes that reinforce behaviors of use. Learning to avoid these triggers and to strategically make changes for alternative behaviors takes as much insight and feedback as it takes time.
Counseling and behavioral therapies work by providing the structured guidance, support, education, and necessary tools and resources each person needs to overcome the consequences of Adderall abuse while achieving goals of recovery.
Relapse Prevention
For some individuals, the cravings for Adderall and adverse emotional and psychological issues can last or reappear months after the last dose. Relapse rates can be as high as other well-known stimulants such as cocaine or meth.
Therefore, group support is advocated and 12-step groups are introduced to provide fundamental aspects the person can follow and continue following after leaving treatment by attending A.A. or N.A. meetings.
