
Other environmental influences include having an unstable home life during childhood and associating with individuals who abuse amphetamines. Heritable traits such as impulsivity can also increase a person’s risk for stimulant use disorder.Įnvironmental: Being prescribed a medication that contains amphetamine can be an environmental influence on the development of amphetamine abuse and addiction, as can early exposure to amphetamines and ease of access to such drugs. Stimulants such as amphetamines and cocaine do not.

Family history of mental illness and substance abuse is a strong predictor of future problems with a stimulant use disorder. Amphetamine dependence refers to a state of psychological dependence on a drug in the amphetamine class. Genetic: Research strongly suggests that genetics play a significant role in determining whether or not a person will struggle with substance abuse and addiction.

“The drug causes a jumpy, jittery appearance as it speeds you up, but when coming down off of it or between uses, may appear the opposite because are having drug withdrawal,” Saltz says.
AMPHETAMINE ABUSE PROFESSIONAL
This anxiety can lead to insomnia, which can affect your personal and professional life. Gail Saltz, MD, clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the Weill Cornell School of Medicine, describes what can happen to WebMD Connect to Care: “The person once ate normally, but now they don't eat, or eat very little, and may experience weight loss.” Increased Anxiety and InsomniaĪ 2020 study published in Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry found that anxiety sensitivity was more common in amphetamine users than in those who do not use amphetamines. Therefore, abuse of these medications can lead to changes in weight as well. Metabolic Changesĭrugs containing amphetamine, such as Adderall, can suppress your appetite and cause your body to burn up calories at a higher rate than normal. Memory LossĪccording to a 2020 study published in Molecular Psychiatry, long-term amphetamine abuse can impair short- and long-term memory. Abuse of amphetamines administered intravenously has become a well established and extensive form of drug abuse. This level of abuse can lead to more severe-and illegal-use of the drug to get high. This method gets the drug into your bloodstream and to your brain almost immediately, creating an intense high. Misuse of amphetamines may also involve dissolving the powder in water and injecting it. Crushing the pills and snorting them can give you a stronger high more quickly.

Using an amphetamine in a way that your prescribing medical provider did not intend may be a sign of addiction.Īccording to American Addiction Centers, swallowing amphetamine pills can cause a mild high. The definition of ATS abuse is ‘‘a maladaptive pattern of substance use manifested by recurrent and significant adverse consequences related to the repeated use of substances’’. Using the medication in a non-prescribed manner Amphetamine is frequently used for pleasure and abused because of the addictive properties. While these types of medications are commonly available with a prescription, it's important to note that they carry a risk for abuse. Here are five signs you may have an amphetamine addiction. Some of the more serious amphetamine abuse side effects include: Malnutrition. In some cases, long-term abuse can lead to life-threatening diseases and/or debilitating mental illness. This results in a feeling of higher energy, focus, and confidence. Amphetamines can cause serious chronic mental and physical health problems if used over a long period of time.

An amphetamine is a central nervous system stimulant that increases certain types of brain activity.
