Adderall Intervention

Adderall is a combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine that is prescribed for the treatment of symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy (a sleep disorder that causes excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden attacks of sleep).

The combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine is in a class of medications called central nervous system stimulants. They work by changing the amounts of certain natural substances in the brain.

Signs of Adderall Addiction

Adderall manipulates dopamine levels in the brain in a way very similar to cocaine; therefore long-term abuse lowers the quantity of dopamine in the brain, which in turn requires a user to take increasing amounts of Adderall to feel the same effects. Adderall withdrawal symptoms include:

Feeling unwell or unhappy
Feeling anxious or irritable
Feeling dizzy, confused, or sluggish
Nausea
Unusual skin sensations
Mood swings
Headache
Trouble sleeping
Sweating

Adderall Overdose Symptoms

If you know someone who may be abusing Adderall, you may need to watch for overdose symptoms. Symptoms of Adderall overdose may include:

Restlessness
Confusion
Aggressive behavior
Feelings of panic
Hallucinations
Fast breathing
Uncontrollable shaking
Fever
Dark red or brown-colored urine
Muscle weakness or aching
Tiredness or weakness
Depression
Fast or irregular heartbeat
Fainting
Dizziness
Blurred vision
Upset stomach
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Seizures
Coma

Intervention Tips

The following information is provided by The Partnership for a Drug-Free America advises:

Conduct the intervention in a setting that is familiar to the addicted individual, such as his or her home or a friend’s house.
Stay calm, but be prepared for anger, denial, and resentment. Many addicted individuals don’t get help until they’ve experienced the severe pain that’s commonly known as “hitting rock bottom.” Because an intervention is designed to head off this degree of devastation, the person with whom you are intervening may not believe his or her problem is as bad as you are saying it is.
Don’t label the person. Telling someone that he or she is an alcoholic or addict can be counterproductive to your effort to remind that person that you’re on his or her side.
Talk in “I statements,” and stick to what you know, not what you’ve heard. Your words will have much more meaning when they are specific and personal (for example, “It hurts me that I can’t let you babysit my children anymore, but the last time I let you, you showed up high.”)
Remain supportive and focus on the hopeful aspects of change. Though you will be telling your friend or family member some very difficult things about his or her behavior, don’t let that person lose sight of the fact that the purpose for this intervention is that you (and anyone else who is participating) believe he or she can get better.