Amphetamines have long been regarded as a class of drugs that are very easy to get addicted to for a portion of the people that use them. The drug comes in various forms and may be more commonly known by their street names such as speed, Adderall, and meth. Many patients are prescribed different types of amphetamines to help them deal with disorders such as sleeping issues like narcolepsy or conditions that may involve attention deficit disorders such as ADHD.
It is very easy for patients to become addicted to the psychological effects that amphetamines provide and a person can quickly find himself or herself abusing the drug. This can drastically affect their health and lifestyle. When this happens, the best step you can take is to seek out some amphetamine addiction treatment at an inpatient amphetamine rehab center.
What Can Happen During Amphetamine Addiction
Amphetamine addiction occurs to individuals who are looking for a quick way to help them stay awake longer, have more energy and even a heightened state of awareness. There are those that feel they can benefit most with the help of the drug when they have jobs that may require long hours of work. Students who spend long hours studying for exams and truck drivers are another two examples of individuals that may use the drug to stay awake for longer periods of time or need a higher level of concentration.
Unfortunately, if the drug is abused in this way, then patients can suffer an addiction to its effects and may have to attend an amphetamine rehabilitation center for some treatment. People can build a very quick tolerance to amphetamines so the body reacts less and less to the initial dosage taken and needs more of the drug in order to achieve the desired effects. This will cause a person to use the drug more frequently and at higher dosages than before, breaking down any resistance they may have had to the drug.
Amphetamines Can Have Very Harmful Long-Term Effects
There are short-term health risks associated with taking amphetamines such as rapid heartbeat, hypersensitivity, irritability and hallucinations, just to name a few. The long-term effects of amphetamine abuse can be worse, leading to very serious physical and psychological issues. Some of the long-term effects include:
- Chemical Changes in the Brain – Your brain can be deeply affected by the use and abuse of amphetamines. The drug can cause a change to occur in the chemical balance of your nervous system. This affects the way that you respond to physical stimuli and pleasure, which leads to an overproduction of the chemical known as dopamine. Dopamine is involved in the pleasure sensors of your brain, giving you the high feeling you get from taking the drug. An overproduction of dopamine can lead to a lack of the ability to produce this chemical naturally, meaning you will no longer be able to achieve feelings of happiness or excitement without the drug. This is something that is not always resolved even if one undergoes treatment.
- Long-term Depression – Many people report feelings of depression in the short-term as they come down off of the high from amphetamines, but depression can be a long-term effect of the drug as well. Since your brain will not be producing the dopamine it needs naturally for you to feel pleasure and happiness, people that are addicted to amphetamines are more prone to serious bouts of depression, which leads to higher chance of suicidal thoughts and tendencies in patients.
- Psychosis – If the addiction is left untreated for a long period of time, many addicts have reported slipping into a state of psychosis that has often been likened to schizophrenia. There are extreme states of paranoia and psychosis that have been documented where the patient needs ongoing treatment for months or even years.
