Stimulant Addiction
From boardrooms to classrooms, executives and students alike rely on caffeine to stay alert during long work hours or all-night study sessions. But not all stimulants can have positive effects. Stimulant addiction is a growing problem that affects many lives every day.
If you are addicted to stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamine, NOLA Detox and Recovery Center can help you with your rehabilitation.
What Is a Stimulant?
A stimulant is a drug that speeds up the body’s activities. It increases heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Stimulants can also make people feel excited and energetic. There are both legal and illegal forms of stimulants. Some of the more common legal forms of stimulants are caffeine and nicotine. Illegal forms of stimulants include:
Cocaine
Methamphetamine (Crystal Meth)
Ecstasy (MDMA)
Phencyclidine (PCP)
When prescribed by a doctor, stimulants can help with medical conditions.
For example, they can be used as a temporary treatment for obesity. They are also prescribed to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy (a condition that makes people feel extremely sleepy). Stimulants increase alertness and concentration in these conditions; however, prolonged use of stimulants does not improve ADHD or narcolepsy symptoms.
Commonly abused stimulants
Even though some forms of stimulants are legal, they can still be abused. Legal stimulants that are commonly abused include:
Caffeine
Nicotine
Phentermine
Methamphetamine
Stimulant Use Disorder
Stimulant abuse is more common than you may think. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), an estimated 31 million people ages 12 and older used stimulants in 2015, a number that has continued to rise since. This number includes both legal and illegal forms of stimulants. The people who are most at risk of abusing stimulants are young adults. One study found that the rate of stimulant use disorder in 18- to 29-year-olds is higher than all other age groups when compared by drug, gender, and ethnicity/race. People who abuse these drugs tend to be male; however, there has been an increase in women using stimulants.
Using illegal stimulants like cocaine, meth, and MDMA can radically affect your long-term health.
Long term psychological effects include:
Hallucinations
Paranoia
Delusions
Depression
Persistent anxiety
Long term physical effects include:
Stroke
Seizure
Muscle deterioration
Reduced sexual functioning
Cardiovascular damage
Breathing problems
Recognizing Stimulant Abuse
When someone is abusing stimulants, they often appear to be:
Agitated
Anxious
Irritable
Jittery or “on edge”
When going through stimulant withdrawal, you may experience:
Depression
Fatigue
Sleep problems
Paranoia or hallucinations
Severe cravings for the drug
Diagnosing stimulant use disorder
Symptoms of stimulant abuse disorder include:
Failure to control usage and frequency of use
Intense cravings for stimulants
Increased use over time
Continued use despite negative consequences
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should seek help from a medical professional. To aid in making your diagnosis, your doctor will ask about your medical history and perform a physical exam. They may also order blood or urine tests to look for traces of stimulants in your system.
Stimulant Addiction Help
Inpatient rehab
Inpatient rehab, also known as residential treatment, is when a patient stays at a rehabilitative recovery center to receive treatment for stimulant addiction or other substance abuse disorders. NOLA Detox’s program is designed for 30-days, including the initial medical supervised period of detoxing. Services patients can expect to include help detoxing and multiple forms of therapy.
Outpatient rehab
Outpatient rehab is when you attend therapy sessions, receive help detoxing, and undergo physical examinations at a facility but return home afterward. This is a good option if you can’t take time off from work or school to attend inpatient rehab.
Therapy
Therapy can help you get to the root of your addiction and discover healthy coping skills. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can help you change the thoughts and behaviors that contribute to your addiction, and family therapy can help you repair your relationships with loved ones.
Support groups
Support groups are a great way to connect with others who can relate and give you the support and encouragement needed to stay sober.
Stimulant Addiction Recovery
Abusing stimulants can harm your relationships and health. After you have detoxed and begin to assimilate back into your regular life and routine, it’s essential to have a recovery plan. Things that can help you recover from stimulant addiction include:
Joining a support group
Exploring what underlying issues led you to stimulant abuse
Keeping track of your triggers
Learning to experience emotions instead of avoiding them
Avoiding situations or people that may lead you to use
FAQs
How long does stimulant addiction recovery take?
How much does stimulant addiction treatment cost?
NOLA Detox and Recovery Center’s goal is to remove financial barriers, so patients can get the help they need.
Full and partial treatment scholarships are available at NOLA Detox and Recovery Center. NOLA Detox also accepts most insurances and offers payment plans.
Is coffee an addictive stimulant?
Getting Started
The professionals at NOLA Detox and Recovery Center have the knowledge and experience to help you recover from your stimulant addiction. Contact us at (504) 446-1111, or visit our campus today to get started.
FEEL
BETTER
FASTER.
Louisiana’s Premier Addiction Treatment Program
Addiction is not your fault, but it is your responsibility. If you’re on our site, you’re likely facing a critical situation. We are here for you and committed to providing the care you need.
NOLA Detox offers same-day admissions and is available 24/7.
Admissions by appointment only.