Medically Assisted Stimulant Detox

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant, more commonly known simply as “meth.” It is usually found in either powder or crystal form, and it can be used in a multitude of fashions, from smoking the drug to injecting it intravenously. Its popularity as a recreational drug is due to the initial rush of euphoria that accompanies it. However, once that initial rush has passed, emotions generally get more negative, with feelings of anger and fear being common during the “crash.”

One of the most well-known stimulants in the world, cocaine is a highly addictive drug made from and named for the South American coca plant. Cocaine usually comes in the form of a fine white powder, though the popular “crack” form comes as crystallized rocks. Cocaine and crack cocaine can be used via a multitude of methods; the most common form of ingestion for powdered cocaine is snorting the drug, and the most common method for crack cocaine is to smoke it.

Prescription stimulant drugs like Ritalin and Adderall are often prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a condition that affects an individual’s ability to focus and control impulses. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 11 percent of people 4-17 years old had been diagnosed with ADHD as of 2011.

While prescription stimulants can be necessary for those who actually suffer from ADHD, they are commonly abused by those without the disorder in an effort to improve focus or cognitive capabilities. They are often referred to as “study drugs” and abused by high school and college students who take them before cramming for finals or in an effort to manage the many demands of an active academic, extracurricular, and social schedule. According to the CDC, about 20 percent of high school students in 2009 admitted to taking a prescription stimulant without a valid prescription.

In some instances, individuals become addicted to stimulants after using a prescription medication (such as Adderall) for a prolonged period of time. They may not even realize that an addiction has developed until they attempt to stop their medication. In other cases, a person may use prescription or illegal stimulants recreationally for the "high" they create, and may find that a dependence develops with regular use.

Regardless of how addiction occurs, symptoms of stimulant withdrawal can be difficult to manage without treatment, leading to physical and mental health issues.