Stimulants Use Disorder
Stimulants Use Disorder
WHAT WE TREAT
Clinic Hours
Monday
9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Tuesday
9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Wednesday
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Thursday
9:00 am - 2:00 pm
What are Stimulants?
A stimulant is a type of drug that can boost alertness and attention. Also known as ‘uppers’, these are typically abused because of their euphoric effects and their ability to enhance one’s performance. Generally, those who take high doses of this substance experience heightened energy levels and increased focus. The most commonly used stimulants include cocaine, nicotine, methamphetamine, as well as prescription stimulants, like Ritalin, Adderall, and Concerta.
While stimulants are intended to treat certain conditions such as ADHD, clinical depression, and narcolepsy, they could also be potentially addictive. This drug could give your body a quick jump-start, elevating blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration. Using stimulants for a long period could disrupt dopamine levels in the brain, causing the inability of a person to develop good feelings on their own. Unfortunately, some people have grown dependent on stimulants because they want the pleasurable feelings produced by the drug to continue.
As the long-term abuse of these drugs can bring dire consequences, a person must undergo addiction treatment as soon as possible. This helps address the problem safely and break the cycle of addiction.
Signs and Symptoms of Stimulant Use
Using a stimulant for reasons other than medical treatment could be a sign that you have developed a drug addiction. The symptoms may differ from one person to another, but the common signs of stimulant addiction include:
- Enhanced sensory awareness Enhanced sensory awareness
- Hallucinations and delusions
- Poor decision-making
- Changes in eating patterns (usually decrease in appetite)
- Insomnia
- Mood swings, panic attacks, and anxiety
- Strong urges to take the drug
- Taking more of the drug than prescribed and for a longer period
- Failure to meet usual obligations because of drug abuse
- Feeling depressed and fatigued when not taking stimulants
- Having physical or psychological problems as a result of substance abuse
- Having experienced withdrawal symptoms while trying to stop taking stimulants
Common Causes of Stimulant Addiction
Professionals in the field of mental health and addiction believe that there are different causes and risk factors linked to stimulant abuse – this includes genetic and environmental factors. Those who have first-degree, biological family members with a history of chemical dependency may struggle with addiction eventually. Besides this, the environment to which the individual is exposed could also influence him or her to develop an addiction.
Get Help For Your Stimulant Addiction
If you are struggling with stimulant use disorder, seeking professional care is advisable for the best chance at a complete recovery. Dr. Andrei Dokukin can help you get your life back on track. Our team uses an evidence-based approach to help patients get rid of their addiction. Give us a call to find more details about our programs.
Take the first steps to recovery
Dr. Andrei Dokukin can help you manage a challenging addiction. Feel free to call us and let’s talk about your needs.
