Are us humans really able to sit in a classroom all day, reading and writing? Some experts suggest that not everyone can sit studiously and concentrate all day. Others see the modern day classroom as an extension of what humans developed abilities for millions of years ago to avoid predators and acquire food.
Regardless of which side you lean toward more, many people are experiencing problems with focus and motivation to complete assignments, projects or just sit and listen for hours a day. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), is a mental illness according to data by the U.S. Department of Health. It can also create serious problems for those living with it. There are more theories and opinions about ADHD and how to treat it than most other disorders. The issues surrounding ADHD amphetamines center around the dangerous nature of the treatment options.
What is ADHD?
ADHD is a mental illness that makes inhibits someone’s ability to focus, control their behavior, and may cause hyperactive tendencies. There are 3 different versions of this diagnosis, and a person may present as either “predominately inattentive,” “predominantly hyperactive-impulsive” or a combination of the two.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC), says that ADHD is one of the most common types of developmental disorders. People with ADHD often have trouble at school and experience significant set-backs as a result of being different than their peers. Emotional problems and additional mental health issues may develop as a secondary problem to the ADHD, including anxiety and depression.
When children are young, fitting in with peers is of the utmost importance. With ADHD symptoms, fitting in is often far from a reality for many children. When you have a young child who hates to go to school and struggles to perform tasks seem easy for his or her peers, it is only natural to go to any length to fix the problem.
ADHD Treatment Options
The first step in finding relief from symptoms for those affected by the attention disorder is to find a knowledgeable psychiatrist and schedule testing. Your doctor may recommend ADHD amphetamines as medication after the test results are in. These prescription drugs can be greatly beneficial when taken correctly and coupled with therapy.
There are many other ways to address ADHD as well. Some popular methods include diet and exercise, therapy and medications that are not amphetamines. Many people have had great success with these options and the best part is that they have few side effects.
Amphetamine medications used to treat ADHD have plenty of serious side effects and few people actually see a therapist on a regular basis as recommended. The idea is that the drugs help while the individual develops new life skills and coping skills so that he or she doesn’t have to take the drugs forever. The problem is, however, that the drugs can be so powerful that few people want to stop taking them.
ADHD amphetamine prescription medications are also addictive, according to many medical experts. The topic is highly debated, however, and few unbiased, comprehensive studies have been done, making the issue often a matter of opinion and experience.
Those who deal with addiction on a regular basis argue that people presenting with addiction issues often have problems with their ADHD medication if they have them. Many think that these drugs can lead to addiction.
Another problem often seen by experts in both psychiatry and addiction medicine is that other psychoactive medications are often co-prescribed in addition to ADHD amphetamines to combat side effects.
Which Prescription Drugs Cause Problems?
Just about any substance or behavior can become addictive, however drugs that affect certain neurotransmitters are most commonly abused. Such drugs include amphetamines, pain medicine and central nervous system (CNS) depressants.
Amphetamines are prescribed for ADHD symptoms and include drugs like Adderall, Vyvanse, and Ritalin. Opinions on the ease by which these drugs become addictive is highly contended. Some believe that any amount of these drugs for any length of time can cause addiction. Others are saying that only if the use of the drug is not in line with the prescription, then it’s addictive.
Most experts agree that these substances can be addictive no matter how you take them. However, not everyone becomes addicted. These drugs can cause severe mental and organ damage the longer a person uses the drug and cardiac arrest is always a possibility.
Pain medicine that is addictive includes any and all opioids and opiates. Opiates include heroin and morphine, while opioids include prescription narcotics such as Oxycodone, Vicodin, and Norco. Though these drugs are addictive, they are unlikely to be prescribed for mental health issues such as ADHD.
Central Nervous System (CNS) depressants include drugs like benzodiazepines. Klonopin, Xanax, and Valium are all benzodiazepines and affect the neurotransmitter GABA. While these drugs create a calming effect, they can also create dependence and addiction. People who take benzos for an extended period of time are likely to develop a dependence. Addiction to these drugs is often in people with an addiction to more than one substance as their effectiveness wears off.
Sleeping medications can also be addictive and are often co-prescribed with ADHD amphetamines to combat side effects. As a rule, drugs like Lunesta and Ambien should only be taken for a short period of time.
Overcoming Symptoms of ADHD
The world of prescription drugs gets scarier every day. Even though many drugs are only to be taken after other treatment options have been tried, you may still find that these drug therapies work well for you.
Millions of people use drug therapy to treat their ADHD every year and not everyone has an addiction. There may be a healthy way to take these prescriptions and it includes other efforts to overcome symptoms of ADHD. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies can work wonders for rerouting brain pathways and learning new ways of approaching life and struggles.
Other methods for treating this mental illness involves the use of drug therapy with medication to minimize the amount a person needs. Over time, you may find you grow out of the learning disability and need progressively less medication. Whatever path you chose, you have options to help you or your loved one overcome ADHD. Your future is bright and whatever you make of it.
