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Addicted to stimulants! Whirling out of control? You can get off the merry go round and regain your life. Find stimulant addiction treatment. Call Recovery Connection's helpline 24/7 and speak with one of specially trained coordinators. All calls are confidential and free of charge.
Stimulants are a class of drugs that produce a lift in mood, induce feelings of well-being, and provide an increase in energy. They stimulate activity in the central nervous system and the sympathetic peripheral nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system connects the internal organs to the brain via the spinal cord nerves. Many of these drugs are on the DEA’s Schedule II list of drugs.
Some of these drugs are legally prescribed medications others are illicit. Generally, stimulants are taken in tablet form, snorted, injected or smoked in crystal form. There are differences in the drugs effects depending upon the route of absorption. The drugs injected or smoked will provide the addict with a rush or quick high. Snorting or swallowing will produce a slightly less intense high but the high will last longer. In some instances, the rapid onset of the high is within minutes replaced by a rapid decline or more commonly described as a crash.
Some of common stimulants of abuse include:
Stimulants, as with other drugs, are different from one and another. But generally, they work upon the brain by changing cell communications. The chemicals released by the cells are called neurotransmitters (the way the brain and body cells communicate). Dopamine is the one neurotransmitter affected most by stimulants. Chronic use of stimulants impedes the working of the dopamine neurotransmitters.
Stimulants initially produce feeling of pleasure. But with chronic use, these feelings diminish and require more and more of the substance to feel the effects of these drugs.
Use of stimulants goes back thousands of years to the use of herbal preparations in China. The most common source of stimulant over the centuries has been the coca leaf. The Spanish warriors coming to South America were introduced to the coca leaf which they noted decreased their need for sleep while increasing their energy. It was not until 1860, that the active ingredient in cocaine was isolated. Coca-Cola, which originally contained cocaine, was commercially introduced in 1886. It was around this same time that the first medical use of cocaine, as an local anesthetic was noted. By 1903, cocaine was removed from the popular drink. In 1914, the Harrison Narcotic Act banned cocaine from over-the-counter medications as well as from beverages and food. Cocaine became a prescription drug.
Synthetic stimulants appeared between late 1880s and 1920s. Amphetamines quickly replaced cocaine as the drug of choice, as it was less expensive.
Stimulant abuse and dependence has grown at terrifying rates since the turn of the twentieth century. In 1970, the Controlled Substance Act was passed which placed cocaine, amphetamine, and methamphetamines on the Schedule II list because of the great potential for addiction and the restriction on medical use. According to the 2005 Dawn survey, cocaine was the drug most associated with visits to the emergency room.
Chronic stimulant users can engage in what is known as bing-abstinence behavior. The addict will move through levels of high use followed by periods of non use. But, as it is with other episodes of binge eating, or binge drinking, the user will return to drug use for another episode of binging.
Stimulant withdrawal will probably not be life threatening but extreme moods and behavioral agitation can occur. These symptoms include:
Stimulant withdrawal symptoms may need to be managed in a medically based detox unit, especially to handle the psychological withdrawal symptoms that will occur. Withdrawal symptoms can last from 3 to 5 days from last use but triggers can bring on cravings years after use has stopped. Medications can help the addict move through withdrawal more comfortably.
Stimulant treatment can only work once the addict has completed detox from drugs and alcohol. Then addiction treatment should begin immediately. Treatment will provide the addict with an understanding of addiction, tools to handle stress and triggers, and in a quality treatment program, the addict will be treated for a dual diagnosis, if it exists. Treatment in a scientifically, medically based program can help a stimulant addict overcome the devastation of addiction.
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