What Are Stimulants?
Stimulants are a category of drug that aid individuals who suffer from cognitive disorders, weight issues, and sluggishness. Often referred to as uppers, stimulants are commonly associated with conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Doctors prescribe stimulants to individuals of all ages with varying prescription drug brand names and doses, depending on the individual’s needs and severity of the condition.
While stimulants are commonly thought to be prescription drugs, there are also drugs classified under the same category that fit into illicit drugs, such as methamphetamine and cocaine.
Common Stimulants Include:
Consequences of Stimulant Use and Misuse
The effects of stimulants are attractive to a lot of users. Those using prescription stimulant medications are typically looking to benefit from the energy and focus-producing effects. However, there are negative side-effects that come along with them as well.
After getting accustomed to the boosted feelings a user receives, individuals have a high tendency of becoming hooked on them. The feeling of normal then becomes associated with taking them and going without them for a full day begins to feel like a challenge.
As with many substances, the more an individual uses a stimulant, the more difficult it is to stop. Dependency builds in the form of chemical addiction and physical addiction and the process of weening yourself off of the drug can be frustrating and exhausting.
After enough time, users can become dependent and begin experiencing withdrawal symptoms if they attempt to reduce their dosage or go without it at all. Users, more often than not, also experience mood changes frequently and resort back to their stimulant to remedy their ill feelings.
It’s not uncommon to see weight loss, either, since these medications increase heart-rate and reduce appetite. Many users have difficulties with sleeping and find themselves relying on another substance to bring them down at the end of the day, which can lead to other addictive behaviors.
