Stimulant Addiction

Stimulants are substances that increase central nervous system activity by enhancing the interaction of various neurotransmitters, including norepinephrine and dopamine. This increased interaction leads to an enhancement of attention, alertness, and energy. The combination of these traits creates the sensation that the person is at the best form and performance level ever achievable in life. This is why many consider stimulants to be a good thing, instead of being the highly dangerous substance that it is.

For starters, misuse of stimulants can generate numerous adverse effects on the brain such as psychosis, paranoia, and anger. This effect also extends to other effects, such as overdose toxicity and also severe physiological reactions such as heart attack, seizures, and stroke.

The neurological effects of stimulant abuse present the most by way of dangerous effects, as the sensations derived from the substance create a false sense of physical capacity. The enhanced self-esteem and confidence it gives could cause people to severely overestimate their capabilities, often putting themselves in great danger by the false sense of invincibility it gives. This false sense of invincibility also extends to the person’s ability to feel tired, weak, and hungry, often extending the hours of wakefulness and removing the sensation of hunger. Lack of sleep and nutrition will contribute greatly to the overexertion that a person on stimulants experiences, and this could lead to injury and even cardiac arrest.

The most common stimulants are typically the ones that are sold as prescription medications. Although these medications are heavily regulated, many are still able to get their hands on them and use them for illicit purposes. The irony of this is that a greater percentage of people with a heavy stimulant dependence use the substance primarily because of its “enhancement” properties, rather than the high or euphoric sensation it gives.

As stimulants affect the central nervous system directly, a host of effects could be expected to manifest from their misuse. These include:

• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Hypertension
• Tachycardia
• Chest pains
• Heart palpitations
• Difficulty breathing
• Loss of appetite
• Shakiness and tremors
• Profuse sweating
• Itchy skin
• Severe weight loss
• Increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke
• Increased risk of heart muscle damage
• Increased risk of cardiac arrest
• Impaired memory
• Cumulative lung damage (if stimulants are smoked)
• Severely impaired sexual performance
• Infertility
• Compromised immune system.
• Increased risk of infections (if stimulants are taken intravenously)
• Severe dental decay, gum disease, and rapid loss of teeth (meth mouth)
• Chronic respiratory system inflammation and/or damage to nasal mucosal surfaces (if stimulants are snorted)

Prolonged abuse of stimulants has also been observed to significantly affect the cognitive and proper behavioral functions of the person, often resulting in mental and behavioral patterns that are highly destructive and harmful to not only the person with the stimulant addiction but also to anyone around them. These include:

• Severe agitation
• Unwarranted aggression
• Uncharacteristic hostility
• Preference for isolation
• Unexplainable and uncharacteristic repetitive behaviors
• Impaired ability to think, remember, and communicate
• Inability to sleep
• A tendency towards inappropriate behavior
• Loss of coordination
• Sudden mood swings
• Psychosis
• Realistic hallucinations
• Paranoia
• Engaging in risky sexual behavior
• Incoherent speech
• Suicidal tendencies

Our treatment program is particularly unique because it takes a different path from the usual modes of treatment, and we have evidence to prove that this has worked far better than most others. Contact us to learn more.