Stimulant abuse and addiction are major public health threats throughout the U.S. The most commonly abused stimulant drugs include cocaine, crack cocaine and methamphetamine, and prescription stimulants (like Adderall, Ritalin, and Concerta). Interestingly enough, rates of prescription stimulant abuse have been skyrocketing throughout the country over the past several years.
Rates of Misused Prescribed Stimulants Among the US Population
The National Institute on Drug Abuse recently published the first comprehensive report on rates of prescription stimulant abuse throughout the country. The study took a thorough look at annual averages and found that 6.6 percent of the population (roughly 16 million men and women) abused a prescription stimulant at least once during the year prior. The rates of abuse are higher than the proper use rates – only 11 million men and women took a prescription stimulant as prescribed. When it comes to stimulant abuse – both the abuse of illegal stimulants and prescription stimulants – there is a wide range of related consequences. Many of these consequences remain consistent with other types of drug abuse—for example, loss of work and productivity, financial issues, legal issues, and strained interpersonal relationships.
In general, men and women addicted to stimulants of any kind experience mental health concerns more frequently than people addicted to other chemicals. So how exactly does stimulant abuse affect your mental health, and what steps can you take to restore your mental health once it has been compromised?
Several Ways that Stimulant Abuse Affects Mental Health
How does stimulant abuse affect mental health? These are several ways:
- Stimulant abuse can lead to the development of anxiety and panic disorder over time. Many men and women who struggle with stimulant abuse also struggle with anxiety and experience regular panic attacks. If this is the case, anti-anxiety medication might prove to be an essential part of the early recovery process.
- Some stimulant drugs like PHP, crack cocaine, and methamphetamine can lead to aggression and violent outbursts. While active in addiction, some people might act out in ways they never otherwise would. Once a person gets sober, these violent and aggressive outbursts could lead to deep feelings of guilt, shame, and self-loathing that must be thoroughly addressed in a treatment setting.
- Depending on what type of stimulant drug a person has been abusing, they might start to experience paranoia and auditory or visual hallucinations. Unfortunately, rather than step away from the substance and seek professional help, these disturbing symptoms usually lead a person to begin using more heavily – which can cause serious and permanent mental health problems.
Agape Treatment Center and Stimulant Abuse Recovery
Agape Treatment Center works to reverse all of the negative consequences of stimulant abuse, whether the consequences are physical, emotional, or psychological. In many cases, we utilize medication-assisted treatment for clients who have begun experiencing psychological symptoms after a prolonged stint with stimulant abuse, prescribing a short-term course of anti-anxiety medication or an antidepressant. Of course, addiction recovery is far from a one-size-fits-all process. What works for some clients will not work for others. For this reason, we conduct an in-depth assessment once a client is admitted to our treatment program. This assessment helps us determine which course of action is the most appropriate for each unique case.
Get Help For Stimulant Abuse and Addiction
In some instances, the negative psychological effects of substance abuse can be reversed with a short period of sobriety. The withdrawal process might prove difficult, but clients often find that once this period subsides, they begin to feel like their old selves again.
At Agape Treatment Center, we also have several psychological professionals on board who work with clients experiencing mental health concerns. No matter what you need, we have you covered. To learn more about our integrated program of stimulant abuse recovery, contact us today. We look forward to speaking with you and helping you however we can.
