Stimulant Use Disorder: Symptoms, Risks, and Treatments
In This Article
What is Stimulant Use Disorder?
Stimulant use disorder is the condition of misusing various legal and illegal stimulants and developing a physical dependence on them. These substances don’t involve nicotine but include:
- Cocaine
- Methamphetamine
- Legal drugs, such as Adderall and Ritalin (for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD])
Stimulants, including prescription medications for mental disorders and ADD, can enhance cognitive performance and alertness. However, they carry a high risk of addiction.
Who is at Risk of Developing Stimulant Use Disorder?
Anyone who takes a stimulant drug, whether it’s prescription or not, is at risk of developing an addiction. However, certain factors put you at a greater risk of developing the disorder.
Those most at risk of developing stimulant use disorder include:
- Prescription users: Those using prescribed stimulants
- Illicit users: People using illegal stimulants
- People with psychiatric conditions: Particularly attention deficit disorders and depression
- Substance mixers: People combining stimulants with alcohol
- People with a family history of substance abuse: Especially with stimulant drug abuse and addiction
What Are the Risks of Stimulant Use?
Misuse of stimulant drugs, whether through prescription or illegal means, can lead to the development of a substance use disorder. This includes both stimulant use disorder and physical dependence on the drugs. Even those using prescription stimulants to manage mental illnesses like ADHD aren’t exempt from the potential for addiction.
Over 4.9 million Americans misuse prescription stimulants, with 50.7% of them using these drugs to enhance alertness and concentration. Their go-to drugs include methylphenidate, Provigil®, and amphetamine.
The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics
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What are the Symptoms of Stimulant Use Disorder?
Symptoms of stimulant use disorder include physical, behavioral, and cognitive issues. These physical and mental diagnostic criteria vary among stimulant users and depend on the type of substance use.
Some of the diagnostic criteria include, but are not limited to:
- Teeth grinding
- Aggression
- Rapid speech or excessive talking
- Engaging in high-risk behaviors
- Extreme weight loss
- Breathing difficulties
- Sexual impairment
- Disrupted sleep patterns
- Elevated blood pressure (hypertension)
- Dermatological complaints (e.g. constant itching)
- Paranoia and psychosis
- Hallucinations and confusion
- Enhanced sensory awareness
- A need to increase the dosage to get the same effects or the desired effect
- Impaired judgment and poor impulse-control
- Vacillating between high and low self-esteem
- Acute anxiety and panic disorder
- Suicidal ideation
- Stimulant withdrawal symptoms when not using the drug
- Sudden death
Common Types of Stimulants and What They Treat
Some of the most common stimulants include:
- Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)
- Dextroamphetamine/amphetamine combination (Adderall)
- Methylphenidate (Ritalin and Concerta)
The most common illicit stimulants include cocaine, MDMA (ecstasy/Molly), and methamphetamine. None of these drugs offer medical benefits, and all put users at risk of developing stimulant use disorder.
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What are the Health Effects of Stimulant Use Disorder?
The most common side effects of stimulant use disorder include:
- Brain chemistry alteration: Stimulants can affect neurotransmitter activity, contributing to physiological and cognitive changes
- Dopamine surge: The use of these drugs triggers a substantial release of dopamine in the brain
- Cardiovascular strain: Stimulants cause heightened blood pressure and accelerate heart and respiratory rates
- Functional dependence: Regular stimulant use leads to the body adapting to the drug, necessitating its presence for normal functioning
- Dependence: The body needs the drug to function normally once it adjusts to its presence
- Cardiac issues: Chronic stimulant use can lead to an irregular heart rate, heart failure, and potentially fatal seizures
- Diverse reactions: Users are at risk of muscular weakness, irregular heartbeat, suicide attempts, cardiac arrhythmias, intense drug cravings, and sudden death
- Stimulant intoxication: High doses, especially with other drugs, pose a severe risk for health emergencies or sudden death
- Secondary health problems (cocaine use): Causes damage to the nasal cavity and potentially lifelong issues with chronic use
- Withdrawal symptoms: Include anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, mood swings, hallucinations, headaches, and extreme cravings
- Energy reduction: Significant energy loss occurs as the stimulant drug wears off
Short-Term Effects
Short-term health effects of stimulant use disorder usually last a few hours and include:
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- Paranoia
- Withdrawal symptoms when not using the drug
- Decreased sexual function
- Poor judgment
- Increased appetite
- Weight loss
Long-Term Effects
Long-term health effects of stimulant use disorder include:
- Aggression
- Hallucinations
- Tooth decay
- Skin sores
- Weight loss
- Social isolation
- Dramatic behavioral changes
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Respiratory, cardiovascular, and nervous system damage
- Kidney failure
- Cognitive deficits and poor judgment
- Loss of short-term memory
- Muscle tenderness
- Muscular weakness
How is Stimulant Use Disorder Diagnosed?
Diagnosing stimulant use disorder often begins with observations from friends and family. They may notice changes due to stimulant intoxication and seek help from addiction or medical professionals.
Medical professionals start the diagnostic process by inquiring about your stimulant use. They look for any of the diagnostic criteria in the DSM-V that are required to diagnose substance abuse disorder. Common questions include:
- How often do you use stimulants?
- Have there been any adverse consequences of stimulant use or amphetamine use?
- Have your friends or family approached you about your stimulant drug use?
- Has stimulant drug use or amphetamine use affected your job or school life?
- Do you experience withdrawal symptoms when not using the stimulant?
- Are you suffering physically due to extreme weight loss, elevated or lowered blood pressure, or any other negative effects?
Those who meet any two of the 12 criteria for stimulant use disorder have the condition. The more you meet a criteria, the more severe your illness is.
Is Stimulant Use Disorder in the DSM-5?
Yes, the American Psychiatric Association uses the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) to identify and diagnose mental health conditions and addictions.
This manual, in its fifth and most current edition, first introduced the categorization of substance abuse and substance dependence under the unified term "substance use disorder." The DSM-5 actively defines Stimulant Use Disorder, covering aspects such as signs of addiction, withdrawal symptoms, diagnostic criteria, and more.
What Are the Criteria for Diagnosing Stimulant Use Disorder?
The DSM-5’s twelve diagnostic criteria for stimulant use disorder include:
- Wanting to cut down or eliminate the use of the drug but failing to do so
- Using greater quantities of the substance or using it for extended periods
- Experiencing cravings to use the substance when not using it
- Investing time and resources in stimulant use
- Taking longer to recover from the effects of the drug
- Continuing to use the substance despite its negative impact on relationships
- Neglecting obligations and responsibilities to use the substance
- Abandoning once-loved activities to satisfy your stimulant use disorder and cravings for stimulant use
- Continuing to use the substance despite its negative physical and psychological impact
- Using the substance again and again despite the risks
- Having developed tolerance and needing more of the substance to achieve the same effect
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using the substance
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What Causes Stimulant Use Disorder?
Stimulant Use Disorder, including amphetamine use disorder, arises from several factors that differ from person to person. Here's a breakdown of the primary causes:
- Individual variation: Some people can use stimulants without misusing them or developing disorders, while others are more prone to addiction.
- Multiple contributing factors: A combination of environmental and genetic factors influence the development of stimulant use disorder.
- Genetic factors: A family history of chemical dependency significantly impacts the risk.
- Early exposure: Exposure to family members abusing substances in early life increases the likelihood of developing stimulant dependence.
- Chronic stress: Chronic stress, especially in work or school environments, may lead people to use stimulants to fulfill their obligations.
- Effects of stimulants: Stimulants, which boost energy, focus, and performance, can lead to dependence when use is regular over time.
- Accessibility: Easy access to stimulants like cocaine heightens the risk of developing related problems.
- Withdrawal symptoms: Experiencing withdrawal symptoms can lead to repeated drug use to alleviate discomfort.
- Risk of overdose: Users may consume additional doses to maintain energy levels and avoid withdrawal, increasing overdose risks.
- Serious health effects: High doses of stimulants can cause severe health issues requiring medical attention.
- Exposure to violence or crime: This exposure significantly raises the risk of developing stimulant use disorder and dependence.
What are the Treatment Options for Stimulant Use Disorder?
Stimulant use disorder is treatable. The most common treatment options focus on behavioral therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and contingency management.
These therapies aim to modify thinking patterns and resist stimulant intoxication. They also end stimulant use.
How Do Treatments Address Mental and Physical Effects?
Treating stimulant use disorders is as challenging as treating other drug addictions. Although stimulant withdrawal may not be as physically dangerous as withdrawal from substances like alcohol or heroin, it can still lead to depression and suicidal ideation.
Thus, monitoring for suicide risks is crucial. Treatment also:
- Address any co-occurring mental disorders, weight loss disorders, or other addictions
- Tackle the cognitive effects of the drug
- Addresses the physical changes the drug caused
What Is the Role of Detoxification and Long-Term Care?
The initial detoxification phase is only the beginning of recovery. You need to follow it up with long-term treatment and follow-up care to manage the addiction effectively.
Chronic stimulant use alters the body's chemistry. Therefore, it necessitates time and care to reestablish normal bodily functions.
Summary
Stimulant use disorder is a severe condition that can have significant physical and psychological effects. Treatment options include behavioral therapy, addressing any co-occurring mental disorders or addictions, and long-term care to manage the addiction effectively.
Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial in managing stimulant use disorder and preventing further health complications. If you or someone you know may be struggling with stimulant use disorder, seek help from addiction or medical professionals to begin the journey toward recovery.
What's Next?
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- ”Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics.” National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics.
- Farzam et al. “Stimulants.” StatPearls Publishing, 2022.
- “Stimulant Use Disorder.” Yale Medicine.
- “Prescription Stimulants DrugFacts.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018.
- “Understanding Drug Use and Addiction DrugFacts.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018.
- “Prescription Stimulants DrugFacts.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018.
- “How Can Prescription Drug Addiction Be Treated?” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2023.
