Friday
Sponsor
@Anarchy
ADHD is recognized now as life long (officially, finally!), as per the DSMV, so insurance companies now do pay for stimulant meds even with an ADHD diagnosis past the age of 18 (most prescribing physicians over the past 20 years simply switched the diagnosis to 'depression' and kept the same med regime going).
While I'm unsure if studies have been completed... Anecdotally in the community... It's almost unheard of for ADHD adults (or children) to become addicted to most stimulants. Misdiagnosed people? For sure. They get addicted as easily as anyone, because their brains aren't wired the way ours are. We're the (annoying) ones who can be doing eightballs of high percentage cocaine a day for years, and simply stop. No kicking. No withdrawal. No PAWS. Similarly, tolerance to amphetamines, cocaine, and other stimulants? Doesn't build after the first couple weeks. We find our happy spot (or spots... Aka how much of our symptoms we feel like managing at any given time)... And simply stay there. Consistently using the exact same amount of chemical (med or otw) for years and years. With the exact same effect. Not chasing a high. The 1000th time? Exactly as good as the 10th. Because it's not a high. It's a normal. (The parallel is how high are you when not having a panic attack? Ummmm. Not. Simply not having one!) Conversely, many ADHD peeps self medicate (Rx, OTC -think caffeine & nicotine-, or illegal sub) per need. Tons today, almost none tomorrow, perfectly happily. Which an addict can't do. Again, because of tolerance increases inherant with addiction, and craving, where 1 is too many and 1000 never enough.
We do have medication rebound, as the chemicals wear off, and we do have to learn coping mechanisms if not on stimulants (which takes years). And we can get very much addicted (physically, psychologically, or both) to other substances.
Studies have been done to track illegal stimulant use in the ADHD community (roughly 80% have used illegal stimulants at one time or another). Rx's, however are cheaper, and the quality more consistent. (I have been Rx'd cocaine, which is the closest to my personal magic wand for ADHD, but it's a bitch to travel with... And pharmacies don't stock it. If I ever settle down maybe I'll go that route, again.) Personally, I prefer coffee & cigarettes which only take the barest edge off compared to Rx's(or street drugs) in general, which tend to go the sledge hammer route... Because I like most of my ADHD symptoms. (But I also spent years learning those coping mechanisms!) And stronger stimulants have a bit of a slash and burn effect on the good parts, even in low doses. For total symptom management, however, nothing beats adrenaline-junkie activities completely stimulant free. Whee!!! :D But, really, it's all about personal preference. All meds have side effects. Finding the one that kicks the symptoms you don't like to the curb, while keeping the symptoms you do like, and simply leaves you feeling like you (aka personal magic wand) is the holy grail in all psychiatric/ mood&mind altering drugs.
Slight correction here... Ritalin (Methylphenidate) is a stimulant, but not an amphetamine.
Amphetamines are common ADHD meds (amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, lisdexamphetamine, methamphetamine are 4 that are commonly used in various combinations... And all 4 have very different 'flavors', both singly and in combo with other amphetamines. Which actually creates scores of different medications as different from each other as red wine to whiskey to near beer, "just" by messing about with the proportions of the amphetamines used). There are also a couple non-stimulant meds (atomoxetine is technically not a stimulant, although it's a precursor... It's the closest to cocaine that isn't cocaine... And there are several antidepressants which are also sometimes preferred)...But amphetamines are only one of several stimulants used to treat ADHD.
ADHD is recognized now as life long (officially, finally!), as per the DSMV, so insurance companies now do pay for stimulant meds even with an ADHD diagnosis past the age of 18 (most prescribing physicians over the past 20 years simply switched the diagnosis to 'depression' and kept the same med regime going).
While I'm unsure if studies have been completed... Anecdotally in the community... It's almost unheard of for ADHD adults (or children) to become addicted to most stimulants. Misdiagnosed people? For sure. They get addicted as easily as anyone, because their brains aren't wired the way ours are. We're the (annoying) ones who can be doing eightballs of high percentage cocaine a day for years, and simply stop. No kicking. No withdrawal. No PAWS. Similarly, tolerance to amphetamines, cocaine, and other stimulants? Doesn't build after the first couple weeks. We find our happy spot (or spots... Aka how much of our symptoms we feel like managing at any given time)... And simply stay there. Consistently using the exact same amount of chemical (med or otw) for years and years. With the exact same effect. Not chasing a high. The 1000th time? Exactly as good as the 10th. Because it's not a high. It's a normal. (The parallel is how high are you when not having a panic attack? Ummmm. Not. Simply not having one!) Conversely, many ADHD peeps self medicate (Rx, OTC -think caffeine & nicotine-, or illegal sub) per need. Tons today, almost none tomorrow, perfectly happily. Which an addict can't do. Again, because of tolerance increases inherant with addiction, and craving, where 1 is too many and 1000 never enough.
We do have medication rebound, as the chemicals wear off, and we do have to learn coping mechanisms if not on stimulants (which takes years). And we can get very much addicted (physically, psychologically, or both) to other substances.
Studies have been done to track illegal stimulant use in the ADHD community (roughly 80% have used illegal stimulants at one time or another). Rx's, however are cheaper, and the quality more consistent. (I have been Rx'd cocaine, which is the closest to my personal magic wand for ADHD, but it's a bitch to travel with... And pharmacies don't stock it. If I ever settle down maybe I'll go that route, again.) Personally, I prefer coffee & cigarettes which only take the barest edge off compared to Rx's(or street drugs) in general, which tend to go the sledge hammer route... Because I like most of my ADHD symptoms. (But I also spent years learning those coping mechanisms!) And stronger stimulants have a bit of a slash and burn effect on the good parts, even in low doses. For total symptom management, however, nothing beats adrenaline-junkie activities completely stimulant free. Whee!!! :D But, really, it's all about personal preference. All meds have side effects. Finding the one that kicks the symptoms you don't like to the curb, while keeping the symptoms you do like, and simply leaves you feeling like you (aka personal magic wand) is the holy grail in all psychiatric/ mood&mind altering drugs.
Slight correction here... Ritalin (Methylphenidate) is a stimulant, but not an amphetamine.
Amphetamines are common ADHD meds (amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, lisdexamphetamine, methamphetamine are 4 that are commonly used in various combinations... And all 4 have very different 'flavors', both singly and in combo with other amphetamines. Which actually creates scores of different medications as different from each other as red wine to whiskey to near beer, "just" by messing about with the proportions of the amphetamines used). There are also a couple non-stimulant meds (atomoxetine is technically not a stimulant, although it's a precursor... It's the closest to cocaine that isn't cocaine... And there are several antidepressants which are also sometimes preferred)...But amphetamines are only one of several stimulants used to treat ADHD.
