Why all the hype and warnings about getting addicted to ADD meds?

[sbcy]

I've taken most of the prescription stimulants out there for ADD. Most of them take atleast 1/2 hour to kick in-about the same (or more) amount of time at it takes for a lot of people to get a "runner's high". Because a runner's high is delayed gratification, less people get addicted to exercise than say sugar or fatty foods where there is an instantaneous release of serotonin. If ADD meds don't give instant gratfication, why would there be so much potential for addiction??

[Hypoactive]

because many people *are* willing to wait a half hour or so...and once they build up a tolerance and no longer feel any rush, they increase the amount they take -- some people end up taking massive amounts at once, which is highly lethal.

[rsmann]

Instant gratification is just one aspect of what brings on addictive behaviour. Some resort to injecting or snorting their ADD meds for the rush. Typically the meds are accessable to those that are young and more prone to abuse. So many start doing this or that drug in an abusive way without any valid knowledge of what they are doing.
One study in Boston looked at youth addicted to heroin. 80% had no idea how addicting it was, how long it takes to get addicted, what that looks like nor where to go for help. The average time for an addict to get help is around 14years!
There is a higher co-orrelation for those with ADHD/ADD to get addicted to substances. For reasons other than the rush(pharmodynamics) of the substance.
There are varying definitions of addiction. As its not a technical term. Some feel that if you are chemically dependant you are an addict. So if you take even a prescribed medication as directed you are an addict to them. Most feel the term addict is appropriate when the substance use is compulsive and depsite increasing harms to the person they still use.
Valium has a higher addiction risk than Ativan as it does have a shorter time to peak serum levels. Same as Crack vs coke, heroin vs morphine. Just a higher potential.

[cyonce]

Something doesn't need to be immediately effective to be addictive. Although faster-acting substances can be addictive, time to take effect is only one factor in what makes them addictive. In addition, there are plenty of fast acting drugs that are not addictive.

People often abuse ADHD medications by ingesting them in ways that increase the effect and decrease the the lag time before the effect kicks in but that's not why they're addictive, using them that way just just makes the potential for addiction much greater.

Runner's high is a poor comparison for a number of reasons. A couple of them:

Substantial physical effort is required for runners high, not the same as taking a pill and waiting 30 minutes.

Runner's high is not anywhere near as reliable as taking a pill (I used to run and remember the experience) and you can't spend anywhere near as much time per day experiencing it as you can the effects of stimulants

[Haakenlid]

There is no evidence that using adhd medication in the typical therapeutic doses and according to prescription can cause addiction.

[sarahsweets]

Prescribe doses don't aways men addiction

[pechemignonne]

What Sarah and Haaken said.

People who want to abuse ADHD meds usually take it in faster-acting ways (snorting or injecting), and take much more than prescribed amounts.

[Pupperdillis]

The thing i get out of meds, is that they stop my mind from racing, & im able to concentrate & pay attention in a meeting or working on a price for a customer.
That's what its all about right IS to feel NORMAL & NOT an outcast.
I have never gotten any kind of rush from meds for ADD.
If ur getting a rush ur misusing . KNOCK IT OFF . what its doing is making it harder for the people who need them to get them.
im sure that's why my DOC all of the sudden ask me if im selling them. Telling me that they are going to stop making them.

HOW can a person live a normal life,,
WHEN people take & abuse the only thing that work's FOR allot of US.

[Targaryen]

Originally Posted by Pupperdillis

The thing i get out of meds, is that they stop my mind from racing, & im able to concentrate & pay attention in a meeting or working on a price for a customer.
That's what its all about right IS to feel NORMAL & NOT an outcast.
I have never gotten any kind of rush from meds for ADD.
If ur getting a rush ur misusing . KNOCK IT OFF . what its doing is making it harder for the people who need them to get them.
im sure that's why my DOC all of the sudden ask me if im selling them. Telling me that they are going to stop making them.

HOW can a person live a normal life,,
WHEN people take & abuse the only thing that work's FOR allot of US.

Your doctor ask you that? Wow. It is a bit of an inconvenience to jump thought all the hoops every month to get the medicine we all need bc of the people who do abuse these drugs.

[BADDID]

Originally Posted by Haakenlid

There is no evidence that using adhd medication in the typical therapeutic doses and according to prescription can cause addiction.

What would qualify as evidence,personal experience or a twist to the stepping stone theory?

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by Haakenlid

There is no evidence that using adhd medication in the typical therapeutic doses and according to prescription can cause addiction.

Sure they can, just like coffee can cause addiction. More to the point, they can instigate the use of larger doses for a lot of reasons, for example tolerance and senitization over time.