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Jackson Barber

Drugs, Addiction, and Human Behavior

Professor Ibarra

Adderall

Adderall is a combination drug containing salts of the two enantiomers of

amphetamine, a psychostimulant of the phenethylamine class. Adderall is prescribed in

the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. It is also

used as an athletic performance and cognitive enhancer, and recreationally as an

aphrodisiac and euphoriant. By salt content, the active ingredients of Adderall are 75%

dextroamphetamine salts and 25% levoamphetamine salts.

Adderall increases the activity of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and

dopamine in the brain, which results from its interactions with trace amine associated

receptor 1 and vesicular monoamine transporter 2. Adderall shares many chemical and

pharmacological properties with the human trace amine neurotransmitters, especially

phenethylamine and N-methylphenethylamine, the latter being an isomer of

amphetamine that is produced within the human body.

Adderall is generally well-tolerated and effective in treating the symptoms of

ADHD. The most common side effects are cardiovascular, such as irregular heartbeat

(usually manifesting as tachycardia), and psychological, such as euphoria or anxiety.

Much larger doses of Adderall are likely to impair cognitive function and induce rapid

muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis). Drug addiction is a serious risk of Adderall abuse,

but only rarely arises from medical use. Very high doses can result in a psychosis
(delusions and paranoia) which rarely occurs at therapeutic doses even during

long-term use. Recreational doses are generally much larger than prescribed

therapeutic doses, and carry a far greater risk of serious side effects.

Stimulant medications including amphetamines ( Adderall) and methylphenidate

(Ritalin and Concerta) are often prescribed to treat children, adolescents, or adults

diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

People with ADHD persistently have more difficulty paying attention or are more

hyperactive or impulsive than other people the same age. This pattern of behavior

usually becomes evident when a child is in preschool or the first grades of elementary

school; the average age of onset of ADHD symptoms is 7 years. Many peoples ADHD

symptoms improve during adolescence or as they grow older, but the disorder can

persist into adulthood.

ADHD diagnoses are increasing. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, as of 2011, 11 percent of people ages 417 have been

diagnosed with ADHD. A growing number of teenagers and young adults are abusing

prescription stimulants to boost their study performance in an effort to improve their

grades in school, and there is a widespread belief that these drugs can improve a

persons ability to learn (cognitive enhancement).

Prescription stimulants to promote wakefulness, but studies have found that they do not

enhance learning or thinking ability when taken by people who do not actually have
ADHD. Also, research has shown that students who abuse prescription stimulants

actually have lower GPAs in high school and college than those who dont.

Adderall can affect growth in children, as well as any number of these side

effects may occur:

chest pain, trouble breathing, feeling like you might pass out;

hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not real), new behavior

problems, aggression, hostility, paranoia;

a seizure (convulsions);

numbness, pain, cold feeling, unexplained wounds, or skin color changes

(pale, red, or blue appearance) in your fingers or toes;

muscle twitches (tics);

changes in your vision; or

unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness (especially if you also

have fever, unusual tiredness, and dark colored urine).

Common Adderall side effects may include:

stomach pain, loss of appetite;

weight loss;

mood changes, feeling nervous;

fast heart rate;

headache, dizziness;

sleep problems (insomnia); or


dry mouth.

Many drugs can interact with amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. Not all

possible interactions are listed here:

an antacid or other stomach acid reducer, such as Nexium, Pepcid, Prilosec,

Protonix, Zantac, and others;

an antidepressant;

blood pressure medication;

a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);

a cold or allergy medicine that contains a decongestant such as

pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine;

lithium;

medicine to treat mental illness;

narcotic pain medicine; or

seizure medicine.

The New York Times recently reported that Adderall abuse has become

increasingly common among high school and college students who are looking for a

competitive edge in their studies. Even more disturbing, many parents apparently

support their childrens use of the drug if it means their kids earn better grades and

qualify for prestigious colleges or universities. How can you protect yourself and the

people close to you from the dangers of snorting Adderall?


There are specific risks associated with snorting amphetamine drugs. Users who

snort the drug tend to take more Adderall than those who take the drug in oral form,

which means that they may develop a tolerance or dependence more quickly. Inhaling

the drug through your nostrils can damage the membrane that lines your respiratory

tract, making you more vulnerable to illness and airborne infections. Extended abuse of

this amphetamine may even damage the internal structures of your nose and sinuses.

This drug has also been used a performance enhancer in esports. Esports

is a new type of competition that uses the medium of video games. Games where this is

how been found in players mainly are Counter Strike and League of Legends. Adderall

is banned from use by players as it gives them an unfair advantage, For even having a

less than a quarter second higher reaction time will mean the difference in how a game

plays out. Players caught using these drugs are usually fined, their team disqualified,

and a small ban may be implemented for either the player or entire team.

In conclusion, Adderall is a drug that has a lot of way that it can help suppress

ADHD and other similar diseases. It is a difficult drug to regulate and control, as it is

needed to treat conditions. I suppose that is the trouble with a lot of prescription drugs

however. They each do have an intended use, and people will abuse them in order to

see how it affects their body. It is dangerous to do this, as it can damage your body,

mostly of all your liver, as it tries to process all of the toxins in your blood.
Citations

Various, Authors. "Adderall." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Sept. 2015.

Web. 03 Apr. 2016.

Various, Authors. "Adderall: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects & Safety Info -

Drugs.com." Adderall: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects & Safety Info - Drugs.com.

Drugs.com, 19 Nov. 2015. Web. 03 Apr. 2016.

Jones, Brad. "CS:GO Pros Admit to Adderall Use During Tournaments."Game

Rant. GameRant.com, 14 July 2015. Web. 03 Apr. 2016.

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