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Ritalin Addiction 

Estimated reading time: 28 minute(s)

The National Institute on Drug Abuse labels stimulant medications as the second most commonly abused drugs, second to marijuana. One of these medications that a huge majority of people across the United States commonly use and abuse is Ritalin or methylphenidate. With a staggering increase in production and distribution during the past few decades, experts have observed a sharp rise in its illicit use and addiction cases. As dangerous and damaging as Ritalin addiction can be, it is treatable through good addiction rehab and long-term care planning. 

How Ritalin Works in the Body?

Also known as methylphenidate, Ritalin is a popular stimulant drug prescribed to manage the symptoms related to attention-related issues in adults and children. This medication enhances neurotransmitter levels in the brain, such as norepinephrine and dopamine. As the levels of these neurotransmitters rise, they lead to feelings of pleasure and enhanced attention.

In larger doses, methylphenidate can induce euphoria, its most sought-after effect and the primary reason behind its addiction. Many people also abuse Ritalin and other similar drugs daily as they significantly enhance their performance by upping their mental processing and physical responses. Interestingly, people with eating disorders may also be tempted to use Ritalin as it acts as an appetite suppressant. Teenagers are another common group of users who do so with the intention of increasing their academic performance or getting over their emotional vulnerabilities.

Regardless of the reason why someone may develop Ritalin dependence and addiction, its excessive use may lead to:

  • Sleep disturbances
  • Nervousness
  • Headaches
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Abdominal pain
  • Cardiovascular issues
  • Appetite suppression
  • Cardiovascular side effects

What Happens If You Take Ritalin Without ADHD: The Common Signs of Abuse & Addiction

People who experience Ritalin addiction may display certain signs and traits that may make it easy for themselves or others to identify a pattern of dependence. Some of these signs include the following:

  • Acquiring and using Ritalin without having a prescription
  • Trying to get multiple prescriptions from different doctors or forging prescriptions to get more Ritalin
  • Using the drug to stay awake and alert for longer time durations
  • Frequently using the drug to cope with daily stressors
  • Not using Ritalin as prescribed by the doctor, for example, snorting it in powdered form or mixing it with water and injecting it in veins.
  • Using Ritalin in doses higher than the ones prescribed by a healthcare professional
  • Frequently using the drug alongside other prescription and illicit drugs and alcohol to enhance the effects.
  • Attempting to stop using the drug but a failure to do so
  • Feeling sluggish, irritable, low, unmotivated, or jittery when a dose has been missed
  • Using increasing quantities of the drug to experience the same high
  • Constantly craving to use more Ritalin
  • Continued usage despite acknowledging the side effects of Ritalin abuse on daily life

The presence and identification of some of the signs described above warrant immediate Ritalin addiction treatment to save lives.

How to Stop Ritalin Addiction: An Overview of The Treatment Program

Unfortunately, stimulant use disorder has no cure; however, it is possible to recover from it by learning to control triggers and cravings. Some common steps of a Ritalin addiction treatment program that can help addicts achieve recovery typically include the following:

Step One: Finding a Rehab

The first step for treating any type of addiction, including a stimulant medication like Ritalin, is to look for a reputable rehab that uses evidence-based treatment modalities. Many people may try to fight off their addiction without seeking professional help. However, experts highly recommend against it. Such people may not be able to fight the common complications associated with this addiction, such as:

  • Uncomfortable and potentially dangerous Ritalin addiction withdrawal symptoms
  • Negative triggers, such as a loved one who still uses this drug
  • The severity of Ritalin cravings
  • Other co-occurring disorders, like anxiety and depression

Joining an appropriate rehab program ensures that each client successfully manages these complications to move toward recovery. Another benefit of reaching out to rehab is that clients can learn more about Ritalin and how it acts on the brain. With this information, such people can better manage their daily challenges and stick to the recovery pathway despite the barriers they may face.

Step Two: Joining a Detox Program

Before a Ritalin addict can enter formal treatment and therapy sessions, they must stop using the drug. Stopping the use of drugs, known as getting over physical addiction, can be highly challenging for anyone, as letting go of something they have been using for a long time almost always leads to withdrawal. To control this withdrawal and keep its excruciating symptoms under control, a medical detox is essential.

Some common Ritalin addiction withdrawal symptoms that most addicts experience during the detox phase include the following:

  • Sleepiness or insomnia
  • Dizziness
  • Excessive fatigue
  • Upset stomach
  • Low mood
  • Mood swings
  • Agitation or anger
  • Increased appetite leading to weight gain
  • Intense Ritalin cravings
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Poor concentration

Keep in mind that withdrawal from Ritalin does not usually include any life-threatening symptoms. However, it may make it difficult for someone to abstain from using it. Moreover, specific psychological withdrawal symptoms, like low mood and depression, may pose safety concerns. Seeking support from a treatment center can mitigate these risks through constant monitoring, supervision, and support.

Step Three : Participating in Therapy

Therapy is often the mainstay of a Ritalin addiction treatment program as it helps patients avoid triggers while overcoming cravings. Therapy aims to help patients understand how this drug works on their brain and allow them to replace their drug-seeking negative response with other healthier responses. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a common type of this therapy that helps addicts recognize their triggers and learn coping strategies to manage them in times of crisis. Contingency management is another evidence-based therapy in which therapists give addicts incentives or rewards every time they avoid Ritalin use. These programs, when used right, can lead to positive outcomes by equipping clients with the right skills to avoid returning to their addictive behaviors.

Step Four: Collaborating in Family and Group Work

Social support is one of the significant elements in Ritalin addiction treatment. Social connections alone can get a person into misusing addiction and rescue them from the deepest pits of dependence if done right. A supportive social structure, such as family relationships or peer support, can quickly help addicts stop using the drug and practice long-term abstinence and recovery. For this very reason, a strong treatment plan is often added to the treatment program, which comprises 12-step group therapy and family participation. Family therapy allows the loved ones of an addict to become a part of their treatment plan and learn how they can best support them for a healthier life ahead. The 12-step group work, on the other hand, provides clients with support and solidarity from others who have recovered from an addiction. These elements of treatment also provide addicts with insights into what may work the best for them, offer them useful educational resources, and help them develop accountability for behavior over the recovery process. Research has revealed that people who continue attending these 12-step group programs and family therapy as a part of their recovery plan are more likely to maintain their sobriety than those who stop attending these sessions.

Step Five: Seek Aftercare

Many people fighting Ritalin addiction for a long time may require additional help even after finishing their formal treatment programs. Such people fear that they are not fully prepared to handle the external world and its triggers and may relapse if left on their own. For such people, all reputable treatment centers provide the necessary sources to make this transition from rehab to home easier through an aftercare program. An aftercare program may include various components, such as:

  • Participation in a 12-step program, such as Alcoholics Anonymous
  • Continual motivational support
  • Participation in counseling sessions
  • Follow-up meetings in rehab for up to a year
  • Connecting with peers in alumni societies and groups of the rehab
  • Sober living houses

A counselor or therapist typically creates an aftercare program in collaboration with a patient and another care team member. Each of these programs is highly individualized according to a patient’s needs so that they can get the support they need for long-term sobriety.

FAQs

Why is Ritalin addictive?

Ritalin is a central nervous system stimulant and carries a high risk of abuse, particularly among students and people with high-pressure working demands. When someone consumes a high dose of this medicine, it triggers a euphoric feeling, activating a response system in the brain. As a result of this reward system, Ritalin can increase the risk of addiction. It is important to remember that this medication is not addictive in therapeutic doses. The problem only arises when someone starts abusing it to achieve a high, improve academic performance, or lose weight.

Are there any health risks related to methylphenidate addiction?

Ritalin is a safe drug as long as someone uses it as directed by their healthcare professional. Most studies consider it a beneficial treatment for ADHD as the regular consumption of Ritalin help people with this disorder manage their symptoms well and lead healthy lives. However, those who abuse it or take it in higher-than-normal doses put themselves at risk of cardiovascular complications and psychotic episodes, and general deterioration of mental health. Some people, especially those who inject this drug into their blood vessels, may contract communicable diseases, such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and other infections.

Who is at risk of Ritalin abuse?

Individuals belonging to younger age groups, such as preadolescents, teenagers, and young addicts, carry the highest risk of experiencing Ritalin addiction. The problem is common among those who consider Ritalin an intelligent drug and abuse it to increase their sharpness and stamina. Students are perhaps the most vulnerable to Ritalin addiction as they believe using this drug will make them smarter, sharper, and cleverer.

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