Amphetamine Addiction Symptoms – Causes and Treatment

Amphetamines are prescription drugs used to treat conditions such as sleep disorders. As amphetamines are stimulant drugs, they can keep the user alert and awake for many hours. They were used before and during World War II to keep soldiers and pilots awake for extended periods. This was before much was known about the side effects of the drug. Amphetamines are highly addictive and in recent times have been used recreationally as a party drug because of the effects. However, those who abuse the drug are at risk of developing a dependency and exhibiting amphetamine addiction symptoms.

Developing an Amphetamine Addiction

Amphetamine abuse often leads to amphetamine addiction. As with all prescription medications, however, even those who take it as directed by a GP could become addicted if they take it over an extended period of time.

Amphetamine addiction begins with an increased tolerance to the substance. The first time a person takes amphetamine will cause the body’s responses to speed up. The brain will try to resist this by putting the brakes on, but the longer a person takes the drug, the more the brain and body will adapt to its presence. After a while, the body will come to expect the drug and, if it does not arrive, the affected person will experience withdrawal symptoms as the body tries to adjust and get back to normal. This is what is known as a physical dependence.

The Effects of Amphetamines

As well as being used to treat sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, amphetamines were once used to treat obesity because the drug causes a loss of appetite. It was seen as an inexpensive way to treat many different conditions, including depression and hangovers. Nevertheless, once it was realised that the drug causes addiction and other health problems, use of the substance began to decline.

The short-term effects of amphetamine include euphoria and increased alertness. It also causes body temperature to rise, and many users will experience a dry mouth and rapid breathing. Blood pressure will increase, and users will lose their appetite and their need for sleep.

Unfortunately, there are a number of unpleasant side effects that are caused by amphetamines, including aggressiveness, paranoia, hostility, rapid heartbeat, chest pain, cardiovascular problems, headache, nausea, blurred vision, hallucinations, convulsions, skin disorders, malnutrition, and psychosis.

The Dangers of Amphetamine Abuse

Since people can go for hours without sleeping when they take amphetamines, there have been cases where some would collapse after going on an amphetamine binge that entailed taking the drug repeatedly until they passed out from exhaustion and lack of food.

Amphetamines can cause a number of health problems, and because it affects the heart, it could result in long-term damage. Those who already have high blood pressure or a heart condition are putting their lives at risk if taking amphetamines.

Amphetamine abusers are in danger of developing infections, as well. This is due to the effect the drug can have on their immune system. And because the drug can cause severe paranoia and depression, many abusers develop acute amphetamine psychosis where they experience delusions.

Spotting Amphetamine Addiction Symptoms

Amphetamine abuse is dangerous to health and can lead to physical dependence and addiction. If you are worried about someone you love, there are a number of amphetamine addiction symptoms you should be on the lookout for. Below are a few of the signs:

• Raised body temperature
• Dilated pupils
• Rapid breathing
• Loss of appetite
• Increased alertness
• Staying awake for long hours
• Rapid speech

If you believe that a loved one has been taking amphetamines, the above physical signs should help to confirm your suspicions. Nonetheless, there are a number of behavioural amphetamine addiction symptoms that could further confirm that he or she is abusing the drug. If your loved one is losing interest in things that he or she once enjoyed, for example, it could be due to addiction.

You may notice that he or she is spending less and less time with family members and friends; this could be due to the fact that addiction has become a problem. Amphetamine addiction symptoms also include staying awake for hours at a time and eating very little. If you notice these signs in yourself or others, you may want to reach out for help. Prolonged use of amphetamines can have a damaging effect on a person’s health, so it is important to get help as soon as possible.

Overcoming Amphetamine Addiction

If you have noticed amphetamine addiction symptoms in yourself or a loved one, it is time to tackle the problem. As with all addictions, an amphetamine addiction will not go away by itself. In fact, it is likely to progress even further until it spirals out of control unless it is treated.

Here at Recovery.org.uk, we can help you to find a suitable provider where you can access the treatments you need to overcome an amphetamine addiction. We work with many organisations that have already helped many individuals to recover from a host of addictions, including addiction to amphetamines.

It is our goal to ensure that as many people as possible can access the treatments they need, and as such, we work with providers from both the private and public sectors. We will assess your situation and determine the type of care you need before making a recommendation on the most suitable provider based on your needs and circumstances.

It is important to point out that recovering from any addiction is never easy. It will be necessary for you to detox before you can begin the process of rehabilitation, but we can help you to find a detox facility where you will be kept safe and comfortable throughout the process.

Once you have completed your detox, you will be ready to start treatment for your addiction. Professional counsellors and therapists will help you to identify what caused you to become addicted in the first place before giving you the skills required to avoid temptations and triggers going forward.

Recovering from addiction is a long process, but at the end of the day, you did not become an addict overnight so you cannot expect to recover overnight. However, if you are prepared to commit to a programme of recovery and are ready to be patient, you could be living a clean and sober life before you know it. Call us today for more information.