What Drugs Are Classed as Stimulants?

When you get tired and rundown, you may look for something to provide a boost. For many people, that might involve having a cup of coffee or letting yourself enjoy a candy bar. Others may turn to more potent substances, like stimulants, for a pick-me-up. If you’re struggling with a stimulant addiction in Florida, you might benefit from a stimulant rehab program at a drug rehab in Tampa Bay.

What Is a Stimulant?

Stimulants are a category of drugs that increase activity within the body. People use stimulants, or uppers, because of the euphoric effect caused by the way they affect your central nervous system. That’s due to the boost of dopamine and norepinephrine your brain produces when you take stimulants.

Common effects of taking stimulants include:

• Feelings of happiness
• Lack of appetite
• Bursts of energy
• Problems sleeping
• Constant talking
• Nervousness or anxiety
• Heightened blood pressure

You may feel more alert and focused after taking stimulants. Individuals with ADHD may find relief from the fatigue that can be a side effect of the condition. However, there are adverse side effects to continued stimulant abuse, including the potential of developing an addiction. People typically take stimulants by snorting them in power form, swallowing them as pills, or injecting the substance.

Stimulant Drug Information

The Controlled Substance Act passed by the U.S. government classifies prescription stimulants as a Schedule II drug. That means they’re only made available for legitimate medical purposes. However, people find ways of illegally obtaining stimulants for recreational use.

Continued stimulant use alters your brain and stops it from producing regular amounts of neurotransmitters like dopamine. The brain eventually gets used to receiving stimulants regularly. That leads to a dependency that forces individuals to continue using drugs if they want to feel the same effects as before.

Once you form an addiction to stimulants, they can take over your life. You may not recognize or care about the negative consequences of your drug abuse. All you care about is how you feel once you gain access to more stimulants.

Stimulant drugs popular among individuals with a substance use disorder include:

• Cocaine — Cocaine gets extracted from the leaves of the coca plant found in South America and is often consumed in powder form. Another popular form of cocaine is crack, cocaine heated and shaped into a crystallized rock form. Unlike cocaine, people smoke crack by heating it in a pipe or other paraphernalia.
• Methamphetamine — Methamphetamine, or meth, comes in a powder or crystal form. Meth is popular because it produces a more immediate high than other stimulants. However, people tend to experience negative emotions like anger once they come down or “crash” from their high. It’s easy to overdose by taking meth.
• Prescription stimulants — Individuals dealing with disorders like ADHD may receive a prescription for stimulants like Ritalin or Adderall. They help individuals focus and help with impulse control. They can become addictive when individuals take a larger dose than prescribe or use them without having a medical diagnosis.

Treatment for a stimulant addiction in Florida typically requires a stay at a drug rehab facility. There, you can address the underlying issues around your drug abuse. You may also discover that you have a separate mental health issue exacerbating your stimulant use.

Dealing With Stimulant Addiction in Florida

Coalition Recovery offers hope to an individual who feels they can’t break free of an addiction. We rely on evidence-based treatments in our addiction programs. Our goal is always to give clients the best chance at a successful recovery. Some of the programs we offer include:

• Alcohol rehab
• Drug rehab
• Intervention program
• Detox program

If you need help overcoming a substance use disorder, contact Coalition Recovery at 888.707.2873, or contact us online.