At Discovery Institute, we offer comprehensive, evidence-based support for people suffering from addiction to amphetamines, as well as other co-occurring mental health disorders often seen with amphetamine use.
What Are Amphetamines?
Amphetamines are a class of central nervous system (CNS) stimulants that work by stimulating the release or blocking the reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain.[1] By inducing rapid stimulation of key areas of the brain through these neurotransmitters, these chemicals provide significant changes in mood, energy level, focus and arousal. Amphetamines are a Schedule II drug, and this class of drugs consists of a variety of substances, including prescription drugs like dextroamphetamine and mixed amphetamine salts used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy.[2] It also includes illegal amphetamines like crystal meth, MDMA, and street stimulants sometimes called “uppers.”
Of all amphetamines, methamphetamine is the most potent and the most commonly used. Unlike prescription amphetamines designed for controlled release, methamphetamine produces an intense and immediate rush that is far more likely to result in addiction.[3]
MDMA, sometimes classified as an entactogen due to its method of action, shares amphetamine’s stimulant properties and carries its own risk of dependence and neurological harm when used heavily.[4]
All amphetamines are classified as controlled substances and have associated risks of dependence as well as serious physical or psychological complications when misused.[5]
Amphetamine Addiction and Abuse
Amphetamine addiction is caused by the stimulants’ significant effects on a person’s dopamine system. Using amphetamines causes a surge of dopamine to flood the brain’s reward system at levels far higher than what the body is capable of producing. The brain adjusts to this by reducing its own dopamine production and decreasing the sensitivity of its dopamine receptors.[6] As stimulant use continues, the amount of amphetamines required to get the same high as before increases.
Use of amphetamines often starts slowly. Many start with a legitimate prescription for ADHD and start using more than prescribed, or begin using them illicitly to help with performance at work or school, or just for the euphoria they produce. Over time, it becomes progressively more challenging to stop using them because the brain no longer has the ability to function without them. Often, what began as using amphetamines for a performance or for pleasure turns to using them just to feel normal or to avoid the discomfort of withdrawal.
Risk factors include a family history of substance use disorder, unaddressed mental health conditions, and the onset of substance use at a young age.[7] People who have been diagnosed with ADHD are more likely to misuse their prescribed medications than those without a diagnosis.[8]
Amphetamine Abuse Signs and Symptoms
Recognizing the signs of amphetamine addiction in yourself or a loved one is an important first step. The signs and symptoms of heavy amphetamine can be physical, behavioral, or psychological. Here is what to watch for:
Physical signs of amphetamine use and misuse include:
- Significant weight loss and lack of appetite
- Elevated heart rate and high blood pressure
- Increased body temperature and sweating
- Dilated eyes
- Deterioration of dental health, especially with methamphetamine use
- Skin sores from picking behavior
- Insomnia
- Cardiovascular symptoms like irregular heartbeat or chest pain
Behavioral and psychological signs include:
- Dramatic increase in energy, talkativeness, and activity followed by crashes
- Hyperactivity, restlessness, and an inability to sit still
- Obsessive focus on specific tasks for extended periods
- Increased risk-taking and impulsive behavior
- Secretive behavior around drug use or finances
- Withdrawal from relationships and responsibilities
- Mood swings ranging from euphoria to severe irritability or aggression
- Paranoia, anxiety, and in advanced cases hallucinations or psychosis
What Is Amphetamine Psychosis?
Amphetamine psychosis is one of the most serious consequences of abusing amphetamines and one that many are not aware of.[9]
It is a condition where someone develops symptoms of psychosis as a result of drug use, which can include paranoid delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking. It can occur from any stimulant, but it is more commonly associated with meth.[10] Symptoms closely resemble schizophrenia and can last for days, weeks, or even longer after drug use stops, especially with those who have been using heavily or for a prolonged period of time. In some cases, stimulant-induced psychosis reveals or accelerates an underlying vulnerability to psychotic illness.[11]
Amphetamine psychosis requires immediate medical attention and is one of the clearest indicators that professional addiction treatment is urgently needed.
Long-Term Effects of Heavy Amphetamine Use
Long-term effects of heavy amphetamine use extend well beyond intoxication because chronic use results in structural and functional alterations to the brain’s reward system and the prefrontal cortex. These areas are responsible for processing rewards and controlling impulses.
Research has confirmed a lower number of dopamine transporters in heavy meth users, which correlates to a reduced ability to retrieve memories, decreased attention, and emotional dysregulation that can last for long periods after stopping use.[12]
The long-term effects of amphetamines include:
- Serious cardiovascular health problems, including high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and increased risk of heart attack
- Malnutrition and weight loss
- Dental deterioration
- Neurological and cognitive effects, including impaired memory, difficulty concentrating, and emotional dysregulation
Fortunately, the human brain is capable of recovery, and many of these issues can be significantly improved with sustained abstinence and appropriate clinical support.
Amphetamine Withdrawal
Withdrawal from amphetamines is mostly psychological and not as physically dangerous as alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal.
However, the severity of amphetamine withdrawal should not be downplayed. When an amphetamine-dependent person stops taking amphetamines, the brain, which has dramatically reduced its natural dopamine production, will struggle to create normal levels of motivation, pleasure, or energy without the drug.
The most common withdrawal symptoms from amphetamines include:
- Profound fatigue and sleeping for extended periods of time
- Severe depression and emotional flatness
- Intense cravings for amphetamines
- Increased appetite
- Cognitive slowing and difficulty concentrating
- Anxiety and irritability.
- In severe cases, suicidal ideation
Amphetamine withdrawal lasts approximately one to two weeks, but the psychological symptoms, especially depression and difficulty with motivation, may last for weeks or months.[13] This time of withdrawal is often the highest risk time for relapse and can be improved by seeking professional help during amphetamine detox and early recovery support.[14]
Amphetamine Addiction Treatment at Discovery Institute
At Discovery Institute we offer individual, evidence-based treatment for amphetamine addiction and the co-occurring mental health disorders that usually accompany them.
