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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
OverviewCoke, crack, meth, speed. Those are some shorthand terms for different types of stimulants that belong to a highly addictive class of drugs frequently used in the United States. Stimulants increase alertness, attention and energy while also elevating blood pressure, heart rate and breathing. While stimulants such as Adderall and Ritalin are legally prescribed for conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), recreational versions such as cocaine and methamphetamine are illegal. Excessive and non-medical use of those drugs can be dangerous, and sometimes deadly. Doctors and researchers at Yale Medicine are leading the field in developing behavioral therapies to help people with stimulant use disorder stop taking those drugs. From reward-based methods to internet-based approaches, Yale Medicine is creating and enhancing treatments for stimulant users and often offering clinical trials for participants.What are the main types of stimulants?Some of the most well-known stimulants are:Cocaine, an illegal drug made from the coca plant that’s often snorted or smoked.Methamphetamine, an illegal and particularly potent amphetamine drug.Prescription stimulants such as Adderall, Dexadrine, Ritalin and Concerta, which are used to treat ADHD.MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy or Molly.What are the risk factors for stimulant use disorder?The most common risk factors for stimulant use disorder are:Gender. Men are more likely than women to use almost all illicit drugs. However, women have the same risk as men to develop a substance use disorder. Psychiatric disorders. People with depression, attention deficit, and other psychiatric disorders are more likely to abuse drugs, including stimulants.Alcohol use. Alcohol shares a common metabolite that extends the “high” of stimulant use. How is stimulant use disorder diagnosed?Doctors use the American Psychiatric Association’s most recent criteria for substance use disorders to identify stimulant addiction. For someone to be considered addicted to stimulants, he or she must meet at least two of 11 criteria. These include an inability to reduce consumption, cravings to use a stimulant, continuing to use a stimulant despite it causing relationship problems, and needing to use increased amounts of a stimulant to achieve the desired effect.What are the health effects of stimulant use disorder?Stimulants increase the amount of specific
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