Stimulant Addiction Rehab in Kennesaw

Helping those Addicted to Illicit & Prescription Stimulants in Georgia

Stimulants come in both prescription and illicit forms, but both kinds are known to be addictive. In fact, in 2020 alone, 5.1 million people in the United States admitted to using stimulants within the past year. Whether you have an addiction to cocaine or are abusing your Adderall prescription, it’s important to seek professional help to treat your addiction and prevent a relapse down the road.

North Georgia Recovery Center is proud to offer treatment options for all kinds of drug addictions, including stimulant addiction at our Kennesaw rehab facility. We boast individualized treatment plans because our team of experts knows that there is no “one size fits all” approach to recovery.

Contact us online or by phone at (678) 940-7873 to learn more about our facility and rehab programs, including our partial hospitalization (PHP) and intensive outpatient (IOP) programs.

What are Stimulants?

The term “stimulants” describes a class of drugs that act on the central nervous system to increase cognitive function and alertness and can include prescription medications that are meant to be used to treat certain conditions, as well as illicit substances. Stimulants work by increasing the amounts of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain to decrease fatigue and improve concentration, which is why they’re commonly prescribed to treat individuals who suffer from ADHD.

One reason why stimulants are commonly abused is because of their desirable, short-term effects, which can make users feel a sense of euphoria and have the ability to focus on tasks for a long stretch of time. Because they’re often prescribed, they’re also widely accessible.

Commonly abused stimulants include:

• Adderall: Adderall is the most popular ADHD treatment drug and also the most commonly prescribed amphetamine in the United States.
• Concerta: Also known as an extended-released version of Ritalin, Concerta is a newer drug that has been approved to treat ADHD.
• Ritalin: A known methylphenidate, Ritalin acts like other amphetamines but is slightly milder.
• Cocaine: Perhaps the most well-known stimulant, cocaine is highly addictive and most commonly snorted in its powdered form, though it can also be smoked. Some symptoms of cocaine use include excitability, weight loss, nosebleeds, and dilated pupils.
• Methamphetamine: Also known as “meth,” methamphetamine is a highly addictive, illicit substance that can be smoked and injected to deliver a rush of euphoria, though a “crash” will also accompany it once it wears off. Meth addiction can lead to cognitive issues, severe itching, and broken teeth over time.

Common Signs of a Stimulant Addiction

Addiction to stimulants can develop after prolonged use, which can lead to the brain ceasing to produce normal amounts of dopamine after being conditioned to receive it from the drug. Once the brain has been altered, the user may feel that they need to take more of the drug not only to achieve the same high, but simply to feel “normal.” The user may also experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if they go a period of time without using the drug.

Stimulant addiction can produce a wide range of short-term and long-term side effects that are both physical and behavioral. Like most drug addictions, stimulant addiction can ruin your relationships, cause your performance at work or school to drop, and lead to risky behaviors that can endanger your life and your future.

Common signs of a stimulant addiction include:

• Severe weight loss and/or malnutrition
• Aggression
• Anxiety
• Seeking out prescriptions for more stimulants, also known as doctor shopping
• Lying or stealing to get more money for drugs or prescriptions
• Engaging in impulsive behavior
• Twitching or excessive energy
• Disrupted sleep
• Hallucinations or delusions
• Withdrawal from family or friends
• Mood swings
• Withdrawal symptoms like cravings, dehydration, insomnia, sweating or chills, and muscle spasms

People with stimulant addictions also run the risk of overdosing, which involves ingesting more of a drug than an individual’s body can metabolize and can be fatal. Some symptoms of a stimulant overdose include convulsions or seizures, stroke, delirium or confusion, heart or kidney failure, and coma.