A diagnosis of ADD may bring other concerns into focus. When you have ADD, you are more prone to having a substance abuse problem. In addition to substance abuse, people with ADD also have a higher rate of depression, anxiety, and eating disorders, which can lead to more difficulties with day-to-day functioning and may require additional medication treatment. When you have another disorder in addition to ADD, it is called a comorbid disorder. This just means that you are experiencing ADD and something else at the same time. In this post, you will learn about each of these issues, including how to get help for them so you can live a happier and more productive life.
Self Medication And Its Effects
People with ADD are more likely than those without ADD to abuse alcohol and other drugs, including caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine - in fact, one in five ADD adults has experienced substance abuse. There is also a much higher rate of ADD in addicts than in the general population. People with ADD also start using drugs at an earlier age and have more intense use than people without ADD. Not only do people with ADD have an increased risk of addiction, it is also more difficult for people with ADD to quit (and stay substance free).
As you read previously, when you have ADD, you are lacking a brain chemical, the neurotransmitter dopamine. If your brain chemicals are low, you will find a way to replace those chemicals, whether you do so consciously or unconsciously. This can result in using, abusing, and eventually becoming dependent on drugs like caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and prescription drugs. In fact, some of these drugs do help you to focus and feel like your brain is "normal" for a short period of time. However, those effects do not last and can cause some nasty withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop. As you have learned, prescribed medication is a safer, regulated, and less addictive way to help your brain get the chemicals it needs.
Caffeine
People with ADD are twice as likely to use caffeine as people without ADD. The truth is that caffeine does help you focus - but only for about a half hour. The side effects of caffeine withdrawal last much longer than the beneficial effects. Caffeine withdrawal symptoms include stomachaches, irritable bowel problems, headaches, vomiting, nervousness, and insomnia. If you plan on weaning yourself off of caffeine, it is recommended that you drink a little less each day instead of stopping abruptly. This will help reduce withdrawal symptoms. Consult with your doctor before cutting back on your caffeine use, especially if you have been using large amounts of caffeine for an extended period of time.
Nicotine
People with ADD start smoking at a younger age, smoke more cigarettes per day, and have a harder time quitting the habit. The more severe your ADD symptoms, the more likely it is that you will be a regular smoker. Smokers who have ADD also have a greater risk of using other drugs. If you would like to quit smoking, there are medications available, including Wellbutrin/Zyban (bupropion HCI), Chantix (varenicline), and electronic cigarette and gum.
Stimulant medication and nicotine patches can help you cease smoking, both when used by themselves and when used together. Methods such as hypnosis and counseling may also help you quit smoking, especially if they are combined with nicotine replacement therapy. One of the bonuses of quitting is that lung damage caused by smoking may be reversed, depending on how long, and how much, you have been smoking. Consult your doctor if you are considering quitting.
Alcohol
If you have ADD, you are more likely to abuse alcohol than people who do not have ADD, at a rate of 18.5 to 5.3 percent. In addition, approximately 35 to 71 percent of alcoholics have ADD. Chronic alcohol abuse can lead to cirrhosis (liver damage), increased difficulties paying attention, and, in extreme cases, death.
You particularly want to be careful about your alcohol consumption when you are taking certain medications for ADD. For example, if you are taking stimulant medications, you may not experience the usual effect of your alcohol intake until your medication wears off. Then you may suddenly feel the impact how much you have had to drink. But even if you don't feel a "buzz" from alcohol while you are on your medication, you can still have impaired reflexes. Ask your doctor about potential side effects from consuming alcohol while on your medication.
Marijuana and Cocaine
Sometimes people with ADD report that the first time they used marijuana or cocaine, their brain finally felt "normal." However, marijuana use has negative side effects such as the loss of short-term memory, lack of motivation, and drowsiness. Cocaine has side effects of agitation, paranoia, and aggression.
If you already have ADD, you really can't afford a reduction in short-term memory or mood stability. In addition, you can never be entirely sure what may be mixed in with illegally purchased drugs. Stimulant medication treatment for ADD reduces the chances of cocaine abuse.
Prescription Medication
In recent years, there has been an increase in the abuse of prescription medication, including OxyContin (oxycodone), Vicodin (hydrocodone/acetaminophen), and Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts immediate-release). About 26 percent of adolescents who are prescribed stimulant medication for ADD sell or give away their medication. In a survey of nine thousand college students, 8.1 percent had used stimulant medication without a prescription.
It is very important that you take your medication only as prescribed and never sell your medication or give it to someone. If someone died as a result of taking your medication, you could be charged with manslaughter, not to mention receiving a felony charge for dealing or distributing a controlled substance.
Signs of Addiction
If you think you might have a problem with using drugs, it may be helpful to learn what exactly qualifies as being "addicted." When you are dependent on, or addicted to, a substance, you may experience a build-up of tolerance to the drug and you may also experience withdrawal.
- Tolerance. When you need more and more of a substance in order to get the same effect from it, you are building up a tolerance. For example, one joint isn't getting you high anymore; now you need two or even three to get the same effect. The amount of time it takes your mind and body to build up tolerance depends on the substance that is being abused, the amount you use each time, and how frequently you use it.
- Withdrawal. Withdrawal comes in two forms - psychological and physiological. Withdrawal happens when you have a psychological (mind) or physiological (body) reaction when you cut back or stop using a substance. You can experience psychological withdrawal symptoms such as aggression, confusion, and paranoia. You can also experience the physiological effects of withdrawal, including nausea, shaking and seizures.
