It can be overwhelming trying to juggle school, work, relationships, and your mental health. Balancing all of this can make you turn to unhealthy alternatives to help you, such as study drugs. These drugs can help you focus and stay awake for longer periods of time, but they can also have harmful effects on your body and life.
At Spero Recovery, we want to help you overcome your study drug use and find better ways to cope with the stress life can bring.
What Are Study Drugs?
Study drugs are usually prescription stimulants. These stimulants are often misused drugs used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). They are classified as amphetamines, which is also what methamphetamine is classed as.
These drugs are often used to help students while working on important schoolwork or preparing for a big exam. Students believe that study drugs can help heighten their memory, focus, ability to learn the material and stay awake.
Types of Study Drugs
There are a number of known study drugs, which include the following.
#1. Adderall
Adderall is one of the most well-known stimulant drugs and has a high potential for abuse. When misused, a person can rapidly become tolerant, which means the amount used increases, and the time between uses decreases to reach the same effect.
#2. Ritalin
Ritalin has the same effect as Adderall but with different negative side effects. Misuse can result in heart problems, psychotic episodes, stroke, and formication, which is the feeling of bugs crawling under your skin. It also lasts longer in your system and works faster than Adderall.
#3. Vyvanse
Vyvanse treats ADHD and binge-eating disorders and is longer-acting than both Adderall and Ritalin. It uses an inactive version of amphetamine that can only be activated in the stomach after being swallowed. This was intentionally done to try and stop people from snorting or injecting the drug.
#4. Modafinil
Modafinil is used in the treatment of narcolepsy and sleep apnea and has been used to help those that work the night shifts so individuals are able to stay awake during their shift and sleep during the day.
Signs of Study Drug Use
An individual using study drugs will display a number of the following signs:
- Increased energy and focus
- Shortness of breath
- Dry mouth
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Changes in sleep
- Feeling restless
- Anxiety
- Feeling agitated
- Confusion
- Vision changes
- Insomnia
- Delusions
- Addiction
- Tolerance
- Withdrawal
- Suicidal thoughts
- Depression
Signs of Overdose
Some signs to look for if you suspect someone is overdosing include:
- Convulsions
- Increased body temperature
- Hallucinations
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Feeling restless
Treatment Options
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a treatment method that uses the analysis of the effects of your thought processes and beliefs on your actions and behavior. This information is used to change negative habits and thoughts patterns to modify behaviors.
CBT can help with addiction to study drugs because it can help you see the negatives behind substance use and find new ways to cope with the stressors in your life. Cognitive-behavior therapy can help you stop being dependent on the study drugs to achieve your goals and teach you healthy ways to do so.
Matrix Model is a model that uses a variety of treatment methods to help those that struggle with stimulant substance addiction. Common therapies used include cognitive-behavioral therapy, contingency management, the 12-Step model, family therapy, and motivational interviewing.
Benefits of this model include:
- Understanding addiction
- Learning relapse prevention
- Discovering better-coping mechanisms and ways to form healthier relationships
- Joining a supportive community full of people that are working toward recovery
Treatment at Spero Recovery
Spero Recovery is a non-profit organization that uses donations and grants to fund its residential recovery programs. This allows them to keep their costs below the national average. It also makes them the perfect option for the under and uninsured individual seeking high-quality care and long-term success in sobriety.
We use a peer-led 12-Step treatment model to help those struggling with substance use disorder. Using alumni is beneficial for both alumni and the person just starting out on their recovery journey. It gives alumni a sense of purpose and a way for them to give back to their community. The newcomer is given the ability to connect with someone that has been successful with the program and who they may feel more comfortable confiding in because the alumni have been through similar situations.
Experiential treatment is a big part of their recovery program. We feel that participation in new activities — such as hiking, cooking classes, woodworking, and meditation — can help a person work on their recovery and find a new hobby to continue outside of treatment.
There are separate programs for men and women because Spero Recovery understands that there are different needs for each gender. We put an emphasis on breaking the toxic mentality of “being a man.” This means we work to get men to understand that it is not weak to feel emotion or seek help when they need it.
Sober living is another service we offer. This can be used to help transition from treatment and back into society. There is no time frame for how long someone can stay. The goal is for the individual to comfortable and confident in their ability to manage their substance use disorder and maintain their sobriety.
Keeping up with school, work, and any other responsibilities can seem impossible and make you reach out for the wrong kind of help. This bad help can include the use of study drugs that you may use to help stimulate you and keep you focused. These drugs are misused prescription drugs. The negative effects of the use of these drugs can greatly outweigh the minimal benefits. If you feel like you are struggling or know someone struggling with study drug addiction, reach out to Spero Recovery at (303) 351-7888 for more information today. You are not alone; there are many others that want to help you on your recovery journey.
