4 ms·

The comments in this thread regarding illegal or casual use of adderall or other amphetamines without an underlying condition are really disheartening. In the U

The comments in this thread regarding illegal or casual use of adderall or other amphetamines without an underlying condition are really disheartening. In the USA it is already excessively difficult for those suffering from ADHD to get a diagnosis, find medication that works and maintain a ready supply without a buffer. Abusers are contributing to the environment worsening for those who need these drugs. These drugs can literally save lives from chaos and tragic ends. If these drugs help you live a more normal life, you are not an addict or an abuser. The cosmic tragedy here is that this type of medication is practically impossible to become dependent on if you have ADHD. If anything the problem is usually remembering to even take the medication. I fear that abuse will hamstring any efforts to lift production limits.

Dma54rhs 3y ago
It's very easy to get a prescription for ADHD meds in the USA, that is why Americans often struggle when they go abroad to Europe or other places to find doctors willing to prescribe them.
- junofan 3y ago
  The comment was talking about production limits. It is very hard to get a prescription filled.
SeanAnderson 3y ago
Hey. I'd love to talk to you more about this if you're willing? I have to assume your comment is in reference to my post. I apologize for saying something that upset you - it certainly was not my intent. My perspective on this is: - The process for getting prescribed Adderall is not objective. One is allowed to see multiple specialists and continue searching until one's perspective is seen and respected. Yes, there are objective differences in the brain, but brain scans aren't being used as the basis for issuing prescriptions. - Adderall, like all drugs, comes with a set of benefits and drawbacks. It's up to the user to decide if those are resulting in a net positive and they are allowed to change their mind at any time. So, it's reasonable to believe that someone who is undiagnosed may still either be, or believe they are, benefiting from the drug - and then change their mind later. Changing their mind does not mean that they retroactively become an abuser. - I would like a source for "practically impossible to become dependent if you have ADHD." There are plenty of studies that show addiction does not occur with statistical significance in those with ADHD + monitoring, but addiction is not the same as dependence. Dependence is implicit after continuous use, but, depending on baseline brain chemistry, different people revert to different baselines after discontinuation. - I feel your concern is more with the U.S. war on drugs in general - not specific users. I believe you want everyone who may benefit from stimulants to be able to find out if they benefit from them as easily as possible. The path to this is legalization - not stricter enforcement. On a more personal note, I have several friends who, by all external appearances, were doing just fine mentally, but did not make their physical health a priority. They got masters degrees, bought houses, held down solid white collar jobs. As we aged, continually ignoring their physical fitness and diet resulted in their bodies operating less efficiently, which began impacting their work, and so they sought legal help - and got it. Their personalities have now shifted to ones where they are always talking about their stimulants and how life is harder for them due to their diagnosis, but they still do not care for their bodies. They constantly search for the right dosage to make them magically better and become defensive when it's suggested that best results are achieved with both medical support and prioritization of personal health. It's really challenging for me to be supportive of this sort of behavior because I do not feel they are giving their bodies a fighting chance. I am now able to empathize with this mindset more fully having taken stimulants for a period of time. I felt firsthand how easy it was to ignore my health when there was a guaranteed window of time each day where I was able to live life fully attentive and stimulated. I feel that it is entirely possible that I have ADHD. I have some neurodivergent tendencies, but I see myself as strong, independent, successful, and not the sort of person who is interested in convincing a medical professional to greenlight my behavior. So, I researched and explored for myself, thought that stimulant use was potentially beneficial for a period of time, and then changed my mind when I reflected on the actual results. Was it illegal? Yes. Does that make it implicitly morally unjust? I don't feel that way. I felt morally worse convincing a doctor to prescribe me medical marijuana when California was still in the process of legalizing it recreationally even though the symptoms I stated, such as trouble falling asleep, were valid and "prescription worthy." Of course, you're fully entitled to see things differently, but it was important to me to fully share my perspective since I felt what I said prior was upsetting. Would love to hear your take on things. Cheers.
- xyzzy_plugh 3y ago
  Instead of telling all this to a stranger on the internet, tell this to your doctor. Look this may sound weird but if your doctor can prescribe you medicine for an underlying medical condition without determining if you have that underlying medical condition then there is a good chance they can assist in determining whether or not you have an underlying medical condition.
LoganDark 3y ago
> The cosmic tragedy here is that this type of medication is practically impossible to become dependent on if you have ADHD. If anything the problem is usually remembering to even take the medication. Not necessarily... in fact, the hope of knowing it could solve everything made it possible for me to work through the stupid medical system in the first place. And now that I have it, and know it definitely works for me, I don't think I could ever forget to take it.
bick_nyers 3y ago
I had to get caps with timers on them to let me know if I took it that morning or not. In addition, I forget to renew & pickup my prescription almost every month. If I'm an addict, I'm very bad at it.

Dma54rhs 3y ago

It's very easy to get a prescription for ADHD meds in the USA, that is why Americans often struggle when they go abroad to Europe or other places to find doctors willing to prescribe them.

junofan 3y ago
The comment was talking about production limits. It is very hard to get a prescription filled.

SeanAnderson 3y ago

Hey. I'd love to talk to you more about this if you're willing? I have to assume your comment is in reference to my post. I apologize for saying something that upset you - it certainly was not my intent. My perspective on this is: - The process for getting prescribed Adderall is not objective. One is allowed to see multiple specialists and continue searching until one's perspective is seen and respected. Yes, there are objective differences in the brain, but brain scans aren't being used as the basis for issuing prescriptions. - Adderall, like all drugs, comes with a set of benefits and drawbacks. It's up to the user to decide if those are resulting in a net positive and they are allowed to change their mind at any time. So, it's reasonable to believe that someone who is undiagnosed may still either be, or believe they are, benefiting from the drug - and then change their mind later. Changing their mind does not mean that they retroactively become an abuser. - I would like a source for "practically impossible to become dependent if you have ADHD." There are plenty of studies that show addiction does not occur with statistical significance in those with ADHD + monitoring, but addiction is not the same as dependence. Dependence is implicit after continuous use, but, depending on baseline brain chemistry, different people revert to different baselines after discontinuation. - I feel your concern is more with the U.S. war on drugs in general - not specific users. I believe you want everyone who may benefit from stimulants to be able to find out if they benefit from them as easily as possible. The path to this is legalization - not stricter enforcement. On a more personal note, I have several friends who, by all external appearances, were doing just fine mentally, but did not make their physical health a priority. They got masters degrees, bought houses, held down solid white collar jobs. As we aged, continually ignoring their physical fitness and diet resulted in their bodies operating less efficiently, which began impacting their work, and so they sought legal help - and got it. Their personalities have now shifted to ones where they are always talking about their stimulants and how life is harder for them due to their diagnosis, but they still do not care for their bodies. They constantly search for the right dosage to make them magically better and become defensive when it's suggested that best results are achieved with both medical support and prioritization of personal health. It's really challenging for me to be supportive of this sort of behavior because I do not feel they are giving their bodies a fighting chance. I am now able to empathize with this mindset more fully having taken stimulants for a period of time. I felt firsthand how easy it was to ignore my health when there was a guaranteed window of time each day where I was able to live life fully attentive and stimulated. I feel that it is entirely possible that I have ADHD. I have some neurodivergent tendencies, but I see myself as strong, independent, successful, and not the sort of person who is interested in convincing a medical professional to greenlight my behavior. So, I researched and explored for myself, thought that stimulant use was potentially beneficial for a period of time, and then changed my mind when I reflected on the actual results. Was it illegal? Yes. Does that make it implicitly morally unjust? I don't feel that way. I felt morally worse convincing a doctor to prescribe me medical marijuana when California was still in the process of legalizing it recreationally even though the symptoms I stated, such as trouble falling asleep, were valid and "prescription worthy." Of course, you're fully entitled to see things differently, but it was important to me to fully share my perspective since I felt what I said prior was upsetting. Would love to hear your take on things. Cheers.

xyzzy_plugh 3y ago
Instead of telling all this to a stranger on the internet, tell this to your doctor. Look this may sound weird but if your doctor can prescribe you medicine for an underlying medical condition without determining if you have that underlying medical condition then there is a good chance they can assist in determining whether or not you have an underlying medical condition.

LoganDark 3y ago

> The cosmic tragedy here is that this type of medication is practically impossible to become dependent on if you have ADHD. If anything the problem is usually remembering to even take the medication. Not necessarily... in fact, the hope of knowing it could solve everything made it possible for me to work through the stupid medical system in the first place. And now that I have it, and know it definitely works for me, I don't think I could ever forget to take it.

bick_nyers 3y ago

I had to get caps with timers on them to let me know if I took it that morning or not. In addition, I forget to renew & pickup my prescription almost every month. If I'm an addict, I'm very bad at it.