ADHD & methamphetamine addiction

[izzy31]

SWIM's meth use has toned down a little bit but he still has this empty feeling in his stomach like he's sick and hungry at the same time whenever he doesn't take it. He went right off the deep end with meth and believes he may never quit, because he can't even get out of bed without meth. He's too shakey and nervous and can't get anything accomplished and just feels horrible without it. He's been a chronic amphetamine user basically his whole life, as there wasn't a day he went to school as a child without his ritalin, and now there isn't a day he is useful without speed. He is diagnosed ADD, so should he just continue using speed daily and not worry about it? He doesn't use it to get high anymore, he uses it to feel normal. He's not afraid to go without it at all, he knows he can do it but he's so useless and feels so terrible.

[cyndi]

See as a mom of really two adhd kids, one is a teen, I have wondered about that. I didn't give the older child any meds since swim kicked a meth habit 14 years ago. I didn't want any speed around swim. Problems in school has been ongoing with him. He hates school and wants to quit. He is about 18 and I do encourage him to keep going. Now recently I put my 11 year old on adderall, that was good for him but bad really bad for swim. He used to also hate school and is now loving it and making the honor roll. Swim has since relapsed because of being around speed type of drugs. This is a real pickle.

About your post, I am not adhd but can relate to boyfriends issue. That is how it is with a chronic meth user. You stop partying and it becomes necessary to function so you end up taking it daily. You will feel terrible, very terrible. It sort of kills your spirit and you end up looking in the mirror one day and saying who the heck is that and hating the person looking back at you. No it sounds like he is about to hit bottom and probably needs to stop if he can. If he feels he needs the add meds, he could still get a script as an adult. That would probably make him productive and not feel bad. The street drugs are really not the answer for add or adhd people. For one thing you really don't know what is in it. With the medication, it isn't tainted and he would get what he needs to function. Make sense?

[beentheredonethatagain]

Originally Posted by cyndi

See as a mom of really two adhd kids, one is a teen, I have wondered about that. I didn't give the older child any meds since swim kicked a meth habit 14 years ago. I didn't want any speed around swim. Problems in school has been ongoing with him. He hates school and wants to quit. He is about 18 and I do encourage him to keep going. Now recently I put my 11 year old on adderall, that was good for him but bad really bad for swim. He used to also hate school and is now loving it and making the honor roll. Swim has since relapsed because of being around speed type of drugs. This is a real pickle.

About your post, I am not adhd but can relate to boyfriends issue. That is how it is with a chronic meth user. You stop partying and it becomes necessary to function so you end up taking it daily. You will feel terrible, very terrible. It sort of kills your spirit and you end up looking in the mirror one day and saying who the heck is that and hating the person looking back at you. No it sounds like he is about to hit bottom and probably needs to stop if he can. If he feels he needs the add meds, he could still get a script as an adult. That would probably make him productive and not feel bad. The street drugs are really not the answer for add or adhd people. For one thing you really don't know what is in it. With the medication, it isn't tainted and he would get what he needs to function. Make sense?

I hear you on not having meth around you ,or somelse. swim knows about meth addiciton , coke, at one time or another. swim has adderall and its not anything like meth... period. It should not pose a threat to you. once you relize the lack of amp thats in it.
THerefor your children , may accullay need the medicine. To not allow it for their treatment is punishing them. It will and has effects that will plague them forever. Problems in school usally lead to problems with police.
Do whats right for your chittlens.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Nice caring advice

[cyndi]

Swim admittedly has to give the nurse the adderall or swim will pop one or two. The speed in it does trigger the need for speed aka meth. Yes the kids have to have it or they will hate school and will stay in trouble. Swim doesn't want that again. You are right though, meth and adderall are very different, it just triggers the addiction to seek out meth which is swim's drug of choice even though it is destructive to swim.

[eon_blue]

If SWIY honestly wants to quit, then SWIM sees no harm in talking to a doctor about obtaining an Adderall script to help SWIY taper off of methamphetamines.

SWIM had a minor issue with meth awhile ago, and was able to satisfy his cravings for it with Adderall. Granted, Adderall is still an amphetamine and thus has just as much potential to be abused, but let's face it...popping an Adderall or two when the unforgiving cravings kick in is still much better on the body and mind than being twacked out all day and night long on methamphetamine. That, and SWIY's doctor can monitor your use and help you taper off of the Adderall, thus coming off of amphetamines (more importantly meth) altogether.

Granted, SWIM firmly believes that this will ONLY work if SWIY has the absolute, pure desire to drop meth and the abuse of uppers altogether.

Just an idea...don't flame SWIM for it. The same approach is used with opiate addicts and methadone. (Only Methadone treatment is more debatable in SWIM's opinion as the physical w/d's are generally much worse than most other opiates/opiods).

[cyndi]

Oddly enough I agree with swiy. When hard cravings kick in, an adderall no more than two does seem to satisfy swim's desire to use. However, it is the kid's meds so swim feels weird taking kids' meds. If swim were to purchase adderall outside of say regular channels, it is way tooooo high for swim's budget. I doubt a doc would give swim a script if swim says it is to kick meth cravings. One thing nonusers of meth don't realize is the intenseness of the cravings and think ssris will take care of it. I think if any hating comes in to play, it would be from a nonmeth addict as most just don't get it. Most meth users really want to stop but the cravings are really powerful. All users swim knows of hasn't kicked it but most want to. There should be a solution other than the 12 step deal and ssris.

[joevince]

Hey, SWIM has been in recovery for 1 year now. He used to snort meth .
His doctors have diognosed him with ADD. Now there trying to put him on VyVanse? I really need others Opions on this matter ?
SWIM doesn't want to take it ,then end up dependent on it ! , Even after a year sober ,he has such a problem with Extreme Fatigue,and is not able to Focus everyday. He's been takin Provigil ,but that only works for an hour or so ?

Please Give me some feedback ?

Thanks

[cyndi]

Vyvance is meth in a pill in swim's opinion. It was designed to not get abusers high, but swim found Vyvance a little too speedy for her. If swiy is in recovery, be very careful with what he takes. Strattera may be a better option. Again just swim's opinion from experience with this. If swiy has issues with speed abuse....no not a good option.

[joevince]

well,,, swim is reporting back on the last comment .

Well, Vyvanse has messed swim up ! He only took a 15mg to 30mg for a couple of days. While on it, swim just wanted more, (craving )
Now trying not to take it, swim is suffering from after effects and might need help . to get off it ?" Dam These Amphetamine Drugs !

[~lostgurl~]

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