Why Do People Snort Adderall?

The Reasons Why People Consider Snorting Adderall and the Risks Involved

If you’re asking this question, chances are you’re either worried about someone or you’re in a place you didn’t think you’d end up. Snorting Adderall isn’t just a casual experiment for most people. It’s usually a sign that something deeper is going on. Maybe it started as a way to study longer or be a better test taker. But now it’s more than that.

And the truth? It’s complicated. People don’t snort Adderall because everything’s going great. They do it because they’re chasing something energy, clarity, escape, control. But that chase can take a serious toll. Understanding the why is the first step to figuring out what to do next.

Treatment centers like South Shores Recovery can help you find the answer to why. They offer solutions to the many problems substance abuse can bring. If you or someone you know is struggling, South Shores Recovery will help. Snorting Adderall is a serious symptom and should be treated as such.

In learning about why people snort Adderall, consider where to go in order to get help for a stimulant abuse disorder. Because someone who is snorting their Adderall is almost certainly someone that needs some help.

What is the Nature of Adderall Exactly?

Adderall is an amphetamine, a prescription stimulant medication for the treatment of attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Amphetamines are frequently abused because they provide feelings of increased energy, euphoria, focus, and perceived cognitive improvement.

People with ADD or ADHD diagnoses are able to sit still and focus when given stimulant medications, providing an effective treatment for the symptoms of their mental disability.

However these euphoric effects make them highly desirable to those looking for a head change. The feelings can be extremely addictive which can lead to substance abuse disorders and the inability to control your use. There are many issues that come along with a stimulant abuse disorder including insomnia, anorexia, addiction, and even psychosis.

When you are asking the question, “Why do people snort Adderall?” there are a few different things to consider. Throughout this post you will gain insight into why people snort their medications, why it is indicative of a larger issue, and what to do if you find yourself snorting Adderall and are unable to stop.

Understanding the Science- Pharmacokinetics

There is science to consider when talking about snorting versus taking Adderall orally. People abuse medications for a plethora of reasons.

There is a perceived increase in effects of substances when they are snorted instead of used as prescribed. The measurements of a substances ability to be absorbed is called the substances pharmacokinetics.

Route of Administration

The first thing to consider to understand why people snort anything at all is route of administration. The route of administration is the way a person ingests a substance. Different routes of administration include oral, insufflation (snorting), intramuscular (IM), and intravenous (IV).

Different routes of administration cause substances to be absorbed into the bloodstream more or less efficiently and quicker or slower.

Bioavailability: How Effectively a Substance is Absorbed

The next thing to understand is bioavailability. This is the percentage of a substance that enters the bloodstream and is available to have an active effect after it is ingested. A different route of administration will have a different bioavailability for each different substance.

Pharmacokinetics of Opioids

For example, looking at opioids, Oxycodone is 60-70% bioavailable orally while Hydromorphone is only 21-24% bioavailable orally. Oxycodone remains at 60-70% bioavailable snorted while Hydromorphone is much more bio available intranasally coming up to 50-70%.

Pharmacokinetics of Xanax

When considering another example take the oral and insufflation bioavailability of Xanax, a benzodiazepine. Xanax is sometimes abused by people who snort it. However, Xanax is not water soluble so it is not bioavailable through snorting.

The effects people get from snorting Xanax are only from when it gets to the stomach through the nose, so people snorting it are actually making it less effective.

Still, this does not stop many long term Adderall users, or those seeking a quicker delivery method, to attempt this questionable approach.

The Pharmacokinetics of Adderall

There are different formulations of Adderall including the instant-release and extended-release Adderall XR. Snorting Adderall XR is specifically terrible for your nose because there is chalk and plastics included in these medicines as they were designed to be taken orally.

The bioavailability of Adderall is the same orally and intranasal (snorting). The only differences between snorting and taking Adderall orally (as it was intended) is that there will be a faster onset of effects, a shorter lasting effect from Adderall, and the potential to seriously damage your nose and nasal cavity.

You should never abuse medications that you are prescribed, and this means taking them as prescribed and only when they are prescribed to you. If you are snorting Adderall, or getting Adderall on the street to abuse, you are playing a dangerous game. The damage can be life-altering. Please consider stopping.

The Dangers Of Abusing Adderall

Many bad things can happen even beyond the dangers of snorting Adderall. Abused Adderall can lead to many serious health issues. Adderall overdose, Adderall withdrawal, drug addiction, and mental health issues that come along with stimulant abuse are all potential outcomes of Adderall abuse.

Other physical health problems may arise due to the Adderall use and abuse as well. High blood pressure, nervousness, insomnia, and heart problems are all health risks associated with Adderall. High blood pressure can lead to heart attack and stroke.

From fake pills containing anything and everything, to physical dependence and possible issues with the law, in this next section you’ll read about the many dangers or Adderall.

Adderall Overdose is a Real Risk

Overdosing on stimulants is a real possibility and can lead to serious health issues up to and including death. Adderall and other stimulants like snorting cocaine are incredibly hard on the heart, and may lead to stroke or heart attacks.

Some symptoms of Adderall overdose are rapid breathing, tremors, confusion, and psychosis. Seizures and coma are the latest and most serious stages of an Adderall overdose.

The Drug Enforcement Administration has made Adderall a schedule II controlled substance. This indicates the high possibility of overdose and Adderall addiction, especially when it gets to the point of snorting Adderall.

If you suspect an overdose it is extremely important to call 911. Reaching out and getting help could mean the difference between life and death. Misusing Adderall is a dangerous game that carries serious consequences.

Counterfeit Adderall is Everywhere Now

Another significant issue emerging in the black market for pharmaceuticals is the prevalence of counterfeit pills. These may look identical to the real prescription pills but can contain literally anything.

The issue for counterfeiters is the real compounds that make up prescription Adderall, dextroamphetamine saccharate, amphetamine aspartate, dextroamphetamine sulfate, and amphetamine sulfate, are much more expensive to acquire or synthesize than methamphetamine.

As a result of cutting costs, most counterfeit Adderall is made up of methamphetamine. Methamphetamine has similar effects as it is another stimulant, but is much stronger and has many more negative side effects. These fake pills containing methamphetamine are much more addictive and much more dangerous.

The High Potential for Counterfeit Pills to Contain Fentanyl

Counterfeit pills may also contain other drugs including fentanyl. More chemists are cutting amphetamines with fentanyl due to the extreme dependence that comes along with opioids. Sometimes these pills are not created evenly dosed and one pill may contain the amount of fentanyl the producer meant to be in 100 pills. If this happens it could mean death.

Imagine thinking you are taking a legitimate prescription Adderall to take a test in college, and it has a lethal dose of fentanyl in it. This has happened many times.

This study from the National Institute of Health website shows explains that almost 5% of overdose deaths are from counterfeit pills. That is a huge number, and the risk is at an all time high.

As you continue reading about the many downsides of stimulant use, consider whether or not you have a problem. If the answer is yes or you are unsure of whether the Adderall is becoming an issue, reach out to a professional. Ask questions to learn more about your own situation as it pertains to stimulant addiction.

Adderall Withdrawal Symptoms

Some other effects of snorting Adderall are withdrawal symptoms after prolonged use. Some Adderall withdrawal symptoms include severe headaches, paranoia, fatigue, depression, and anxiety. Symptoms of withdrawal are not typically fatal, but can be devastating nonetheless.

If you experience withdrawal symptoms it typically means your central nervous system has become accustomed to constantly having the drug. It cannot produce the natural response to life due to being dependent on the drug for brain function to be normal.

A Medical Detox and Adderall Addiction Treatment Programs

Considering a medical detox at an accredited inpatient treatment center like ours as South Shores Recovery is highly recommended. Being supervised while going through the hell that is withdrawal can be the difference between success and failure and getting through them.

After going through a medical detox, continuing with addiction treatment will help when drug cravings arise. Snorting stimulants, especially prescription drugs may require addiction treatment programs to fully recover from.

Healing the physical symptoms like chronic sinusitis and other sinus infections after Adderall insufflation can take years to fully heal from. The mental health negative consequences can also take years to recover from.

South Shores Recovery is a Place to Heal and Find Recovery

South Shores Recovery has treatment options to help you fight for your recovery. Their inpatient treatment program has a detox that will provide the support you need to get through those terrible withdrawal symptoms. Their dual diagnosis program will help you heal your mental health issues and substance use disorder simultaneously.

After completing inpatient treatment, continuing on to the outpatient program is a way to really give yourself the best shot at recovery. Those who stick it out and complete all phases of the process are much more likely to sustain their recovery and gain long term sobriety.

So please, find your reason why abusing Adderall has become your answer to life’s problems. Heal yourself from the traumatic lifestyle.

So please, reach out to South Shores Recovery and get the help you or your loved one so desperately need. Recovery can begin today.