The Dangers & Effects of Snorting Adderall
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Adderall is one of the most popular stimulants prescribed in America [8]. However, due to its stimulant properties, Adderall can be highly addictive and has a considerable potential for misuse.
An example of misuse is snorting the substance as a route of administration. This method is typically used to get high off of Adderall. Individuals will do this by crushing the Adderall tablets to snort them through the sinuses.
This method of ingesting Adderall is incredibly risky and generally does not achieve the desired effect. Read on to learn more on “What happens if you snort Adderall?” and the dangers and effects of snorting Adderall, including where to get treatment if you or a loved one has an Adderall or stimulant addiction.
Adderall is a widely used prescription medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is a combination of two central nervous system (CNS) stimulants: amphetamine and dextroamphetamine [1]. CNSs help combat impulsiveness and hyperactivity by targeting the user’s central nervous system, leading to improved attention span, concentration, memory, and motivation. CNS stimulants, like Adderall, work by increasing levels of neurotransmitters, namely dopamine and adrenaline [2]. Along with ADHD, Adderall can also be used to treat and manage narcolepsy.
Adderall is only sold in methods of oral ingestion, like tablets and capsules. Common forms of Adderall include immediate-release tablets and extended-release tablets. Although Adderall is only intended to be used as prescribed by your physician and consumed orally, there is a rising trend of snorting Adderall. This route of administration is hazardous and a serious indication of drug abuse behavior associated with substance use disorders.
Snorting crushed Adderall is a form of drug abuse. Adderall is classified as a Schedule II drug under the Federal Drug Control Act. This means it is an addictive substance and has a high potential for abuse. Its effects—such as improved focus, increased energy, and suppressed appetite—can be especially enticing for individuals without ADHD.
Many individuals abuse Adderall by obtaining and taking it without a doctor’s approval. Users also perpetuate the cycle of abuse by snorting the substance to get high. Misusing Adderall, whether by snorting it or taking it without a prescription, is incredibly dangerous and can lead to serious health risks, including overdose and potentially death, especially when mixed with other stimulants or drugs.
Many people believe that by snorting Adderall, they can get high quicker. In reality, this route of administration can cause serious health risks that affect your body and brain. The effects of snorting Adderall include:
Snorting Adderall can also increase feelings of dependence on the substance. Sustained drug abuse leads to addiction and heightens the risk of overdose.
Adderall is pharmacologically designed to be taken orally so that it reaches the digestive system and enters the bloodstream at a controlled rate. When snorted, the drug is absorbed much faster than intended, causing a rapid surge of norepinephrine and dopamine, which may enhance its effects.
Because dopamine is a neurotransmitter that causes you to feel good, snorting Adderall can lead to an immediate rush of euphoria. However, this has detrimental effects as it can lead to tolerance and addiction. When this happens, you’ll need more and more of the drug to get that same initial effect. The user may increase their dosage to satisfy their dopaminergic needs, which can lead to overdose or even death.
In addition to these risks, snorting Adderall can cause health complications similar to those related to snorting cocaine, including:
Adderall abuse has serious consequences, whether through snorting or misusing it by ingesting higher doses than your doctor prescribed. Snorting can produce a quicker, more intense high, while taking excessive amounts orally can lead to prolonged stimulant effects that are just as dangerous.
Both forms of misuse can lead to negative symptoms like anger and hostility, paranoia, psychosis, high body temperature, arrhythmia, high blood pressure, decreased sleep, poor nutrition, or even a seizure or stroke.
Although the effects of Adderall can be good for those who have a prescription, such as helping improve impulse control and focus, if misused, it can have detrimental effects [1].
Common negative side effects of Adderall are:
Taking Adderall may have long-term effects, including the following:
Misuse of Adderall has many risks. It could lead to addiction, health problems, or overdose, which could be life-threatening. Never take Adderall without a prescription, and strictly adhere to the dosage (and route of administration) that your doctor recommends.
Additionally, do not consume alcoholic beverages while taking Adderall since mixing stimulants and CSN depressants, like alcohol, is extremely dangerous and potentially lethal.
Adderall is a stimulant and is categorized as a Schedule II controlled substance because it includes amphetamines. This means that if you are caught with Adderall but don’t have a prescription for it, you could get arrested and/or face severe legal consequences.
Adderall is pretty similar to cocaine, especially since they are both central nervous stimulants and classified as Schedule II controlled substances [3]. While they affect the brain in similar ways—increasing energy, blood pressure, and heart rate [4]—they are not identical. Adderall is a prescription amphetamine designed for long-term use, while cocaine is a short-acting illicit drug that produces a more intense high, with greater risks of addiction and harmful consequences.
Yes, Adderall can make you poop because it can increase gastric motility. Another possible reason it affects the bowels is the timing of the dosage. Most doctors recommend taking it in the morning with a meal, which could potentially stimulate bowel movement.
People snort Adderall, but it is not intended to be snorted, nor should it be. Snorting Adderall is a serious form of drug abuse with severe health risks.
More than half of students with an Adderall (or similar ADHD drug) prescription have been asked to sell the medication to peers and friends [5].
Studies at some colleges show as many as 30% of students have abused Adderall [5].
Adderall misuse is the highest among 18-25 year olds [6].
The mortality rate associated with stimulants, such as Adderall, has been rising since 2010 [7].
In 2015, an estimated 5 million Americans abused Adderall, although studies show that these numbers may actually be higher due to underreporting [9].
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[1] https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2007/011522s040lbl.pdf
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK548702/
[3] https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/commonly-used-drugs-charts
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3202508/
[5] https://www.vmi.edu/media/content-assets/documents/police/Prescription-Drug-Abuse.pdf
[6] https://hub.jhu.edu/2016/02/16/adderall-abuse-rising-young-adults/
[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7851755/
[8] https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_chem_info/stimulants/IQVIA_Report_on_Stimulant_Trends_from_2012-2022.pdf
[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5689455/
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