Can You Smoke Adderall? Dangers & Effects of Adderall Addiction

How to Smoke Adderall?

Searching how to smoke Adderall might leave you with some mixed information. Adderall is a psychostimulant drug that is known to activate the central nervous system and increase the levels of concentration and alertness in those who take it. Like all drugs out there, the questions that sometimes pop up are if you can become addicted to it, and what kind of withdrawal symptoms can be expected when you stop taking it.

Smoking Adderall can be dangerous, as some people who smoke Adderall may not realize how much of it, they are ingesting. Taking too much Adderall within a short window of time can lead to an overdose. This can lead to heart complications, seizures, and other life-threatening consequences.

Side Effects of Smoking Adderall

Abusing Adderall, especially when smoking it, can cause lung damage, higher dependency, and ultimately lead to addiction and then withdrawal symptoms. 

Some of the other serious side effects you might experience from smoking Adderall include the following:

• Heart rate fluctuations
• Issues with your central nervous system
• Psychosis
• Rapid weight loss
• ​Heart attack

Why is Adderall Addictive?

Adderall is addictive largely because of its stimulant qualities. People often take Adderall for help with focus and academic performance. It is also used to elevate mood and decrease appetite. The medication works by increasing dopamine—a ‘feel-good’ hormone—and norepinephrine levels in the central nervous system—the brain. People can get used to these high levels of dopamine and norepinephrine over time and feel dependent on the drug.

Adderall is typically reasonably easy to access, may be prevalent within certain populations (for instance, among college students), and may be perceived to carry only mild risk. Adderall abuse stems directly from its addictiveness. As tolerance to the drug grows, many Adderall users will feel the need to take more and more of the drug to achieve similar effects.

Signs of Adderall Abuse

Signs of Adderall abuse can include: 

• Taking more than the recommended or prescribed dose of Adderall
• Mixing the drug with other substances, like alcohol or weed
• Smoking, injecting, or snorting the drug
• Feeling unable to meet deadlines or complete work without taking the drug
• Persistently spending time and energy seeking out the drug
• Withdrawing from professional, academic, or social obligations
• Unusual mood swings, including strong feelings of aggression, mania, restlessness, or excessive tiredness

Skip To:

• Can You Smoke Adderall? Risks & Effects of Adderall Addiction

Learn More:

• What Does Adderall Do?
• Adderall Side Effects
• 30 mg Adderall – Effects and Risks of Addiction
• Round Adderall T 375 Pill Risks & Side Effects
• KC m20 Pill
• Amphetamine Psychosis
• How Long Do Amphetamines Stay in Your System?
• Amphetamine Addiction
• Amphetamine Withdrawal
• Amphetamine Effects
• Amphetamine vs Methamphetamine
• What Does Adderall Look Like?
• 30 mg Adderall – Effects & Risks
• Adderall Addiction Sign
• ADHD Treatment
• Adderall and Alcohol

2.1%

2.1% of males and 1.6% of females misuse prescription stimulants.

Source: NIDA

59 million or 21.4%

59 million or 21.4% of people 12 and over have used illegal drugs or misused prescription drugs within the last year.

Source: NIDA

Is Adderall Addictive If You’re Using it for ADHD?

ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood. Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health disorder that includes a combination of persistent problems, such as difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. Adult ADHD can lead to unstable relationships, poor work or school performance, low self-esteem, and other problems.

As a general rule, Adderall can be addictive whether or not you are using it to treat ADHD. However, if Adderall is being prescribed by a doctor for ADHD, its use will be monitored and moderated over time, helping to prevent addiction, and allowing for adjustment as needed. In fact, the use of Adderall in a prescribed setting can actually lessen the risk of addiction to Adderall or other stimulants. 

For people with ADHD, stimulants serve to create balanced brain chemistry that’s similar to a typical brain. When the drug is taken as directed, it’s unlikely to cause significant substance use problems. You may start to become tolerant of a stimulant if you use it for a long time. 

Can You Smoke Weed on Adderall?

Although Adderall has viable medical uses, it can also be abused and is addictive. Some individuals will take Adderall without a prescription to improve their focus. Others will simply take it for its euphoric effects. Its abuse can be dangerous regardless of the reason, but some individuals will go one step further and mix Adderall with weed in a combination sometimes known as weederall. This act is referred to as polysubstance use, where two drugs are mixed without medical supervision.

Can you smoke weed while taking Adderall? Those who have experienced mixing weed and Adderall sometimes report that the drugs can decrease unwanted effects of the other. Weed, for example, is sometimes said to reduce undesirable emotions related to Adderall like distress and agitation. In contrast, Adderall may help with fatigue or lowered cognitive functioning from weed.

Mixing a stimulant such as Adderall and a depressant like marijuana can come with serious consequences. Because everyone is unique, effects can be unpredictable, and not everyone will experience a harmonious interaction. Alone, long-term abuse of Adderall can lead to arrhythmia, increased blood pressure, and addiction. A prescription drug detox can help addicted users quit, but some of the other health problems may be irreversible. Can you take Adderall and smoke weed? Long-term marijuana abuse can be problematic as well and affect brain development leading to impaired thinking and memory problems.

Dangers Of Mixing Weed and Adderall

Adderall is a prescription medication that affects the central nervous system (CNS), and weed, or cannabis, is a psychoactive drug that provides a euphoric high. When combined these two substances can cause a range of health issues, particularly among people with pre-existing heart problems.

Arrhythmia (Irregular Heartbeat)

Both marijuana and Adderall can lead to increased heart rate and arrhythmia. Over time, using the two together may result in the development of more serious cardiovascular problems.

Increased Overdose Risk

Another potential danger of mixing the two substances is the increased risk of Adderall overdose. Some strains of weed are CNS depressants and may mask the stimulant effects of Adderall. As a result, people may be inclined to use more Adderall than they typically would.

Increased Risk for Mental Health Issues

Mental health issues may be exacerbated when Adderall and weed are combined, especially if a person has a pre-existing mental illness such as schizophrenia. Using Adderall and marijuana may also trigger paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions.

Short-Term Side Effects

Short-term effects are those that happen right after or during the use or abuse of Adderall.

Short-term effects of Adderall include:

• High blood pressure
• Irregular heartbeat
• Fever
• Dry mouth
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Insomnia
• Euphoria
• Anxiety
• Unstable blood sugar
• Changes in respiration rate

• Lung cancer
• Cardiovascular damage
• Damage to the respiratory system
• Heart attack
• Seizures

• Psychosis
• Stroke
• Paranoia
• Weight loss
• Mental illness

Can I Overdose on Adderall?

Overdose is unlikely but possible. Whether the orange or blue pills are swallowed, crushed, and inhaled as powder, or “parachuted” (crushed, wrapped in toilet paper, and eaten to avoid the taste), it’s rare to overdose on Adderall—but it can and does happen. A lethal dose is 20 to 25 mg. per kilogram of weight. (To put that in perspective: a lethal dose for someone who weighs 154 pounds is about 1,400 mg., or 25 times higher than what would be recommended.) 

However, if you’re using a prescription amphetamine recreationally while also taking other drugs or medications, it’s possible to overdose on less than the average lethal dosage. These drugs can interact with blood pressure medications, antidepressants, cold or allergy medications, antacids, and a host of other medications. Some people also experiment by mixing “addys” with alcohol, which can lead to alcohol poisoning, coma, or a life-threatening overdose. 

• Vomiting 
• Rapid breathing 
• Stomach pain
• Headaches 

• Hallucinations 
• Heart attack 
• Fever of 106.7 or higher 
• Tremors 
• Death

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Drug abuse and mental health disorders often co-occur. In many cases, traumatic experiences can result in mental health disorders and substance abuse. Dual-diagnosis rehabilitation treats both of these issues together. The best approach for the treatment of dual diagnosis is an integrated system. This strategy treats both the substance abuse problem and the mental disorder simultaneously. Regardless of which diagnosis (mental health or substance abuse problem) came first, long-term recovery will depend mainly on the treatment for both disorders done by the same team or provider.

Medication-Assisted Treatments

Medication-Assisted Treatments (MAT) for substance use and mental health disorders are commonly used in conjunction with one another. This includes the use of medications and other medical procedures. During your rehab, the staff from your treatment facility will help you identify what caused your addiction and teach you skills that will help you change your behavior patterns and challenge the negative thoughts that led to your addiction. Sometimes, the pressures and problems in your life lead you to rely on substances to help you forget about them momentarily.

If you or a loved one are struggling with long-term drug abuse and a co-occurring mental health condition such as depression, contact one of our helpful treatment specialists today. We Level Up NJ can provide information on dual diagnosis and detox programs that may fit your specific needs.