Drugs and ADHD

[Shittyperson25]

Can I get a show of hands,who here with ADHD diagnosed as a child,or an adult,been addicted to drugs? And if yes,what drugs? Uppers/downers ,and why do you think this is? I'll be honest I have a pretty severe cocaine addiction that I'm desperately struggling with. I'd love some incite and opinions

[shotty]

Diagnosed as an adult. Combined type. Been addicted to alcohol for like 4 years prior to my diagnosis. Before and after that it was weed. Also been addicted to nicotine at some point. Alcohol was the hardest one for me to stop. Oh been addicted to caffiene as well. The medication I'm on made it easier to quit the nicotine. I guess you could say Im addicted to Adderall but I can go days w/o taking my meds, so not really, plus for some reason I don't abuse the adderall like I did the other drugs.

As for why, I think it's just the adhd brain seeking stimulation that regular life otherwise doesn't bring.

[Hidden]

I abused alcohol and nicotine in the military. Addiction is a disease, put this into a professional perspective and realize that it is a medical disease that we are genetically preprogramed to have a greater risk of getting because of how our ADHD brain seeks the chemical response of stimulants. Prescriptions are controlled and if we don't have the opportunity to seek care in the structured manner we seek other methods in the environment without realizing it. All of the guilt associated with how you've acted or the things you've done in the past needs to be placed on this disease so you can work on being betterperson25 and not a shittyperson25 because it's not all your fault.

[FindingTheAnswers]

Diagnosed as an adult. No official additions. Xanax and other other similar meds did nothing for me. Before I was given Adderall, the soft drink Coca-Cola would give me a short term 'relief' from my mind going 100MPH, etc. More than once, I drank a Coke, and almost instantly things would be better. I've even said to myself 'This is what it's like to be an addict!' or 'This is why some people use alcohol or drugs!'. How many people with ADHD smoke, or drink, or drug because it gives them a short period of relief? Peace of mind? A sense of calmness? Even if for just a just a little while? Best of luck to you.

[Jackieray]

I never considered myself an addict but in retrospect I've had an addictive behavior pattern my entire life. The only thing that has stopped it is being on ADHD stimulant medication. Its decreased my compulsive behavior exponentially. Although I was never a drinker nor a smoker after an injury I did abuse narcotics thankfully I am in medical assisted treatment and my ADHD is controlled with dexedrine.

[Stonesfan]

Jackpot!

Ex 10+ years coke head here.

I found cocaine "relaxed" me - searching on reddit I learned this is not uncommon for adhd people.

Coke users can be snobby (I was)

We can pompously view heroin users and heavy alcoholics as "low rent" or "slowed down". We feel superior - we are fast thinkers (right?) - not collapsed or falling over drunk / slurring words on booze - or nodding off asleep in our soup like a junkie after a hit of heroin...

We are a 'cut above all the other addicts' right?

We take the "cool, celebrities, rich person, glamour drug" - right?

Do you recognise yourself in any of the above statements?

Go to - COCAINE ANNONOMUS

Yep! CA - it worked for me. (Long story)

ca.org/meetings/

Get to one of these near you asap. It's free.

(If you want to connect over the phone message me here.)

As mentioned above, I think us adhd peeps are drawn to stimulants.

CA has got your back bro. ca.org/meetings/

To be more accurate - sporadic but frequent enough, coke + booze "binging" was my issue (not daily use of either)

I didn't feel I would be comfortable in a meeting full of alcoholics (AA) or heroin addicts (NA). So CA was a good fit for me. I reccomend it.

[bumblebeebetch]

😓🙋🏻‍♀️ currently addicted to weed and nicotine. i’ve tried quitting both, multiple times. it’s fucking hard. i believe it’s due some type of hand to mouth fixation i have.. i’m not too sure if that’s a common thing with adhd though!

the fact you’re posting on here is a big step 💖 good for you! it’s hard but you are strong. keep up the fight cause you’re worth it.