Prescription medication abuse

Advice & Questions
1

Wanting advice on this. I’m in my second year of uni and struggling a bit even though I’m doing fairly well on my results it’s just a lot for my to perpetually operate at the level required.

I was diagnosed ADHD as a child as I demonstrated a lot of problematic behaviours. I’ve used medication in the past to assist my studies. It’s helped my in some ways. On the other side I’m an addict and alcoholic and I have many many times used the medication in excess as a stimulant, snorted it and used other ways of abusing it on many many occasions. I also used it in relationship with alcohol which enabled me to circumvent blackouts. As such I have a dark relationship with this medication.

I have however recently applied for a visit with a specialist to get back on medication. I was hoping it would happen sooner but I’m on a waiting list now and due to start uni soon. I know it’s cliche uni students using this medication and all but I think there’s a chance it could help, albeit having its own side effects and risks. I’ve heard people saying online that taking the medication actually reduces the likelihood of drug abuse, which to me seems somewhat ironic in my situation and in general.

I’m just after peoples advice and anecdotal experiences. I’m not really looking for the cliche AA rhetoric against prescription medication, so please refrain if that’s your spin and you do not have personal experience with this medication.

Thank you.

1 Like
2

Hi Duncan, good to see you and glad things are moving forward at Uni :innocent:

I take stimulant medication for my ADHD. I was formally diagnosed ADHD earlier this year but I’ve had it since I was a child. I sought out the diagnosis because as an adult I wanted to understand myself more fully, to make better decisions for myself. I am glad I did it - I feel I am entering a new chapter.

Entering a new chapter is kind of what you’re doing here. You’re considering using a new tool. Ultimately any medication is a tool. It’s a tool that is used on the gears of the body (just like a wrench is a tool that is used on the gears of a car). Any tool - including a wrench - can be misused. It sounds to me like what you’re looking for is, can I effectively, consistently, use this tool the way it is intended to be used, given my history?

Generally I would say that any medication used to help with ADHD should be combined with some type of life coaching or therapy from someone who is experienced with ADHD, including medications used for it. (Just like you need to learn to use the tools to adjust a car, you need to learn to use the tools to adjust a brain.) So my first advice would be don’t do this without some knowledgeable professional support.

I can also say it will be a steep learning curve, learning how to use this tool the way it’s meant to be used. In my personal case with my addiction, sex addiction, I am still in the process of reworking and relearning intimacy with my wife. It is taking time and it is a process. It is hard. It is worth it, but it is hard. I feel like I’m learning to walk again; like I’m way behind in something everyone else knows.

In your case, with your history, there will be patterns of behaviour that come to mind just because you have the tool, the medication. You will have to be prepared for that and have ways to manage it.

It can be making the prescriptions small, a few days at a time maybe; that reduces overuse potential. Yes you have to visit the pharmacy more often but if it works it works.

Another possibility is non-stimulant ADHD meds (these exist; they function somewhat differently and are there as backups for people who would prefer to stay away from stimulants).

Whatever you choose, involve other people and keep them informed. You can share about this at your checkins at your recovery group - do you go to one at school? You should also keep in close touch with your ADHD coach or counsellor.

Take care Duncan and don’t give up. One step at a time :innocent:

3

This post from @TMAC relates directly to your situation Duncan, it sounds like he’s been through exactly what you’re about to go through, it was rocky for him but that was before he got recovered & conscious; it seems like for someone who approaches it with a healthy, balanced, disciplined recovery mindset, it works: