(Dextroamphetamine and Amphetamine)
Javier Manriquez
Travis Maestas
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Adderall is the brand name of any type of
amphetamine salt-based medication used to
control symptoms of attention deficit
hyperactivity and in some cases narcolepsy.
It is a Central Nervous System Stimulant
(CNS) that enhances the release and prevents
the re-uptake of dopamine which in turn
creates hyper-alertness and the ability to focus
on something for extended period of times.
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We wanted to do further research on this
popular drug that when used properly, can
help those who suffer from ADD/ADHD and
in some cases narcolepsy. We will briefly
touch on the legal uses of Adderall and focus
mostly on the abuse of this drug when it is not
prescribed. We will analyze the effects on the
long term neurochemical pathways of the brain
so our readers get a deeper understanding of
the dangers of abusing this drug.
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Originally, Adderall was used as a treatment
for obesity known as Obertrol or Rexar
Pharmacal. It was used throughout the 1960’s
and in 1994 a new pharmaceutical company
bought the formula and began marketing it as
Adderall.
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It is used to treat cases of ADD/ADHD
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Allows for the person to concentrate for long periods
of time.
Adderall is the most commonly abused drug in
the market right now and it is most used by
college aged students as the “study” drug.
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Adderall is a phenylalkylamine, which
contains a phenyl ring and a nitrogen group.
It is molecularly similar to catecholamines such
as norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, ect.
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This drug is intended for oral ingestion, but
when it is abused it can also be insufflated.
High acidic levels in the stomach and GI tract
decrease the absorption and increase excretion
via urine.
When taken orally, it is metabolized in the liver
and has a half life of about 10 hours in adults.
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Two kinds:
 Instant Release which takes 3 hours to reach its
maximum concentration.
 Extended release from which takes 7 hours to reach its
maximum concentration.
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Amphetamines in Adderall bind to receptors in
place of the catecholamine's produced
naturally.
This stimulates the Central Nervous System by
acting as a reuptake inhibitor and increases the
levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in the
brain and in between neurons.
AdderallPhenylacetoneBenzoic AcidHippuric Acid
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Since this drug increases the amount of
neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft this
makes the user have:
More energy
 Sexual desire
 Better focus
 Productivity
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Common
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Anorexia
Dry mouth
Chronic thirst
Insomnia
Migraines and headaches
Stomach pain
High blood pressure
Mood swings
Nausea
Vomiting
Dizziness
Sudden spikes in heart rate
Chest pain
Slowing of growth in children
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Lethal
Suicidal thoughts and ideations
 Depression
 It has a highly addictive nature
 Can result in:
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 Seizures
 Heart attacks
 High blood pressure
 Stroke
 Death
College is stressful most of the time. When something
is not due in one class, it is due in the next. Most of
our peers see Adderall as a way to gain time and
make the most of the time that is allotted to them.
Others like the “high” of Adderall and the hyper
awareness of their environment. Here at the
University of New Mexico, like in many other
campuses across the U.S, can be attained easily at a
cost of $3.00 to $5.00 a pill. We think that a
combination of factors such as price, the length of
the high, and the wide availability are what make this
the most widely abused prescription in the country
and on our campus.
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“If you are drinking, it helps you drink more
and stay up for the whole party”
“You can cram an entire tests material in one
night”
“You are Productive and feel on top of the
world”
“The most important meal of the day”
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Those who do not suffer from ADD/ADHD
have a baseline of stimulation already there
working normally.
Adderall in an ADD/ADHD patient causes
under stimulation for a few minutes until the
brain reaches the normal baseline that allows
them to concentrate
Affects the nucleus accumbens in the mid brain
known also as the “pleasure center”
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It affects dopamine which is an inhibitory
transmitter that tries to stop any excitement
from occurring.
The nucleus accumbens releases another
inhibitory transmitter called GABA and by
virtue of inhibiting the inhibitor, dopamine acts
as an excitatory neurotransmitter.
In large doses, Adderall produces the same
chemical effects in the brain as amphetamines.
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In the long run, more and more of the drug is
needed to sustain the high, and this happens
because the process where dopamine recycles
itself is blocked and this “reuptake” is blocked.
With constant doses, the amount of dopamine
in each neuron decreases, even thought the
drug tells the brain to release all it has, the
abuser will take more and more of the drug to
get the same rush but there is not enough
dopamine left.
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It works similarly to cocaine therefore it has the
potential to become highly addictive over a
period of time.
There is very little research about the use of
Adderall in healthy populations.
If it is used as a study aid in school, it is more
likely to be used again and again, regardless of
the physical dependence.
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Adderall when abused can be as dangerous
and toxic as meth or cocaine and if you are
caught using it without a prescription, it is a
felony and can land you 3 years in jail and up
to a $10,000.00 fine!
It “fries” your neurotransmitter network and
can lead to diseases such as Parkinson's with its
extended use.
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The Drug: Adderall
Uses: Commonly used to treat patients
diagnosed with ADD/ADHD
Abuse: Commonly used amongst college
students as a study aid
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Effects:
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Users can become addicted to the drug
Adderall has similar effects on humans as Cocaine
Can lead to diseases such as Parkinson’s Disease
Results: The brain can become dependant on
Adderall and cause it to potentially stop
producing Dopamine
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In conclusion, Adderall has its benefits to those
who need it for medical reasons, but there is a
large portion of our population that abuses the
drug and are unaware of the potential
dangerous and harmful long term effects that it
can have on the brain.
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http://www.drugs.com/monograph/adderall.html
https://online.epocrates.com/noFrame/showPage.do?method=drugs&MonographId=359&A
ctiveSectionId=5
Behavioral and pharmacokinetic assesment of the components of Adderall, Slezak, J.M.
Mueller, M, Ricuarte G.A.
The perceptions of pharmacological cognitive enhancers on campus: A classroom exercise in
neuroethics. Stuthers W.M.
Non-Medical use of Prescription drugs and Sexual risk behavior in young adults. Benotsh,
Koester, Luckman
Nonmedical prescription stimulant use among college students: why we need to do something
and what we need to do.