Full Answer
Is Adderall legal in the US?
As a prescription stimulant, Adderall is a legal drug with legitimate medical uses. Still, in spite of the cavalier attitude that many young people demonstrate with regards to possessing, distributing, and abusing this drug, you need to remember that the DEA classifies it as a Schedule II controlled substance.
When did Adderall take over the world?
By the end of the 1930s, the Adderall of its day had taken over the academic world. Students from all backgrounds were using Benzedrine to stay awake late into the night to finish their school work (and probably to have a good time).
Is Adderall banned in the NFL?
Adderall has been banned in the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), National Basketball Association (NBA), and the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA).
Is Adderall abuse a form of drug abuse?
But Adderall is abused by users who don’t have a prescription for the medication because it contains amphetamine, a potent stimulant. Adderall abuse falls within the stimulant use disorder category in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5 th edition (DSM-5).

When did Adderall become a controlled substance?
However, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reclassified them as Schedule II substances in 2001, which categorized them as more likely to be misused and abused.
Is Adderall illegal in the US?
The majority of ADHD stimulant medications, such as dextroamphetamine-amphetamine (Adderall, Adderall XR), lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse), and methylphenidate (Ritalin), fall into the Schedule II category. They're legal, but they're considered dangerous because of their high risk of abuse and dependence.
What year was Adderall first prescribed?
Adderall was introduced in 1996 by Richwood Pharmaceuticals, which later merged with Shire Pharmaceuticals.
When was Adderall approved in the US?
Approval Date: 11/8/2002.
Is it illegal to ship Adderall?
The sale and transport of Adderall is a felony in California. The penalty for selling and transporting Adderall in California can range from 3 to 5 years in state prison.
Can you get in trouble for buying Adderall online?
It is a felony to import drugs into the United States and ship to a non-DEA registrant. Buying drugs online may not be only illegal, but dangerous.
What was ADHD called in the 70's?
ADHD was originally called hyperkinetic reaction of childhood. It wasn't until the 1960s that the American Psychiatric Association (APA) formally recognized it as a mental disorder, and in the 1980s, the diagnosis became known as “attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity.”
What was used before Adderall?
By 2013, 3.5 million children were on stimulants, and in many cases, the Ritalin had been replaced by Adderall, officially brought to market in 1996 as the new, upgraded choice for A.D.H.D. — more effective, longer lasting.
Can you take Adderall for life?
Long-term use of Adderall could lead to addiction, heart problems, slowed growth in children, or mental health issues.
Whats better Adderall or Ritalin?
Ritalin works sooner and reaches peak performance more quickly than Adderall does. However, Adderall stays active in your body longer than Ritalin does. Adderall works for four to six hours. Ritalin is only active for two to three hours.
What does Adderall do if you don't have ADHD?
In people who don't have ADHD, because Adderall produces an excess amount of dopamine, users may experience feelings of euphoria and increased energy levels, as well as possible dangerous physical and emotional side effects.
What is Vyvanse vs Adderall?
The Differences between Vyvanse and Adderall Adderall is a combination of two stimulant drugs, amphetamine and dextroamphetamine; in contrast, Vyvanse is not an amphetamine-based stimulant, but a chemical, lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, which is in a class of new stimulants known as sympathomimetic amines.
Why did the Nazis use methamphetamine?
Both the allied forces and the Nazis used amphetamine and it's relative, methamphetamine, during World War II to stimulate the troops.
Who invented the decongestant inhaler?
Alles went to the pharmaceutical company Smith, Kline and French and assisted with the unveiling of a decongestant inhaler called Benzedrine by 1934. That's where the college kids come in. By the end of the 1930s, the Adderall of its day had taken over the academic world.
Why did Gorden Alles inject himself with 50 milligrams of ephedrine?
He was trying to develop a drug that would be more effective than ephedrine, which was used for asthma, allergies, and colds.
Is Adderall used in college?
It's well understood that the college population in America is familiar with Adderall. Instead of doing drugs to escape worries, students who use it are getting high to be more productive. While this may feel like a recent development, this kind of artificial stimulation has existed on college campuses and beyond for decades.
Is speed an amphetamine?
The illegal use of speed, an amphetamine drug, was a significant part of the punk and gay scenes in the 1980s and 90s as well. That may sound like the nail in the coffin for legal amphetamine and methamphetamine in the country, but it is far from it. As we've mentioned, Adderall, an amphetamine drug, is still quite popular among college students.
When was Adderall approved?
During World War II, soldiers also took the drug in the form of energizing pep pills. In 1996 , Adderall was officially introduced into the market as a medication consisting of two different amphetamine molecular structures. Additionally, FDA approved an extended release formulation of the drug (Adderall XR) in 2006.
When was Adderall first made?
Amphetamine, the chemical from which Adderall is made, was first synthesized in 1887 by Lazar Edeleanu, a Romanian chemist. At the time, however, researchers did not have any practical uses for the drug.
What is the best drug for ADHD?
Although a wide variety of differing stimulant formulas were concocted for combating ADHD, Adderall emerged as the preferred drug among doctors and users. It was created largely by combining amphetamine salts.
What is Adderall called?
However, these agents are technically referred to as nootropics - a term that was first coined by Corneliu E. Giurgea (a Romanian chemist and psychologist) in 1972 to refer to their mind altering effects. The other terms that are used to describe Adderall and other drugs include: Cognitive enhancers. Neuro enhancers.
What receptors does Adderall work on?
Adderall works by binding to TAAR1 (trace amine-associated receptor 1) and VMAT2 (vesicular monoamine transporter 2) in the brain.
How much is Adderall in jail?
Distributing Adderall carries a fine of up to 20 years of prison time and a fine of $5 million for a first offense. Distributing the drug near or in colleges and schools might double the associated penalties.
What are the other terms used to describe Adderall?
The other terms that are used to describe Adderall and other drugs include: Cognitive enhancers. Neuro enhancers. Smart drugs. However, some people also use these terms to refer to nutraceuticals, health supplements, and a variety of other substances that are widely thought to produce cognitive enhancing effects.
Why is Adderall abused?
But Adderall is abused by users who don’t have a prescription for the medication because it contains amphetamine, a potent stimulant. Adderall abuse falls within the stimulant use disorder category in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition ( DSM-5 ).
What happens when you abuse Adderall?
Adderall abuse will cause a person to build a tolerance to the drug. In order to experience the desired Adderall high, over time, a person will have to consume more of this drug. When the abuse stops, withdrawal symptoms will emerge. Such symptoms can include fatigue, irritability, anxiety, depression, confusion, and/or sleep troubles.
What are the symptoms of Adderall abuse?
A feeling of impatience, worry, nervousness, and anxiety. These symptoms would be perceptible to someone in the immediate environment of the person who is abusing Adderall. However, the people who are most likely to be concerned about the Adderall abuse may not be around when it’s going on.
How to snort Adderall?
To snort the crushed Adderall, a person may use a straw, a rolled-up bill, a hollowed out pen, or something similar. To make the Adderall into lines, a person may use something with a sharp edge, such as a credit card (which, if discovered, may have residue on its edge).
What are the side effects of Adderall?
Some of the more commonly reported side effects of Adderall abuse are: Sleep difficulties (falling asleep or staying asleep) Headache.
Is Adderall addictive?
As MD Junction discusses, Adderall is exceptionally addictive, which means abuse runs the risk of developing into a stimulant use disorder. It has also been noted that when an individual stops using Adderall (i.e., goes into withdrawal), they may experience suicidal thoughts, mania, panic, or nightmares.
Does Adderall cause dopamine?
Adderall triggers the release of dopamine and other neurotransmitters in the brain. Prescribed users get a therapeutic benefit from it while recreational users who abuse this stimulant can get a high. The following are some of the effects that may be experienced right after Adderall abuse: The illusion of wellness.
When did amphetamines become effective?
It turns out that amphetamine is a pretty effective decongestant—when inhaled, nasal passages and lungs clear up. So in 1932 , Smith, Kline & French started selling an inhaler they called Benzedrine. Unlike a modern asthma inhaler, Benzedrine inhalers didn’t rely on pressurized canisters filled with medication.
Who invented amphetamine?
And like opioids, amphetamine was a hard habit for the nation to kick. Doctoral student Lazar Edeleanu, a Romanian chemist, was the first to synthesize amphetamine in 1887, but Edealanu was more interested in oil than stimulants, and he abandoned his research, eventually discovering the modern method of refining crude oil.
How many Americans were exposed to benzedrine during the war?
By the end of war, estimates Rasmussen, up to 16 million Americans had been exposed to Benzedrine pills.
How did Benzedrine affect the military?
As the war progressed, more and more military members accrued a significant sleep debt. Benzedrine kept them awake, alert and ready to fight during battle, even without the luxury of a good night’s sleep. It also changed the way men fought.
Why were pills used in the military?
But on the battlefield, the drugs were used to boost troops’ mood and keep them in the fray. “ [The pills] were being issued for their mood-altering effects, but being described by everybody in the military as if [they were] just to fight tiredness,” Rasmussen says.
When did the FDA stop benzedrine?
In 1959 , the FDA cracked down on Benzedrine inhalers, making them available by prescription only. But use of amphetamine pills was encouraged by a culture that recommended them for a variety of physical and mental ills. “They were seen as a great option,” says Cohen.
When did amphetamine become a Schedule III drug?
In 1970, with the passage of the Controlled Substances Act, amphetamine became a Schedule III drug; a year later, it was classified as a Schedule II drug, or one “with a high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence.”.
Why are amphetamines illegal?
Due to the large underground market for these drugs, they are often illegally synthesized by clandestine chemists, trafficked, and sold on the black market. Based on seizures of drugs and Precursor chemicals, illicit amphetamine production and trafficking is much less prevalent than that of methamphetamine.
What is the socio-cultural history of amphetamine?
Socio-cultural aspects and history of amphetamine. This article is about the socio-cultural aspects and history of amphetamine and methamphetamine. Amphetamine and methamphetamine are central nervous system stimulants used to treat a variety of conditions. When used recreationally, they are colloquially known as "speed.".
Why is methamphetamine used in party and play?
Due to its strong stimulant and aphrodisiac effects and inhibitory effect on ejaculation, with repeated use, these sexual encounters will sometimes occur continuously for several days. The crash following the use of methamphetamine in this manner is very often severe, with marked hypersomnia.
What subcultures were known for their characteristic amphetamine use?
The northern soul and mod subcultures in England were known for their characteristic amphetamine use. Their concerts generally involved people taking amphetamines to keep dancing all night. DJ Roger Eagle got out of the northern soul scene, saying: "All they wanted was fast-tempo black dance music... [but they were] too blocked on amphetamines to articulate exactly which Jackie Wilson record they wanted me to play."
Why were amphetamines used in World War II?
During World War II, amphetamine and methamphetamine were used extensively by Allied and Axis forces for their stimulant and performance-enhancing effects. As the addictive properties of the drugs became known, governments began to place strict controls on the sale of the drugs.
What was the name of the drug used by the Beat Generation?
The writers and poets of the Beat Generation used amphetamine extensively, mainly under the Benzedrine brand name. Jack Kerouac was a particularly avid user of amphetamine , which was said to provide him with the stamina needed to work on his novels for extended periods of time.
What rock band named themselves after amphetamine?
Many rock and roll bands have named themselves after amphetamine and the drug slang and drug culture surrounding it. For example, Mod revivalists The Purple Hearts named themselves after the amphetamine tablets popular with mods during the 1960s, as did the Australian band of the same name during the mid-1960s.
How many Adderall prescriptions were given in 2012?
In 2012, adults between the ages of 20 and 39 received roughly 16 million Adderall prescriptions. A New York Times story published in 2016 referred to millennials as “Generation Adderall,” for liberal use of the drug in young adults, with or without a prescription.
When did benzedrine become a drug?
American pharmaceutical company Smith, Kline, and French began marketing the amphetamine inhaler for use in asthma and nasal congestion in 1932 . Their inhaler medication, called Benzedrine, was initially available without a prescription. People soon discovered its euphoric, energizing side effects.
Why was meth used in World War II?
During World War II, the Allies and Axis powers both used the drug to keep troops awake. After the war, meth use increased dramatically, even after it was outlawed by the United States in 1970.
What happens when you get addicted to meth?
Meth addiction can cause serious changes in the brain including paranoia, hallucinations and delusions (for instance, the feeling of insects creeping under the skin). Many meth addicts have rotting teeth—a condition known as meth mouth—and experience severe weight loss.
Can crystal meth cause addiction?
Chronic methamphetamine use can lead to addiction. Over time, the brain develops tolerance to the drug and the user needs to take higher and higher doses to achieve the same pleasurable effects. Crystal meth may be particularly addictive. Some users report getting hooked after trying the drug just once.
Who made the first crystal meth?
Methamphetamine was difficult to make until 1919, when another Japanese chemist—Akira Ogata—streamlined the process. He used phosphorus and iodine to reduce the ephedrine into a crystallized form, creating the world’s first crystal meth.
Is Ritalin safe to take?
While Adderall and Ritalin have some chemical properties in common with methamphetamine, they are generally considered safer when taken at prescribed doses and under the supervision of a medical practitioner. Misuse of the drugs, however, can lead to addiction.
When did ADHD start?
Work on ADHD is more often thought to begin in the early 20th century, though: The first descriptions of children with ADHD symptoms are made as early as 1902 by Sir George Frederick Still and were thought to have a 'defect of moral control.' 1 . In 1908, Alfred F. Tredgold describes 'high-grade feeble-minded' children who likely had a form ...
What drugs were made in 1970?
The Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 make stimulants, such as Ritalin (methylphenidate), Schedule III medications and then Schedule II medications in 1971. 4 .
When was hyperkinetic impulse disorder first used?
Hyperkinetic impulse disorder is first used to describe children with ADHD symptoms in 1957. C. Keith Conners publishes a study on the effects of Ritalin (methylphenidate) in 'emotionally disturbed children' in 1963. 3 . In 1966, minimal brain dysfunction syndrome becomes a popular term to describe kids with 'various combinations ...
What drugs are used for ADHD?
A 1987 report from the AAP, Medication for Children With an Attention Deficit Disorder, offers 'indications for drug therapy in the treatment of attention deficit disorder,' such as Ritalin, Dexedrine, Cylert, and 'other potentially useful drugs,' including tricyclic antidepressants. Dr. Barkley begins publishing The ADHD Report newsletter in 1993.
What is the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders?
The fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) is published by the APA in 2000 and describes three types of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), including ADHD, Combined Type, ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Type, and ADHD, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type.
When was the first book about ADHD written?
Dr. Russell A. Barkley writes his first of 17 books about ADHD in 1981 - Hyperactive Children: A Handbook for Diagnosis and Treatment. The DSM-III-R (revised edition), published in 1987, again changes the name, this time to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), but doesn't include any subtypes.
What percentage of children in Nebraska were given Ritalin?
In 1970, the Washington Post published a story describing how 5 to 10 percent of all school children in Omaha, Nebraska were receiving stimulants, like Ritalin, to control their behavior, even though the statistics only referred to kids in special-ed programs.

Overview
History, society, and culture
The pharmaceutical company Rexar reformulated their popular weight loss drug Obetrol following its mandatory withdrawal from the market in 1973 under the Kefauver Harris Amendment to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act due to the results of the Drug Efficacy Study Implementation (DESI) program (which indicated a lack of efficacy). The new formulation simply replaced the two methamphetamine components with dextroamphetamine and amphetamine components of th…
Uses
Adderall is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy (a sleep disorder). Long-term amphetamine exposure at sufficiently high doses in some animal species is known to produce abnormal dopamine system development or nerve damage, but, in humans with ADHD, pharmaceutical amphetamines, at therapeutic dosages, appear to improve bra…
Adverse effects
The adverse side effects of Adderall are many and varied, but the amount of substance consumed is the primary factor in determining the likelihood and severity of side effects. Adderall is currently approved for long-term therapeutic use by the USFDA. Recreational use of Adderall generally involves far larger doses and is therefore significantly more dangerous, involving a much greater risk of serious adverse drug effects than dosages used for therapeutic purposes.
Interactions
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) taken with amphetamine may result in a hypertensive crisis if taken within two weeks after last use of an MAOI type drug.
• Inhibitors of enzymes that directly metabolize amphetamine (particularly CYP2D6 and FMO3) will prolong the elimination of amphetamine and increase drug effects.
Pharmacology
Amphetamine, the active ingredient of Adderall, works primarily by increasing the activity of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. It also triggers the release of several other hormones (e.g., epinephrine) and neurotransmitters (e.g., serotonin and histamine) as well as the synthesis of certain neuropeptides (e.g., cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript (CART) peptides). Both active ingredients of Adderall, dextroamphetamine and levoamphetamine, bind t…
See also
• Dextroamphetamine
• Levoamphetamine
• Lisdexamfetamine
• Methylphenidate
Explanatory notes
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