A 2024 study of emergency room admissions found that individuals who are taking high doses of Adderall and other amphetamines face a whopping five-fold increased risk for developing psychosis or mania.
Adderall is used primarily in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy; however, in recent years it has been prescribed “off-label” as a cognitive enhancer, appetite suppressant and performance booster. On the streets it is used illicitly as a euphoriant.
The increased psychosis risk refers to a condition of the mind or psyche that results in difficulties determining what is real and what is not real. Meanwhile, mania is defined as a state of abnormally elevated arousal and energy level during which an individual will experience rapidly changing emotions and moods.
To conduct the study researchers reviewed the patient encounters that occurred at Mass General Brigham Hospital in Boston, Massachusettes between 2005 and 2019. The researchers focused on adults aged 16 to 35, the typical age of onset for psychosis and schizophrenia, and reviewed records of a total of 1,374 cases of individuals presenting with first episode psychosis or mania.
Researchers then conducted a comparison analysis of stimulant use over the preceding month with a control group. To ensure more reliable conclusions the researchers accounted for other factors—including substance use—to isolate the effects of stimulants.
The study, which focused specifically on prescription amphetamines, not illicit street drugs, concluded: “Caution should be exercised when prescribing high doses of amphetamines, with regular screening for symptoms of psychosis or mania.”
The findings were published in September 2024 in the American Journal of Psychiatry. While the study was observational in nature, it is just the latest study villifying prescription amphetamines.
Despite the risks, however, consumers clamor for amphetamine drugs—especially Adderall.
Amphetamine addiction
According to ExpertMarketResearch.com, the global Adderall drug market size was almost $21 billion in 2024.
These mind-numbing profits are driven by the rising prevalence of ADHD—a condition which as traditionally been thought of as only affecting adolescents, but has grown rapidly in the adult population .
The market is expected to grow at 4.00% annually during the forecast period of 2025-2034. The market is expected to reach a value of about $31 billion by 2034.
The bulk of these sales are in the U.S.—a situation that Smithsonian Magazine refers to as “America’s Addiction to amphetamine.”
According to Smithsonian, the US accounts for less than 5% of the world’s population but 83% of the global volume of Adderall sales. The situation exists, in part, because it is becoming more common to use Adderall and other amphetamines for non-ADHD uses.
A whopping 41.4 million Adderall prescriptions were dispensed in the U.S. in 2021, up more than 10% from 2020, according to IQVIA, a health research firm.
In 2022, the Drug Enforcement Agency approved a total of 133,525 kilograms or about 31 tons of legal stimulants to be manufactured in the U.S. This translates to 405 milligrams of the stimulant drug for every man, woman, and child in America.
According to Psychology Today, in 2023, 6.6% of U.S. adults used ADHD amphetamines. Recent surveys approximate that 15.5 million adults have a current diagnosis of ADHD—but since they’re not the only amphetamine users, knowing how many people really use amphetamines is impossible.
Adderall and other amphetamines are not only popular on the streets for illicit stimulant use, but also in the halls of Silicon Valley and Wall Street. In other words, amphetamine use isn’t just about treating ADHD. On the streets they may be used to just get by, but in professional athletics and the corporate world they’re used to stay energized and competitive.
Side effects
Since the 1950s, when doctors first started prescribing stimulants to treat behavior problems, millions of people have taken amphetamines without immediate negative impact—at least not a readily observable impact. Pharmaceutical companies even provided their own studies that exonerated their drugs from causing possible adverse effects.
But in February 2007 the side effects could no longer be excused. The FDA finally issued warnings about the health risks. The acknowledged risks included growth stunting, psychosis, and other mental disorders.
Currently the Centers for Disease Control website states long term amphetamine use can lead to heart disease, psychosis, anger and paranoia; however, the packing insert that comes with any Adderall prescription is lengthier—including both minor and major risks.
Kicking the habit
Amphetamine users might be surprised to learn that many of America’s top athletes and business executives have kicked the Adderall habit naturally. Without a doubt, it can be done successfully!
Optimal Health Systems has been an industry leader in this regard—helping pro athletes, business leaders and average working Americans alike maintain high energy and focus without risky pharmaceutical stimulants. It is accomplished with alternative nutrients and nootropics.
While there is no magic single herb that can accomplish the stimulant effect of amphetamines, decades of research has culminated in potent blends that can achieve similar results while eliminating most, if not all, the risks of prescription amphetamines.
While each of the nutrients in a blended product may be only slightly effective as a stand-alone, when combined in the right amounts with other synergistic nutrients, the effectiveness is magnified exponentially.
With the right categories of nutrients combined, the result cam be a natural stimulant effect that matches, or even outpaces, dangerous amphetamines!
•Essential vitamins and minerals
Vitamins and trace minerals are critical for fueling brain tissue and maintaining cognitive function. They must also be present in adequate amounts for other energy herbs and nutrients to work better. B-vitamins are especialaly noteworthy for providing an immediate energy boost to body and brain. Most people can see an afternoon energy boost by simply taking an adequate dose of whole food B-vitamins. But when combined with other nutrients the benefit is even more potent.
•Energy herbs and nutrients .
Some herbs have been used for energy enhancement for hundreds, even thousands of years, and modern science is only just beginning to understand the mechanisms that make them work. This includes mainstays, such as green tea (Camellia sinensis) and ginkgo biloba, as well as lesser-known herbs like Rhodiola crenulata and ginger root. In the modern era, isolated nutrients like choline and the amino acid taurine have been studied extensively for their nootropic benefits, and are known to work synergistically with herbs.
•Neuroenhancement herbs .
Since most nutrients provide numerous benefits in the body, some of the most effective neuroenhancement ingredients may be recognized as being historically used for athletic performance, blood pressure reduction or immune support. This includes amino acids like glutamine; nootropics like DMAE; and herbs like olive leaf, licorice root and cinnamon.
•Mushrooms .
Mushrooms have been used medicinally for thousands of years in Eastern medicine, and even modern practitioners are grudgingly starting to acknowledge that certain mushrooms can provide potent medicinal benefits. These benefits range from immune support to cognitive protection to energy. The energy benefit of mushrooms is so potent that some alternative-coffee manufacturers use it as their only ingredient. Some of the most recognized energy mushrooms include lion’s mane, reishi, shitake and Cordyceps sinensis—also known as “caterpillar fungus.”
•Thermogenesis nutrients .
Thermogenesis is the body’s natural process for producing heat. Certain nutrients can amplify this process, which means the body will burn more calories, eliminate body fat, and increase energy! Some notable nutrients for thermogenesis include raspberry ketones, Yohimbe bark and green tea.
•Extra-potent herbs used judiciously .
Some herbs are more potent than others, but when used judiciously—such as once per day in a restricted amount—they can be extremely beneficial in providing all-day energy. They have also been proven effective in eliminating a dangerous Adderall habit.
Examples in this category include Mitragyna speciosa and kola nut. Mitragyna speciosa is indigenous to Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Papua New Guinea. It is commonly known as “kratom.” Mitragyna speciosa has been used for centuries by local populations to treat chronic pain and other medical conditions, and as a natural stimulant. Kola nut is a cultural staple in many West African countries. It is prized for its effects as a natural stimulant, and is found ubiquitously in grocery and convenience stores, and at road side food stands.
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To learn more about the natural energy blends in Optimal Health Systems products, check out the products below. Each product offers different areas of focus and levels of potency. For the product that includes all the ingredients discussed above in a single comprehensive product, click on the link to Neuraflow.
Optimal B Awake
Provides a complex array of B vitamins that quickly improve energy levels. Also includes select nootropics and amino acids that boost performance and enhances brain function.
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Opti-Brain
Contains a unique blend of nootropics proven to protect the brain and enhance cognitive function. Contains Omega-3 fatty acids, flavonoids, and Vitamin E, which have all been shown to support brain health.
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Essential Shrooms
A potent mushroom blend designed to increase ATP production, which boosts energy and stamina. Mushrooms are also filled with beta-glucans which provide an immuno-modulating and neuroprotective function.
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Neuraflo
Includes a comprehensive combination of all the above products. This ultimate “feel good tonic” used by professional athletes and business executives across the country for maintaining peak energy and performance. It is also used in place of Adderall and other amphetamines for those desiring more motivation without the high-risk side effects. Includes Mitragyna speciosa to take the stimulant benefit to the next level! Read the guidelines carefully and consume responsibly.
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