Understanding stimulant use disorder
If stimulant use is becoming difficult to control or affecting your life, support can start with a clear conversation. Your reason for use and any prescribed treatment belong in that discussion.
Clarify the substance and the context.
Stimulants include medicines used for ADHD and other conditions, as well as substances such as cocaine and methamphetamine. Taking prescribed stimulant treatment as directed does not itself imply misuse or a use disorder.
Nonmedical prescription use can include taking someone else's medicine or taking your own differently from the prescription. A clinician considers the pattern, effects and reasons for use rather than treating every stimulant exposure as the same concern.
Based on FDA · ASAM / AAAP
Context changes what the concern means.
- The substance
Which medicine or other stimulant is involved
- The context
Prescribed use, nonmedical use and reasons
- The effect
Control, health, sleep and everyday life
- The care
Evidence-based treatment and wider support
Appropriate prescribed treatment needs its own context.
Prescription stimulants have recognized treatment uses, including ADHD. Taking a prescribed stimulant does not itself establish a use disorder. Explain the prescription, any use outside its instructions and concerns about health or control.
Do not change prescribed treatment because of a label on this page. Ask the prescriber to review concerns. Suspected overdose or severe acute symptoms need emergency medical help.
Based on FDA
Describe control, effects and changes.
You can bring these concerns into a conversation without deciding a diagnosis yourself.
Use context
Using in a way that differs from your intentions or prescription.
Sleep & health
Cravings or finding it hard to change a pattern of use.
Control & effects
Use affecting sleep, health, relationships or responsibilities.
Your care
Continuing despite unwanted effects, or using several substances together.
Based on FDA · ASAM / AAAP
Include your prescribed care, not just substance use.
Assessment can consider the specific stimulant, prescribed medicines, health, sleep and mood, as well as the effects of use. If you receive ADHD treatment, explain what it helps with and what concerns you have.
A general screen can suggest follow-up; it does not establish a stimulant diagnosis or decide whether prescribed treatment should change. Discuss medicine concerns with the prescriber.
Based on FDA · ASAM / AAAP · NIDA Data Share · NIH
- 1The substance
What are you using, including prescribed treatment?
- 2The impact
What changes in control, sleep or daily life matter?
- 3The support
Which treatment options can I discuss locally?
Ask about treatment with evidence behind it.
You and your clinician can discuss what fits your needs, preferences and health.
Based on ASAM / AAAP · NHS
Ask about stimulant-specific care, rather than a generic program.
The ASAM/AAAP guideline supports professionally delivered contingency management as an important treatment component, alongside other psychological care. This means structured clinical support using agreed reinforcement; it is not a reward tracker on Selfmora.
Assessment
Physical health, mental health and other substance use considered together.
Treatment approach
Ask which stimulant-focused psychological options are available and why.
Continuing support
Ask how barriers, setbacks and co-occurring needs will be reviewed.
A little clarity. A place to start.
Explore a tool, prepare a conversation or find someone to talk to. Choose what feels useful to you.
Prepare for a conversation
A few prompts to help you explain what you have noticed and what you would like help with.
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- No account needed
You decide how much to write and share.
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If you need urgent help, go straight to support.
Find supportYour first sentence does not need to be perfect.
Contact a clinician or local substance-use service and describe the substance, the pattern and the effect you have noticed. Ask which treatment options fit your circumstances. Do not change an ADHD or other prescription on the basis of this page.
Based on FDA · ASAM / AAAP · NHS
“I have concerns about stimulant use and would like a conversation that considers my prescribed care and the impact on my life.”Make it sound like you
Your questions, with room for nuance.
You can read just the answer you need.
Should I stop ADHD medicine because I read this page?
Do not change prescribed treatment on the basis of this information. Discuss concerns and any nonmedical use with your prescriber so they can review the actual situation.
Based on FDA
Where this information comes from.
Use this hub to learn and prepare questions. It does not diagnose you or recommend a personal treatment plan. By Selfmora editorial; sources checked . Updated .
Additional explanations and examples: sources consulted . Examples illustrate ideas; they do not assess your personal health. Your questions
- Prescription stimulants: appropriate use and risks
- Stimulant use disorder: clinical practice guideline
- Drug concerns: getting help
- TAPS: two-stage screening instrument information