In 2020, the CDC reported that nearly 5 million Americans misused prescription stimulants.
Stimulant Use Disorder is a substance use disorder that involves the overuse or misuse of amphetamine-type substances.
Like many other types of substance abuse and addiction, stimulants can result in long-term effects detrimental to women’s health and mental well-being.
We are here to help you be the best version of yourself.
Emerge Recovery TX is a woman’s-only recovery center that strives to provide women with the tools they need to conquer their stimulant addiction.
The Types of Stimulant Drugs Women May Encounter
Before discussing what drugs are stimulants, it’s essential to address how stimulants act on the central nervous system.
Stimulants include a wide range of prescription and illicit drugs, and in essence, they are characterized as highly addictive substances. When consumed, these drugs cause catecholamines release, altering behavior on a physiological level.
Dopamine, adrenaline, and norepinephrine are just some of the neurotransmitters released by the adrenal glands when stimulants are consumed.
So, what are the types of stimulants commonly misused in Texas?
- Prescription Drugs: Adderall and Ritalin are medications most commonly prescribed for ADHD.
- Illicit Drugs: Cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA are illicit drugs that fall under the stimulant category.
What are the Effects of a Stimulant Addiction?
When consumed, stimulants cause physiological changes which manifest as:
- An increase in alertness
- Tachycardia (increased heart rate)
- Hypertension (increased blood pressure)
- Inappettance, and
- Irritability
Side effects of a stimulant overdose may result in paranoia, hallucinations, seizures, and convulsions.
Drug Use in Women: How Stimulants Affect A Woman’s Health
Unfortunately, stimulants are considered the second most commonly abused drug amongst pregnant women in the US. However, it is important to address that drug abuse can affect men and women differently.
In women, long-term stimulant abuse has been associated with many mental illnesses, two of which include depression and eating disorders. There appears to be a bidirectional relationship between depression and stimulant use.
Research shows us that chronic stimulant abuse dramatically decreases the concentration of several neurotransmitters, dopamine, and serotonin, within the brain. This change in monamine regulation leads to features of the depressive disorder, including changes in mood, sleep patterns, and inappetence.
Several other studies demonstrate that depression occurs at a higher rate in females consuming methamphetamine than their male counterparts.
Stimulant Addiction Treatment Program in Austin, TX
Women who suffer from an addiction to stimulants will require ongoing therapy. Today, most recovery centers in Austin, Texas, utilize behavioral therapy as the primary healing modality.
- Contingency Management for Substance Abuse Disorder
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Emerge Recovery TX: The Women’s Recovery Center in Austin, TX
We understand that the addiction recovery process is different for women. Women seeking stimulant addiction treatment in Austin, TX, will find more comfort and support in a women’s only recovery center.
Emerge Recovery TX is a woman-only recovery center that strives to provide trauma-focused supportive care for women across Austin, TX.
We were created by women, for women.
We are here to provide women of all ages and ethnicities with the support they need while on the road to recovery.
As an addiction after-care supportive service, we allow women with a supportive, judgment-free, and comforting environment to heal and emerge as the best version of themselves.
A recovery center exclusively for women! Don’t let addiction get the better of you. Please speak to us today to learn more about seeking treatment for stimulant addiction in Austin, TX