Amphetamine Addiction Self-Assessment: Am I Addicted to Amphetamines?

Amphetamines are stimulant drugs with a high potential for misuse and addiction.¹ This page contains a quiz that can help you determine if your amphetamine use has become problematic. If you’re concerned about amphetamine misuse or think you or someone you know may be dealing with amphetamine addiction, you might consider reaching out to a medical professional. If your amphetamine use has brought you to a medical emergency or a state of crisis, contact 911 emergency medical services.

What Are Amphetamines?

Amphetamines are central nervous system stimulants.² Like other CNS stimulants, amphetamine increase the activity of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, leading to increased energy, alertness, and attention, as well as a number of other physiological effects.³ This is why medical professionals may prescribe prescription amphetamines such as Adderall and generic dextroamphetamine drugs it to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy, among other health conditions.⁴

However, amphetamines have rewarding, reinforcing effects, and can ultimately be addictive.^{5(Intro, para1)} This is especially the case if a person misuses them to enhance their performance, pursues the feelings amphetamine can cause, or takes more amphetamine than the dose prescribed.⁶

Do I Have an Amphetamine Addiction?

While amphetamines can be safely used to treat certain conditions, chronic or compulsive misuse, especially if the usage is causing negative effects in a person’s life, can indicate amphetamine addiction.⁷

Misuse of amphetamines can increase the risk of negative health effects such as:⁸

• Irregular heartbeat.
• Dangerous increase in body temperature.
• Seizures.
• Cardiac problems.
• Psychosis, like hallucinations and delusions.
• Stimulant use disorder.

Stimulant use disorder is the diagnostic, or clinical term for amphetamine addiction. If you’re concerned that an amphetamine addiction has developed, a treatment professional can evaluate your situation more thoroughly, and provide various treatment options.

What Are the Signs of Amphetamine Addiction?

Amphetamine addiction is the continued use of the drug despite it causing problems in the person’s life or to their physical or psychological health.⁷ This could result in an amphetamine addiction, or a stimulant use disorder. The criteria used by medical professionals to diagnose a stimulant use disorder include:⁷

• Using the stimulant in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended.
• A persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control stimulant use.
• Spending a great deal of time in activities necessary to obtain the stimulant, use the stimulant, or recover from its effects.
• Craving, or a strong desire or urge to use the stimulant.
• Failing to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, or home due to stimulant use.
• Continuing stimulant use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of the stimulant.
• Giving up or reducing important social, occupational, or recreational activities due to stimulant use.
• Recurrent stimulant use in situations in which it is physically hazardous (such as driving or operating machinery).
• Continuing stimulant use despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by the drug.
• Tolerance, meaning a need for markedly increased amounts of the stimulant to achieve intoxication or the desired effect, or an inability to experience the same effects with the same amount of the stimulant.
• Withdrawal, which refers to unpleasant symptoms that can develop when someone abruptly stops or cut down their dosage of the drug.

These eleven questions are based on the diagnostic criteria that medical professionals use to diagnose a stimulant use disorder, otherwise known as a stimulant addiction.⁷ While meeting two or more of the criteria within a 12-month period can indicate a stimulant addiction.

How to Get Help for Amphetamine Addiction

If you or someone you know is struggling with amphetamine addiction, evidence-based treatment can help people with recovery.

Addiction treatment can take place in either an inpatient (or residential) or outpatient treatment setting, depending on an individual’s recovery needs. Inpatient treatment involves living at the facility with access to around-the-clock care.¹⁰ This level of treatment is appropriate for those with severe amphetamine addiction or serious co-occurring physical or mental health conditions who require care from a multidisciplinary team that provides varied services, including behavioral therapy and case management.¹⁰

Various forms of outpatient treatment are also available.¹⁰ Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) and intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) may be appropriate for those who need intensive treatment but do not require care 24/7. An IOP may also be a good fit for someone who needs to work or attend school while in treatment.¹⁰ PHPs and IOPs allow you to live at home and visit a rehab center three to five times per week for a few hours each time for treatment services, such as outpatient counseling.¹⁰ Outpatient levels of care are also sometimes utilized as step-down treatment for people who have completed more intensive inpatient or residential treatment programs, helping them sustain the progress made in rehab to prevent relapse.¹⁰

American Addiction Centers (AAC) can help you or someone you love to locate a treatment program that best suits your needs. Our online treatment directory allows you to search for a rehab center by keyword or location. The AAC addiction hotline at is also available to answer questions, help you find a treatment facility, and help verify your insurance coverage.

It is never too late to seek help. Please call us today at . Our admissions navigators are here 24/7 and are happy to assist.