Stimulant Addiction Is Hard to Treat!

[@userOSMP]

I think that the information you are providing is so important and everyone should understand these things. Subscribed

[@macgyver6115]

Great video Sir , I wish to live nearby

[@cet6237]

Thanks for your videos!

[@JackMcG_MD]

Glad to hear it! I enjoy making these videos, despite all the time it takes! Hearing this from subscribers makes it all worth it.

[@gabbystar8298]

Gracias por sus videos me a ayudado mucho

[@DennisBolanos]

Oof-I think I may have an undiagnosed stimulant addiction, but I’m nervous about disclosing it to a physician since it could compromise my access to future prescriptions. As prescribed, I take Concerta (108 mg/d) and Ritalin (10 mg/d) and I feel that I need it to function. I feel like my best self when I’m on it. 🧠⚡💊

[@JackMcG_MD]

Thank you for sharing, it really benefits the community and I appreciate the support! The critical question to ask yourself is whether the substance is a net benefit or detriment to your life. There is much to be said about the difference between physical dependence and substance use disorder, but at the end of the day, what matters is the individual and their goals. It's good you're asking the question! No one can answer it but you and I can't say anything more without crossing the line into medical advice.

[@DennisBolanos]

@@JackMcG_MD Thank you for the words of wisdom!

[@snapdragon6601]

I've always wondered if a something like a time release version of dextroamphetamine, prescribed by a doctor would help those with a stimulant addiction, similar to how methadone works in people with an opiate addiction to avoid withdrawal symptoms. The only problem then would be finding time for them to sleep.

[@Syphonfllter]

Personally I feel ACTUAL pure MDMA is a beautiful substance, and is among the only compounds I never felt a need to use more of or abuse. Not that you'd want to as it's mainly an "enactogen", serotonin replenishes so much slower than other neurotransmitters.. can take weeks-months. Not sure why this is the case, just my experience with it vs other stimulants that are purely sympathomimetic and very much easy to divert/abuse. MDMA is still a "hard drug" in my eyes and ought to be used with relative caution, but Ive seen evidence that fakes sold in lieu of it have cause most of the damage it still gets the blame for.. Benylpiperazine, DXM and PMA just to name a few.

[@JackMcG_MD]

Pure MDMA is safer than the bizzarro research chemicals that are sold as MDMA in today's world. However, even pure MDMA has risks; I've met a few people who developed severe depression due to frequent MDMA use. With time, the depression usually gets better, but not always. If a person decides to use MDMA, they should use it infrequently with long breaks between uses. Frequent use depletes the brain of neurotransmitters. MDMA would be best suited to use as a pharmaceutical drug to facilitate therapy sessions.

[@katherineleflufy7693]

As the raving generation are reaching their 50s I have come across several hospitalised with anxiety that has become severe paranoia and delusions having never had it before, several have had a strong suspicion it might be the payback for regular partying on E in their youth. I don't know if it can work in delay like this but lots of people feel that this is their experience

[@kkrollingskkrollings3173]

My gf has stimulant use disorder, when she runs out or can’t get any she can sleep for a full 24 hours to 48 hours. She currently has about six days clean she slept the first two. She says she’s done I hope she can do it.

[@JackMcG_MD]

Stimulants drastically alter the brain chemistry, and it takes time for things to return to normal. With time, most will improve.

[@BushyHairedStranger]

@@JackMcG_MD So there are variables to the study on stimulant effects on the brain/dopaminergic influence..whose brains were used in those studies? RATS, not humans. Plus humans just don’t use stimulants in the massive amounts that those rat studies were using! if humans did, it would result in the volunteer deaths! Stimulant users don’t buy an ounce of illicit methamphetamine(or whats being passed off sold as methamphetamine!) and use it all in one injection! Unless they are suicidal or seriously deranged from psychosis. I admit there are studies that bring forth concerns & issues to chronic use of stimulants, yet such concerns often go with most things in life! To much of anything can be problematic, sugar or salt or fat can cause problems, listening to loud music without use of hearing protection will eventually damage your hearing! We know this! It’s like those idiots in the Montana Meth Project who were publishing propaganda about the impacts of Methamphetamine use! Teeth supposedly just falling out after one use!! We know thats bullshit! Kids are prescribed Adderall (nearly identical pharmacological effects as Meth) for decades & they still have all of their teeth & look perfectly normal because they are!! Anyway, unless we can produce peer reviewed published papers that PROVE a factual outcome from use of a specific molecule, we shouldn’t make negative or completely false claims, aspersions or assumptions to the drug. Facts are Facts. Theres zero pharmacological evidence that daily use of reasonable & even unreasonable amounts of stimulants cause severe brain damage or organic brain dysfunction. Theres just no evidence in support of such claims--that ive seen linked…

[@monnytoth]

​@@JackMcG_MD will my brain ever improve? I abuse stimulants since my teenage years, I'm 35 yo now and I'd like to quit it. However, due to the long time of abuse, i believe my brain won't ever produce dopamine naturally again. Plus, I'm terrified of putting on weight. I feel like I'm trapped and death is just around the corner.

[@BabylonBurnout]

But how is it possible e.g. If Desoxyn/methamphetamine is to be used in doses of up to 25 mg daily as long-term medication, are there no such adaptive effects on the neurotransmitters etc. at low doses?

[@JackMcG_MD]

There are, but not as severe as at higher doses. This makes the withdrawal less severe as the brain can bounce back faster.

[@jamesferguson5780]

What about using Modafinil to treat the post withdrawal lethargy and malaise? I use it for chronic fatigue post encephalopathy from infection. Never have wanted to abuse it or thought it would be fun, but it does help with focus, motivation, and elevated stamina.

[@JackMcG_MD]

There is interesting science taking place about using modafinil, methylphenidate, and other prescription stimulants for addiction treatment in the same way we use Suboxone and methadone. However, these treatments are purely investigational now and would be illegal for any doctor to prescribe (you cannot prescribe a controlled substance to treat or "maintain" addiction without a specific exemption, as in the case of methadone clinics).

[@acidbath3226]

CBD works to disrupt stimulant addiction but I heard its bad for thyroid and kidneys to continue using it

[@katherineleflufy7693]

I wonder how many people with stimulant use disorder have undiagnosed adhd.

[@BushyHairedStranger]

Why not treat Stimulant addiction with legal prescribed stimulants like Desoxyn, Adderall or Ritalin? All 3 of these could serve as excellent replacement therapy exactly like Methadone does for Heroin addiction….. First, Do no harm! Harm reduction.

[@JackMcG_MD]

There is actually research on this very topic currently ongoing! Some use methylphenidate (Ritalin) and others lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse). Unfortunately, at this time it is illegal for doctors to prescribe these medications for stimulant use disorder outside of a sanctioned research study. If either drug gets FDA approval for stimulant use disorder treatment, then we can start prescribing it.

[@BushyHairedStranger]

⁠@@JackMcG_MDWhy not use the same molecule (Desoxyn) these patients desire? Best practices serve best outcomes. Provide pharmaceutically pure, dose (mg/kg)sufficient amounts at no cost (Medicade/Medicare paid) will immediately reduce crimes of desperation. It will also reduce the most severe physical & mental heath impacts Health care see with these populations! like overdose deaths from intravenous use of xylazine & fentanyl cut illicit Methamphetamine., HIV, Hep A,B & C transmissions, IV-Staph infections like MRSA-both community & hospital acquired strains, the horrific TB infections caused by poor hygiene & living in filthy environments for years which causes havoc upon the immune system. I just cant see Vyvanse, Desoxyn or Ritalin being affordable unless fully covered by free health care Medicare-Medicade. It would be completely out of reach/unaffordable to those populations in the highest need. The initial wave of this harm reduction prescription protocol will have inherent issues like prescription diversion, etc.. all of that pales in comparison to the ongoing nightmare of the longest war campaign against its own citizens in history- The War on Drugs=War against Certain People who use CSA-Schedule 1 Drugs. The war on people is an illegal war!

[@annieb-v1e]

Great question

[@katherineleflufy7693]

I wonder how many stimulant mis-users have subconsciously been attempting to self medicate undiagnosed or under-medicated adhd anyway

[@BushyHairedStranger]

@@katherineleflufy7693 Curious what you mean “mis-users”…who or whom is setting the definition to what determines ‘use’ & what are the defining components to ‘mis-use’?…is there an agenda, a reason for the set definition? All to often people use words that are just accepted as a standard without knowing the origin of the terms used. Who says my actions are mis-use? What is the criteria? More importantly do we ALL agree on this? Big Industry tends to PRIME its markets in trying to capitalize off whatever they are pushing…and that applies to licit & illicit substances in their markets.

[@PowerFOOLThunderCLOWN]

Take ritalin for cognitive issues from TBI. 40mg day.

[@JackMcG_MD]

I've seen that before. Does it help you?