The Truth About Adderall in Esports

For years, Adderall has been a touchy subject in esports.
Despite being a prescription medication for ADHD, Adderall has also developed a reputation as a sort of miracle pill that will make you a gamer god.
But there are a ton of questions surrounding its use: do pros really use Adderall to win tournaments? Are they putting their health at risk by doing so? And most importantly: does it even work?
Hosted by: Joshua Bury (@thrown_gauntlet)
Written by: Alina Sotula (@ASotula)
Edited by: Brendan Fahey (@Drillbit_)
Thumbnail by: Bennett Grainger (insta:@bennettgrainger)
Produced by: Alina Sotula (@ASotula), Connor Dunn (@connordunn_), and Danielle Rosen (@Daniel_Rosen)
Footage credits: pastebin.com/e...
Music used under license from Associated Production Music LLC (”APM”).
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[@davidjacobson6791]

Hello! I have ADHD and took Adderall for a long time and I just wanted to bring something up that I haven’t heard people talking about. I feel like one of the reasons it dosen’t work as a Performance Enhancer for some players is that one of the common side effects is that it can effect circulation. When I played R6 and CS in highschool, I would purposefully wait until the Adderall wore off before I played, because I found it actually made me much WORSE because my hands would be so damn cold the entire game I could hardly aim or move effectively.

[@CMarkem]

No offense, but people who actually have ADHD it affects you differently. If you don't actually have ADHD it's no different than. taking a line of cocaine imho.

[@shazbots]

I have ADHD and I take Adderall. I do notice the construction of my blood vessels. Like my leg and feet "fall asleep easier" than normal. Also there are multiple variations of Adderall, there's the slower release kind, D-Amphetamine ER, which has a longer half-life, and has a slower ramp-up and withdrawal effect.

[@veryfrostyjack3067]

@@CMarkem the comment above wasn't talking about how it didn't let them focus, just that it made their hands cold lol

[@Weisior]

​@@CMarkem Vasoconstriction (contraction of the veins) is an effect of any amphetamine group stimulant. It results in, amongst other effects, lowering the temperature of users limbs. It doesnt matter if the user has ADHD or not. Addreall also makes you sweat more, have increased heartbeat rate, you can feel irritated (especially during come-off of the substance), get muscle tremors (which impacts the physical coordination), generate euphoria (which is not good for the specific use in esport - your logical thinkink and decision making is dampered very hard), it can make you more empathetic or overly agressive (which also is not good in esport context) or even feel distorted (especially during the "peak" - time of culmination of the effect the substance has on your organism) Just imagine how your body reacts when you drink too much cofee - on amphetamines these symptoms are even stronger and there are few additional effects. Does it enhance ones reaction time? Yes. Does it improve ones coordination? Usually not but sometimes yes - depends on the dose. Does it improve focus? Yes. But only for a short amount of time, after which your organism pays the dividend - you become wasted, feel like shit, cant sleep, cant eat, you want to take more and in not so rare cases even have suicidal thoughts. Imagine being wasted after alcohol but 100 times worse - thats amphetamines and basically any other phenylethylamine/aminorex/ketone stimulant drug for you.

[@champiion]

@@CMarkem Not necessarily true not everyone has the same experience with the same med of any kind. Some people with ADD can’t even tolerate adderall side effects

[@Spark31Gaming]

The most frustrating thing about the discussion about Adderall in esports is it stigmatizes the people who actually need it. People who actually have ADHD get called cheaters when they're medicated even though they're just treating an illness.

[@Akkbar21]

I have add, diagnosed as a kid in the 80s, and I don’t think ANYONE should be on a stimulant that potent long term.

[@teddydore]

facts they dont realize its not us getting an advantage, it just puts us at a level playing field like they’ll never understand how its like to have really bad ADHD

[@Akkbar21]

@@teddydore if I was still on a stimulant add medication throughout my adult life, I think I’d be miserable. It affected my appetite dramatically, affecting my energy and health. It made me focus sure, which helped me… but it also made me feel really weird mentally and that hurt me (it’s too hard to explain that part here). So, it’s complicated. I think it should be used sparingly and not just taken long term. No easy answers for complex issues.

[@vroomzoom4206]

​@Akkbar especially when you see the long term effects of it.

[@Akkbar21]

@@vroomzoom4206 I’m glad I don’t know about those effects personally. I got gf Ritalin as a kid (middle school) and never took it again. For me personally, that was the choice I made and I’m glad I did. Although, I’ve suffered the negative effects of ADD in my life as an adult. It’s super complicated. Please work with your doctor to address your personal case and be honest with your provider. NO EASY, ONE SIZE FITS ALL ANSWERS! As for games? I have no idea personally. Make of this what you will, but I also am a recovering heroin addict. Did Ritalin play a role in my addiction? I have no idea tbh.

[@domikatz]

Adderal is a doubled edge sword, it makes you abled to focus better, able to play longer. Also makes you more frustrated when things go bad and makes you tunnel vision on things that arent important

[@raz4371]

yea thats called crank rage you're literally ingesting a legal version of meth

[@pm69669]

Ain it great

[@skator8423]

@@raz4371 that's why I love it 😫

[@Exseyy]

@@skator8423 you got problems bud 😂😂

[@skator8423]

@@Exseyy what's news. Addirall is far from the worst thing that's been put in my body. Plus I'm hardy the worst person I know. People shoot up cocaine I have a problem but it's not a big deal in the scheme of things.

[@TheMLGSnubs]

I was an eSports player for about a decade, most players were on Addy at least in my game. I've known a lot of people who went to their doctor and got a prescription that way, I've known people who after taking it for eSports realized that they actually probably needed it on a medical level. In the vast majority of people, that shit is magic. Not everyone responds positively to it however, and unless you get the right dosage, it can be harmful to your ability to play well. When you see people who look a bit tweaked out, they're stuttering etc - it's not doing that much for them. People can get the shakes for instances. But if you see someone who looks like Crimsix, as in, someone who looks locked the fuck in, they're benefiting greatly from it. A really good way to tell if someone is using it is if they're POUNDING the water bottles, I've seen people on LAN with 5-6 empty bottles of water on their table. This also predates 2010, I've seen it at least as far back as 2007 and I wouldn't be shocked if Final Boss, especially Walshy, used it.

[@sith6375]

you hit it right on the head. Stimulants can dehydrate you so it's important to stay hydrated. They can also make you sweat more, even without exercising or warm weather. Even people with ADHD can still get "buzzed" from ADHD medications/stimulants, you just need to take more than the average person. People act all high and mighty about it saying you can't get jittery or tweaked out, but that's absolutely false. Adderall is most definitely a performance enhancing drug especially in the eSports industry, where reaction time and focus are essential. I don't think it's a positive for the industry but I think it could be argued that it's not *that* bad.

[@HxC_Fragman]

I drink 15 cups of water a day and do NOT take addy.

[@CatskillOne]

Tons of respect to Cuyler (Huke), he came clean and is playing lights out on Optic now. Literally Top 3 SMG in the game currently and arguably Top 10 SMG of all time

[@bd9725]

The guy just abuses sound EQ instead. Better than Adderall tbh

[@ItzNickzy]

@@bd9725 L hater

[@CatskillOne]

@@bd9725 There’s no sound EQ on LAN. His LAN performance is similar as well

[@apauloh]

@@bd9725 nahh, he abuses 1000 bots before hopping into a CDL match. But also abuses sound EQ

[@b3to653]

@@bd9725 nah he just abuses his teammates good comms

[@josephyoung1398]

I was diagnosed with ADHD about two years ago and it was a extensive process of face to face questions and lots of different tests to see how you learn how you put things together needless to say it was hours over multiple appointments. One thing. People need to realize is that for ADHD people it’s life changing. Just interacting with others is easier. Your able to track conversations and hold them much better not to mention how much easier school has become for me. Basically if your not ADHD it’s hard to explain how life changing it is. For people without ADHD it’s a lot riskier to use as what it does is increase your dopamine levels so for ADHD people it’s putting us at what normal is for others in a sense and when someone uses it that is normal it will give them a higher dopamine level which can have negative affects for them. Basically in my opinion if your not ADHD it shouldn’t be legal to use especially in esports. Side not when people say it’s easy to get it’s easy to get short acting adderall which only works for a few hours vs it’s actually hard to get long acting adderall which works over the who day and is what most true ADHD people use on a daily basis.

[@quinnbrosseau3217]

I’ve had a similar experience to you, especially relating to the conversation bit. Thanks for the comment!

[@zacharyfrain1406]

If you need your medication to function then that's not ADHD, that's just technology and all these new apps destroying your attention span. I had been diagnosed with severe ADHD when I was in elementary school, and didn't even take my medication until I was a junior in high school. Growing up with ADHD you learn how to manage your symptoms without medication, and only use it when you actually need it. If you were only prescribed two years ago, then you cannot convince me that you have lived your whole life with crippling adhd to the point where adderall changes your life. You don't need adderall to "increase your dopamine levels", you need to live a fulfilling and entertaining life to do that. ADHD is a joke nowadays and these scripts are handed out like nothing. Ever since COVID everybody and their mom are taking adderall to make up for some attention deficit when it's just the result of being inside and staring at screens all day. Stop acting like you need adderall or whatever medication you are taking, because the more you believe that the more harmful medication will be to you.

[@delta3039]

@@zacharyfrain1406 You do not understand ADHD at all. Yes you do need to put work in to help attention span to an extent but ADHD goes way beyond that. You're literally explaining it just like the majority of boomer parents that have no idea how it works and think their kids are lazy. It's fucking mental disorder than you're born with, and has existed long before modern technology. Some people have it a lot worse than others, just because you found some way to deal with your ADHD (though obviously not in a very healthy way considering you're pushing this massive misinformation on others) doesn't mean that others dont get massive benefits from medication. Dealing with ADHD is a lot more than just getting more natural dopamine and attention span. ADHD People not only create way less dopamine, we have less dopamine receptors so things that give normal people enough dopamine actually aren't fully uptaked by someone with severe ADHD. Medication not only gives you more dopamine, but increases the dopamine reuptake in your brain so that you process and use it better. Having a typically fulfilling life doesn't mean it will be fufilling with ADHD. You are an edge case where your ADHD symptoms either started to clear as you aged (Which can happen) or you're just not noticing how it actually still affects you since you don't realize how much it actually does. Also funny you mention the scripts being handed out like nothing, because ADHD is one the most highly misdiagnosed disorders in children. So you might need to consider if you actually ever had it in the first place.

[@josephyoung1398]

@@zacharyfrain1406 Funny you mention coping mechanisms because I actually have a lot of them from growing up with ADHD… Fortunately for me my ADHD turned out less severe than it could of been due to how I was raised, but still you can never fully fix it. You clearly don’t understand what ADHD really is and how it works and definitely makes it questionable if you where properly diagnosed.

[@thebloodygg]

@@zacharyfrain1406 So, does that mean people from third world countries who got diagnosed later in their life doesn't have ADHD? because access to such medical facilities are expensive af? You said you've been diagnosed with severe ADHD, yet you don't understand anything about ADHD.

[@KingLynnardThaGawd]

I am a recovered addict and got into video games in recovery. As soon as I started seeing streamers I always knew when I seen some streamers/pros “oh they are tweaked” I am glad that someone has made a video on it.

[@MDrWAS]

Now imagine the boosting ppl from wow who earn money with it how often/hard they are on meth.

[@benmeadows391]

Me too, im super proud of you! And ya some of those streamer clips make me feel embarrassed to be human xD

[@PetrygaLiades-mn6ro]

glad that you are recovering. Keep it king

[@nobodynoone2500]

Easy to notice once you got friends on it or meth tbh.

[@evilbluntgaming]

as an addy bender enjoyer yeah half of these pro streamers are geeking off their legal 8balls especially fortnite and valorant.

[@jaweel6205]

I have ADHD and been prescribed several different medications, I have found this one works best for me. I play COD for fun and it definitely helps me sometimes but if I accidentally take more then needed I’m so over-focused on tiny irrelevant things that it’s counter-intuitive. If you actually have ADHD and take a proper prescribed dose you should feel relaxed but focused. Almost tired but alert.. not on my medication I pace around constantly and talk all the time with super human energy.

[@kasuo7039]

yeah fps pros are all on adderall, it is a wonder drug for these types of performance

[@ghost91698]

you really dont have adhd. I gurantee you are able to sit down and pay attention to anything you like and wanted to sit down for. But if you are disengaged you will act normal and not pay attention. That is normal Behavior and not ADHD as they claim.

[@jaweel6205]

@@ghost91698 nah bro like even just sitting down for 30 minutes to watch a show I like I can’t be still. It’s no matter what I’m doing. I can function without meds but adderall calms me down

[@jaweel6205]

@@ghost91698 but if It didn’t exist I would still do what I need to do to get by. I can’t stand the people that need it to wake up

[@joshuab9673]

My take on the matter is if your not prescribed it, your cheating. I was addicted to this shit for a while (not prescribed) and it’s extremely dangerous over time, however definitely gives a edge. Players that get caught taking it without a prescription should be banned from competing just like cheating, but those are just my thoughts

[@StrikeWarlock]

What's fucked up is that I have ADHD and the best Adderall does for me is it boosts motivation and reduces the "noise" that tends to push me towards procrastination, it just helps me experience what being normal is.

[@Megatraum504]

lol prescription meth

[@supo7-oi]

Nah that’s Desoxyn

[@mrsickwick]

You are acting like everyone who's prescribed it actually need it. I know tons of people who have scripts who have do not have any form of add or adhd.

[@baliiiiii]

what do you guys mean in edge, what does it enhance what makes u better ?

[@justplainmee-mic5298]

I kept getting prescribed a higher dose while my grades plummeted. After I was taken off, school became more difficult than before I started taking it.

[@joehall8580]

Same, gotta love big pharma

[@ggaz683]

How long were you on it?

[@justplainmee-mic5298]

@@ggaz683 only about a year and a half

[@pat1157]

Anxiety and ADHD often get mixed up when it comes to learning issues. If your well-being and grades got worse with a higher dose then it may be anxiety inhibiting your learning/focus.

[@drewb9162]

First of all very well-put video. Made me rethink the effects of Adderall on gaming. What I wanted to say is that the effects of Adderall on normal players vs. pro players are different. While the focus is enhanced the average player does not know what to focus on. The drug does not make you suddenly gain knowledge in the game. While a pro player can now quickly recall and execute things quicker with the drug.

[@segmu4376]

The messed up part is orgs sometimes recommend that their players take Adderall. It's not just the players.

[@revan5293]

Had to use it alll through my school life and even when I went home I was sooo forced it’s actually crazy. Being 2 years off it makes you really think how different I acted when On it

[@elliotdzi9060]

im the same i was diagnosed with adhd and had to take it i hated taking it im happier without it

[@revan5293]

@@elliotdzi9060 honestly yeah. I felt like so neutral all the time. Now I feel like I have more then 1 emotion😂

[@sixsixsik]

IMO people with ADHD don't need Adderall. They give it to kids who don't fit the mold of a model student, to have them focus in class instead of being themselves which fucking sucks. My little brother did way better and was way happier when he gave up adderall. If you like it and it benefits you, I have nothing against that. But I think the whole thing is a scam between the schools, doctors and drug companies.

[@Halo2Trigate]

How long were you guys on it before stopping? More importantly, how long did it take for you to adjust back to normal?

[@kepter2k704]

@@Halo2Trigate Ive been on adderall and concerta since i was 12 years old im 23 now and if i dont take my shit id end up in jail

[@ThePantsuPanda]

It's extremely upsetting to see that this is a thing, as someone who needs Adderall for ADHD, especially when the US is experiencing a shortage currently. It makes me ashamed to tell people that I take adderall and play video games competitively, like they'll look down at me and think I'm one of the ones who's cheating by using the substance. I don't think a lot of these people really understand the difference between a neurotypical brain taking the medication, and an ADHD brain taking the medication. Just a whole ball of worms that really sucks to be apart of in some form or fashion.

[@Hidious10]

Oh common, you're allowed to enhance your weaker brain's performance because a doctor decided you couldn't function otherwise, but the common folks aren't allowed to enhance their own brain's performance? Doesn't sound fair.

[@herold8840]

I'm actually writing an essay about this for a class I'm taking because I have ADHD and while I take Ritalin it's basically the same thing and I learned that (And I'm not 100% sure I understand it completely but I think I'm at least close) Methylphenidate works by essentially shutting down the main dopamine producer in your brain so that the supplementary ones have to work overtime, almost like a mitigated adrenaline rush. This would be very bad for people whose main dopamine producer actually works though as it would come with all the negative side effects of an adrenaline rush. Just thought that was neat. Also, hats off to you for sticking through it, I hope to see your story on this channel someday.

[@mortystraphouse5077]

everybody got ADHD now to be real. most of us anyway

[@Steven_Bo1]

If you are meant to take the medication it calms you down. If you don’t have ADHD it’s the complete opposite and gives you energy

[@YanDa739]

cry me a river

[@carlm2181]

Played CSGO for 10 years or more, hovered around le/lem with near 5k hrs. Got late diagnosed ADHD last year in my mid 20s and the meds have 100% made me better. Aim is better, decision making is better, the pace of things feels totally different and my ability to react correctly is massively improved. I would always start strong, but by game 2 or 3 consecutively I would just not be hitting any shots or reacting to things properly/being far too aggressive. Post meds I can play 4-5 games and have far more impact than I ever did before without dying a lot of the time. Took a couple dozen games but I'm comfortably into global fully soloq, never happened before to me in my 10 years prior of casual play.

[@ATR-_]

I have the same issue, I always joked about me Cooling down, instead of warming up because my first few games are my best and the rest are my worst. This just legitimizes that

[@skater4life2360]

You play with no drugs and did normal. You take adderall and you are way better. Performance enhancing much? No wonder I constantly lose: so many people are taking prescription amphetamines. It's like a cheater vs a non-cheater. It's just not fun. Maybe there should be separate leagues for non doping players.

[@carlm2181]

​@@skater4life2360 Well..Yeah? I have a developmental disorder which means that my brain doesn't produce or maintain a normal level of dopamine/serotonin, the medication balances that out. On Adderall I can focus my attention without compromise, without it when holding an angle or something I forget why I'm doing that and get bored and die. Adderall is undoubtedly a performance enhancing drug if you have ADHD, but that's literally the whole point of it. If you don't have ADHD, you may get some minor benefit but it's not going to balance your levels of neurotransmitters as you already have balanced levels. Levels which are too high have a negative impact on your cognitive performance in neurotypical brains most of the time. I view it as unmedicated I was at a competitive disadvantage due to a worse than average short term memory, attention span and attention to detail. Adderall raises the levels of neurotransmitters responsible for facilitiating these attributes to that of a neurotypical person.

[@DanVille1000]

Sad thing is, winners use drugs. Although PED's are almost always for a physical edge. Adderall cam definitely boost confidence and make you feel sharper.

[@Last_Of_Almeida]

Would be funny to watch a cs major final where everyone is on crack

[@Megatraum504]

this aint far out.

[@Sk82478]

Bro it’s sad these kids are getting duped. As a 35 year old recovering addict and avid gamer it sucks seeing a drug we knew was fucked when I was a kid be marketed as some sort of miracle today. I feel like a million bucks on heroin too and work my ass off but doing heroin to succeed is not the answer and neither is adderall.

[@Megatraum504]

i agree man. we downplay the prescribed abuse. no one should be on that trash.

[@ganchyy]

just commenting before finishing the video, adderall itself has helped me fix up my school life like night and day, so it does really help people with adhd and other related issues, but seeing it be used around like this is pretty depressing, it does have an addictive aspect to it so people using it who dont need it is just sad

[@Wavezzzz601]

​@@jonnovak6856 How very uneducated of you.

[@Weisior]

@@ganchyy It doesnt have an addictive aspect to it, it simply is addictive.

[@robertchoi1930]

@@jonnovak6856 ADHD isn’t real in the same way that meth addiction isn’t real. They’re both just labels for particular configurations of brain chemistry. That there are people who have lower base levels of dopamine, who find many aspects of life more difficult as a result, and who have success improving their functioning by taking stimulants is certainly “real,” however. Whether or not other treatment methods would be more effective isn’t really something about which you are capable of making broad claims without extensive research.

[@kahahabahaha]

With stimulants in any competitive setting (be it esport type competitive games, or powerlifting, or anything similar), there's always the Yerkes-Dodson curve to consider. Basically, if your arousal level is too high or too low, your performance will be suboptimal. In an esport context: too low, and you'll probably be reacting too slowly and not predicting/analysing quickly enough, too high, and your fine-control over your fingers/hands will probably go out the window, frantic thinking, undisciplined gameplay, etc.

[@frankgallagher8707]

My personal take on this topic is that the competitive gaming community is rampant with individuals with undiagnosed adhd. They were drawn to video games at that level most likely because it was the one hobby that grabbed their attention and allowed them to focus which is literal bliss for an individual who suffers with an attention disorder. Videos games cater to those types of minds. So yeah I can see how those people would benefit even more from taking stimulants. Another perspective outside of a true competition setting especially for gamers who might not have adhd is that it allows them to grind and practice for much longer hours then the average person without experience the same level of fatigue as someone who isn’t taking stimulants.

[@yordvandamme]

I have autism and got it as a prescription even tho I don't have ADHD. This was also when I still did eSports, it did not necessarily make me better. Sometimes I performed worse because I was in such a different state of mind and had to adjust and learn differently. Also, EEG scans later showed it literally deactivated some parts of my brain and stimulated other parts too much.

[@johnyb860]

Adderall effects people who actually have some diagnosis very differently than those who don't. Have a friend who has ADHD and instead of heightening his senses and making him more energetic, it did the opposite.

[@wrx1th873]

@@johnyb860 if a person with adhd takes adhd meds, it actually calms them down, it relaxes them, so they become normal attentioned spans. The normal narrative of someone taking adhd meds and think that they will get insanely hyper is false, it has the opposite affect where it becomes relaxing, almost sedative even, even though it is a stimulant medication.

[@ganchyy]

@@wrx1th873 in my personal case (adhd/asd) my body feels more worked up for sure. i can focus very well and be productive, but again, it has a diferent effect on everyone. Its like my body is hardwired and charging when im supposed to be a battery powered device lmao. No game effects on my end

[@wrx1th873]

@@ganchyy yeah that is what its supposed to do, and ofc everyone reacts to it differently. generally, as soon as you take it, it feels relaxing/sedative then slowly increases your heart rate, it depends on Adderall XR or IR.

[@yordvandamme]

@@johnyb860 exactly, I also have different trauma/dissociative disorders so I'm still kinda pissed for them experimenting on me like that back then.

[@werdumed6665]

Someone messaged me Adderall after a match and i had no idea what they were talking about, adds up now

[@fitcatgaming4669]

Adderall/amphetamine is only 1 methyl group away from meth, crack, p. meth amphetamine. It most definitely is a stimulant for hyper activity and focus. It's like chucking a turbo charger on an engine. It boosts your reaction speed but also comes with higher risks like crashing. When used correctly it should be fine but the potential to abuse the substance to push yourself to the brink is still there

[@Xynth25]

ADHD. Started on Adderall at 14 after my dosage of Concerta got too high for my doctor's comfort. It's insidious. You feel great at parties when you can just keep drinking and not pass out, or sometimes it's a special event at the resteraunt and you need just a bit extra to make it through a 16 hour double. Finally stopped abusing my perscription when I lost my 10-year job after a period of substituting adderall for sleep because work was busy but I didn't want to lose out on hobby time. Don't want to know what I've done to my heart and liver by doubling my relatively high dose whenever I "just needed a little boost." Feel like my brain still isn't right 3 years later after quitting cold turkey. There's no shame in using your medication properly, but don't step over that line into abuse. It might not be the horror story that comes with harder drugs, but it can still mess you up.

[@Benjiizus]

Hopefully you get better

[@MD-zm6sn]

Your liver is fine for sure I promise haha.

[@furkanaytan]

Don't abuse it, follow your doctor. Your prescription shouldn't keep you at night. Are you drinking at a late hour?

[@J3R3MI6]

Long Term neurological effects are still on the way.

[@MD-zm6sn]

@@J3R3MI6 How do you know?

[@ModeratelyAverage7129]

I just took Adderall for the first time and played for about 3 hrs. Kd went from a 0.8 to a whopping 0.83 bout to hit the pros wish them luck boys

[@YXNSHARK]

absolute fantastic video with lots of work putinto it and dedication! Thank you guys so much, as a viewer I highly appreciate :) That was a really insightful dive into the ethics of doping in esports and the use of adderal..some things I already knew, the majority I didn't., despite actually knowing quite a lot 'bout drugs and ADHD lol Nevertheless, thank you for your time, work and effort and I'm definitely LF to more content and new videos!

[@marleyjlx]

Might be a controversial opinion but weed is actually an insane performance enhancing drug in esports for certain people. When I used to smoke, I'd become hyper focused and at the right doses, think much quicker on my feet in terms of gaming. I rarely had a bad game when I'd smoke a little beforehand.

[@admireinspire]

I used it for years to play massive amounts of games but if anything I felt like my creativity suffered and most of the time I was still playing terribly. I feel like it's a decent tool for practice that's about it

[@mrmeliodaskid]

I struggled at school my whole life and even dropped out of college cause I couldn't concentrate on any of my classes as my mind was always on a cloud. I tried addy 2 times in my whole life and it made me feel normal, in the sense that I felt good & my concentration was phenomenal.

[@gachicardo]

I have ADHD and have been taking Concerta since 2013 through 2019. What I've noticed is that I am always focused on things, but I also experienced side effects like headaches and sleep issues. I haven't noticed an improvement whenever I play online games, so I suppose it varies from person to person.

[@gachicardo]

@Poorpl Thanks for the info, just saw the it on a site when I first took Concerta that it lasts longer than Aderrall

[@tyborg314]

I think that aderol has its greatest benefits in preparation. You can focus for much much longer and absorb more information, just practice better overall. Personally as someone who took aderol from childhood into my twenties, I feel like it doesn't have a positive effect when actually performing. Yes you move much quicker, yes you have more focus and yes you may have slightly better reaction speed, but the reason it didn't work for me when I was trying to perform was that my thoughts were too fast and so I'd make uncalculated decisions, my muscles were more tense and so I lacked fluidity and I'd react off my emotions more instead of being more even keel. A good example of this is college exams. The aderol can give you the focus to study for 12 hours a day, which increases your chances of doing well on the exam, however if you take the aderol on the exam day you will not perform as well as had you not taken it and been more calm and relaxed. Aderol is a blunt instrument that can sharpen the mind, but the mind requires equilibrium to perform at its greatest. That's just my experience with aderol.

[@reemeruxd]

well said

[@cnaizhen]

Excellent content. Finally a video with actual reporting that does not rely on the hype/ meme of an event that this channel has been relying on. Great work!

[@markobeasley]

I used Adderall alot in medium level Profesional rainbow 6 siege and my biggest take away now that I don't do it I mainly run csgo ranked with my friends but it was mainly the confidence that it gives you because you feel invincible and you don't get tilted the same way I think that's where it comes in the most you can do just as good with a strong mindset in my opinion

[@kovam1234]

exactly my view. it doest make you better in "core skill" but it makes you better as you focus better, dont make mistakes, are more aware of enemy position, potential danger, crosshair placement etc. its abou the energy and positive mindset while enjoying the game at 300% which makes you feel like a god but you would still get destroyed by players a few ranks above you as they have more game knowledge and are kind of more aware than you because youre partly delusional with all that confidence. completely agree with you even though Ive done different substance (kratom) and it makes you confident, feel good, enjoying which ultimately leads you to "care and want to win the game more" and it feels good to try your best.

[@adamhearts9195]

" I only took it one time and it was very very little" 😂 okkayyyy I believe you 😭😭😭😭

[@MichaelHardmanMinecraftDragon]

As someone with ADHD, as many other's have commented on this video about; this was somewhat of a difficult video to watch. Not because I felt ashamed about taking adderall to help me with my ADHD, but because adderall is such a misunderstood drug. You did a great job at presenting what information you could about it and in my honest opinion did a pretty good job at educating those who may not have known much about it beforehand. For those who don't know too much about ADHD, here's an example I give to people. (Keep in mind that ADHD, much like any other health condition out there, as different levels of severity and affects different people differently, it's not all the exact same.): Having an ADHD mind is like sitting at a computer desk with 6 monitors that all have about 2-3 windows open on each with several dozen tabs open on multiple different subjects and categories while also having several songs going on from multiple different listening software (like spotify, pandora, etc) going plus several twitch streams and youtube videos opened on top of all of that. Then strewn all over your desk is about half dozen or so books opened to a variety of pages to help you in your study and research on several different subjects that don't have any real correlation or connection between them. That's a rough and overly simplified version of ADHD and there's a lot more that goes into it, but again that's the gist of it. Other's here in the comments who also have ADHD may experience something either slightly different, or something else entirely. For myself, this is how it feels a lot of the times. Without my adderall, my mind does not stop, it does not stay still, and it does not seem to focus on anything for more than a few seconds, maybe minutes if I'm lucky. Adderall has helped me to have better control over my mind and help me to stay focused, but it hasn't been a complete miracle pill that's solved all of my life's problems. I still have days, while having taken my adderall pill for the day, that I just can't focus either due to lack of sleep, not having eaten much that day, etc. It takes also having a healthy lifestyle to help out Adderall to give me that focus, and that's also what most neurotypical brains need in order to focus better as well, just a good and healthy lifestyle. I've done a ton of research into ADHD itself and know a decent amount about it, plus other mental struggles that are typical for ADHD, such as ADHD Paralysis, or Revenge Bedtime Procrastination, etc. It's really fascinating once you dive deep into it. I just wish more people would do a tad bit more research into things like this with the purpose of trying to understand better what having something like ADHD/taking adderall for said ADHD actually means; what it truely entails. This research also includes seeing if you know someone who deals with this and asking them questions about it.

[@gabrielt8466]

Agreed. I haven't finished the video but it's frustrating to see that unprescribed use often paints the picture of these drugs. Rather than it's use as a pharmaceutical drug to treat a disorder. This often leads people to believe that the same effect profile of a recreational/unprescribed user also applies similarly to an ADHD person.

[@orsonwells5886]

Vyvanse is head and shoulders better then adderall imo, the feeling of normality I get from it. Adderall I feel more focused but also altered, with vyvanse I just feel like I don’t have adhd. I don’t know if you tried it but wow the difference for me is night and day. But everyone reacts differently. Cheers

[@justplainmee-mic5298]

Thanks for putting this out. ADHD is often misunderstood as simply, laziness.

[@pnwpariah8691]

@@orsonwells5886 I switched from Adderall to Vyvanse a month ago, I will never go back. Helps that Vyvanse also isn’t in a national shortage rn… Vyvanse is sooooo much better and like you said makes me feel simply “normal” no spike and crash, just the little push of focus needed to get through the day.

[@MichaelHardmanMinecraftDragon]

@@orsonwells5886 I have not tried Vyvanse before, but I honestly never got the feeling of being altered at all. I've heard plenty of people say they feel altered when taking medications for any mental disorder, but never really felt it myself. I still like myself, even with the ADHD, but just more in control. I have the long release version and don't get a crash of any kind when I take it. Everyone is different in how they react to mental meds and so I'm fine to stick with adderall for now.

[@Wuqz]

I was misdiagnosed with ADHD as a kid, which is apparently common and why it's so easy for these guys to lie their way into getting a prescription. I knew I didn't have ADHD when my Ritalin (stronger then Adderall) would get me so high that I'd start having random nosebleeds. Pretty sure it caused me permanent anxiety issues too.

[@DuvJones]

Ah Ritalin.... scary thing that, when you don't have ADD/ADHD.

[@helio3630]

Ritalin is not necessarily stronger than adderall. I have adhd and ritalin at even high doses does nothing to me whereas lower doses of vyvanse/adderall have a noticeable effect. Everyone is different. It is probably because of the difference in mechanisms, in simple terms adderall forces your brain to release more dopamine and ritalin makes your brain remove less dopamine so it builds up more.

[@F33NIXcs]

Ritalin and Adderall, two medications that treat ADHD, are equally effective but act differently. Adderall stays in your body longer than Ritalin, but Ritalin works more quickly to reach peak effect. Editors carefully fact-check all Drugwatch content for accuracy and quality.

[@AskTorin]

Man I'm so sorry for you

[@skulychen11]

I switch from Ritalin to Concerta and have much less Problem with it then i had with Ritalin

[@gryy4361]

I used to take Adderall (Vyvanse not actually Adderall but does the same thing) and I am a very inconsistent gamer. Sometimes playing really good and other times playing really bad. That's how it should be. No one is going to be perfect all the time. Whenever I took Vyvanse/Adderall I was at my peak until the drug wore off. I wasn't a better overall player but I made so many less mistakes its unbelievable. Not only that but when I was on the pill, I didn't feel anything emotionally so I never got mad at the game. So in my experience, Adderall or other stimulants may not make you better but they make you consistent and less likely to fail.

[@BunnyEZ]

If you're diagnosed then that's kind of the gist of ADHD. You are inconsistent because you get distracted or your mind wanders off and the drug is there to prevent it. Not even neccessarily talking about gaming or esports, but in general. That's why using meds helps you stay in conversations longer, helps you study better and so on.

[@Masuteri_]

I can relate to this with a similar experience with a similar med I've been taking for a good while and still using it. Then there's the side effects of forgetting to take it; I tend to forget to take the med every now and then and when I do forget, I feel normal in the morning, but in the day I start to feel very very tired and I really can't focus on anything I should be doing. I do get my appetite back though but I literally can't stop eating sometimes when that happens. Even when I know I'm full, I just crave more and more food. After a few days of not taking it the side effects wear off and I'm not that tired anymore during the day. I can't focus on anything I should be focusing on and I'm very impulsive, but I have proper emotions (I don't get mad at the game regardless). When I start taking it again, I notice my heart beating faster than it should when resting, but after a few days that goes away. The med is called elvanse which has lisdexamphetamine (becomes dexamphetamine when it enters your circulation) and I do have ADHD.

[@mbgmadbull1141]

I have ADHD, and I can't be that hyper as I get too twitchy with my aim. if I'm vibing I'm clicking heads, gimmie some music and some all night chill time and I wreck shop with the unpredictable strats. I love it

[@thecodeson99]

My caffeine addiction I'd already to much I can't imagine adding these.

[@jrobinson3k1]

I have ADHD and Adderall actually makes me worse at video games...for the people who find they perform better, I'm curious if that's just the placebo effect. Confidence, regardless of how you obtain it, plays such a huge role in how good you perform in video games.

[@alextsvetkov3211]

Makes me worse too cuz my hands get cold. The worst tho is when it’s wearing off. My hands are cold and I’m in that weird period coming off the adderall if yk what I mean. (I have ADHD)

[@DaCreepNextDoor]

I wrote an essay on the cloud9 adderall scandal when I was in college. This does that essay justice and hits on all the points PLUS more. Truth be told, the only real thing the drug is doing for those competing without ADHD is putting them at a health risk, and arguably making them play worse. As someone with ADHD, this has always been silly to me as well as frustrating. It’s just getting addicted to a drug, for actually no beneficial reason…

[@Lemonpinesol]

im sure you think caffeine doesnt give any positive cognitive effects either.

[@DaCreepNextDoor]

@@Lemonpinesol ​ the research suggests that adderall doesn’t give any performance enhancing qualities for video games for those who don’t have ADHD. It purely gives dopamine spikes and increased level of energy, which is why you see college students use it effectively for cramming sessions as it keeps them awake and wired. But the increase in focus does not really happen in individuals without ADHD. If anything the drug tends to be much more negative as you tend to build an addiction and dependency, as well as having withdrawal quickly. It’s not that it doesn’t have ANY effect, but it truthfully isn’t a performance enhancer. The research is all there, I did write ab essay on it in college that I would happily share with you if you would like.

[@adamhearts9195]

​@@DaCreepNextDoorso it should be legal? yeah

[@yootubah887]

@@adamhearts9195 yea that was definitely the point

[@sydknee-ue9qb]

​@@DaCreepNextDoor I'd love a link to the studies you're referring to in the first sentence, seems like an incredibly niche line of study I'm surprised to hear there are any on it! thanks in advance

[@grimmquote6682]

In the world of academics among recent years, college students in intensive schools have been abusing adderall as well.

[@emberthecatgirl8796]

I have autism and especially a messed up executive function, so I take a combo antidepressant + stimulant (bupropion) and I can say that the biggest thing is consistency. Previously I either went godlike or missed everything, now I get much less of those moments of celerity, but I never fall off nearly as hard.

[@sway_onthetrail]

Back when I used to grind MTG competitively, you could go into a bathroom at a convention center and see an absurd amount of magic pros in the bathroom sharing Adderall. Snorting it and everything. This was a decade ago.

[@1fault]

Dam 😭

[@kgeta]

Why on MTG, that doesn´t have any sense. Why you would put more attention on a game that dont demand you a big action reflect or something like that?

[@tripical]

I remember I took vyvanse and whooped the complete shit out of everyone on mortal kombat for the whole day and couldn’t play as well any other times lol

[@BeardR6S]

As a 28 yr old, with ADHD, Anxiety, and Depression. Adderall helps me feel normal, I don't get as angry when I choke a R6 round, or I don't get nearly as distracted by something in my room and I can focus on the game. However, I have tried multiple different ADHD medications to find the "right one", some made my depression so much worse, another made me extremely angry (being a disabled veteran with PTSD that was a massive problem). Adderall has helped me, but it took MONTHS to find the right version, If you don't have a doctor (neurologist) helping you then stay away from it because the side effects can make you irrational and make you do things you normally wouldn't. The best way I was explained what Adderall does is it brings my executive function up to par with everyone else.

[@ThatFunnyPlace]

Have you tried going to the gym for that depression ?

[@Resothorn]

He literally said he’s a veteran with PTSD. I’m sure he’s tried the gym. SMH.

[@ThatFunnyPlace]

@Resolution IX I asked him not you. He is a grown man that can answer for himself

[@jay-d8g3v]

You can correct those issues with proper nutrition without pharmaceuticals. Get all of your levels checked and correct the out of wacks, usually vitamin ds and other hormones play a role. Cant say much for the ptsd outside of seeking Christ for comfort. Hope this can help

[@josephhanuska5815]

@@jay-d8g3v no level of nutrition will help with underdevelopment of certain parts of the brain and other neurological imbalances related to adhd, it may help but that is just how having a good diet and exercise level helps anyone. I’ve been diagnosed and on adderall for 10 years as well as being a personal trainer with a B.S. in nutrition and sports medicine, I have researched this exact gym/nutritional affect on adhd my whole life.

[@nobodynoone2500]

If you got an issue, you got it already ingame. Ease off and see how it works. Crazy how little it does for all the issues.

[@landanbullock9650]

I take vyvanse (A aderall sub) It has a slower comeup not giving you the jitters or that geeked feeling. The most it does for me is lower my reaction time from 160ish to 120ish ms, but since it is a stimulate it ruins blood circulation so your hands are cold but not freezing like adderal.

[@Desmuu]

I have ADHD. I took Adderall growing up and it made me really emotional and unstable, it never helped me focus. When I was taken off of it everything got better? I'm on Lexapro now.

[@heyimkyle]

Sounds like a misdiagnosis of GAD

[@dominicmenelas5637]

Bro just get off meds completely then no need to be dependent if your good without it why are u on lexapro?

[@heyimkyle]

@@dominicmenelas5637 Probably because it treats symptoms of adhd without the side effects adderall brought upon them

[@dominicmenelas5637]

@@heyimkyle you’ll just become dependent your whole life until the long term side affects catch up. You can either change your life or run from the truth but eventually it’s gonna make things worse and when your ready to quit u won’t be able to.

[@heyimkyle]

@@dominicmenelas5637 the point of any medication treatment is to establish lifestyle changes while the symptoms are managed temporarily. It’s up to the person to make those changes, but unfortunately a lot of people only rely on the drug’s symptom treatment

[@jsj0520]

As someone with ADD I have only even taken my prescribed adderall when I’m working on personal projects / job searching. I do not need it at all when I have a job or when I was in school, but now that I’ve graduated and I don’t have the structure of people telling me what to do it has been extremely hard to focus without adderall. But whenever I finish something for the day and decide to play games and my adderall hasn’t worn off yet I feel almost overstimulated, same thing happens to a greater degree if I work out while under the effects of adderall. I have never taken adderall for any purpose besides being productive. And I personally mellow out and become less fidgety. While for a lot of people who don’t need it / aren’t prescribed become a lot more hyper. I’m terms of competition I believe that people who aren’t legitimately diagnosed and prescribed should be banned from cheating. I personally never had issues with focusing when playing a competitive match so I’m not saying this for everyone but I do find it hard to believe that people that have legitimate prescriptions still “need” it to participate in something as stimulating as video games.

[@heyimkyle]

I have been treated with Adderall for years now, taking it only as perscribed- one 20mg XR release capsule every morning. I know that I can get through the day without it, and there are days where I don't necessarily need it, but I find the effects of the drug to improve my general focus and motivation so much that I can't imagine just not taking it for a stretch of days. There have been rare days where I haven't taken it because I forgot or something, and I can definitely tell that I'm without it. I especially do not want to play videogames without it.

[@jaredrobinson390]

@@heyimkyle Thats addiction

[@LHRxTRICKSHOTS]

I’ve taken adderal while playing games it’s absolutely insane. You are actually cracked.

[@mages_fart]

Gets you so locked in it’s insane

[@dpear3]

As someone prescribed Adderall and played in collegiate esports tournaments: I felt Adderall made me worse. I felt it made me more likely to hyper focus on whatever was RIGHT in front of me (usually an irrelevant angle to hold), and miss things in my peripheral or miss comms from teammates. My experience might be different from others, but I think coffee has a more desirable effect and is healthier than Adderall.

[@ELGUAPOIV]

Lmao absolute cap

[@krtr]

As someone with terrible ADHD who takes Adderall to be a functioning human and who also plays games, it definitely does NOT make you better, what it DOES do is make you less sloppy at what you already know. It is basically a way to squeeze the best performance you yourself are possible of already. It can't help you more than improve your focus and attention to what you already are aware of.

[@DownForceSimRacing]

u realize this is about players without adhd adderral effects them completely different

[@Lx-xr7ub]

Yep it's kinda like taking coke

[@Frozoken]

​@@Lx-xr7ub No the fuck it is not

[@SLF1990]

@@Lx-xr7ub meth, you mean meth. It’s basically controlled meth.

[@ATLWood13]

You literally just described it improving your performance!🤦‍♂️

[@TheOfficialRandomGuy]

I don’t game professionally, but I play Yugioh competitively and I’ve won tournaments both on and off Adderall. When I’m on it I would still misplay, I would still get nervous and which still effects gameplay. Most importantly is that I tilt more on it.

[@garytuttle8753]

putting Huke's face as the thumbnail is insane

[@Anon3960]

I have ADHD and it's never even been treated with meds and I'm still great at games. Imagine if I hopped on Adderall. Actually considering it now. My mother is Catholic and refused to let me hop on the prescriptions my doctor made. I've never had my ADHD treated, I've just learned to live with it and still perform my tasks without losing focus. I'm envious of those with ADHD and the helps of meds.

[@BakiSorguc]

Bro i am with you ❤

[@TheDumbRatMan12]

I don't have ADHD and I don't use Adderall frequently, but the times I have used it to write essays or play video games, I definitely noticed an improvement for whatever reason. I went from diamond 2 to high asc 2 in valorant just from the sheer mental stamina it gave me. The only downside I felt at all was the appetite issues I had while it was in my system

[@spiegel7608]

Lucky stuff. What Adderall actually does is it increases levels of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. What this does in a layman’s terms, is that for the average non ADHD person is it speeds you up, pushing your motivation hormones to above average levels. While this does increase motivation, wakefulness, and better stress responses, the side effects can affect the body through prolonged usage.

[@chadbear8759]

@@spiegel7608 it’s called meth. Legal Meth

[@spiegel7608]

@@chadbear8759 It’s technically the better meth but yes, it’s legal meth.

[@tovarvonbrandt7157]

Just take modafinil if you really need the energy. You shouldn't attribute your success to medication. If you managed to do well with your university work while taking it, it means you are a good student. Adhd medication doesn't make you smarter.

[@jaymen8302]

@@chadbear8759 finally someone said it. It’s literally small amounts of meth

[@darkslide180]

real gamers smoke hard ((crack)) CANT BAN THE SNOWMAN

[@MindSZN]

Now Huke is playing some of his best COD off the addy

[@jamesbland5207]

I used to take medicine for my ADD, not sure if Adderall something similar. But I remember it did help me focus, but I did feel less joy and more anger. Ultimately, after a year, I stopped taking it because I didn't feel good. Also, I sometimes felt like my heart would explode. I haven't been back to the doctor that diagnosed me, but I have noticed an improvement in my ability focus, and I feel great. I don't know if I would take it to play games, or cram for tests though. Taking it past 9pm is not a good idea.

[@raymeeeiii]

I work in renewable energy and was leading a crew of electricians. One of they guys offered me half of an adderall and my lord I was running everywhere checking on guys so I ding up work and just felt like I knew the entire drawings at that time with out even looking. Felt amazing. Definitely felt zoned in and focused. Only downside was I couldn’t get hard that night lol. Also felt hung over the next day. 10/10 wouldn’t recommend.

[@martymcfly88mph35]

Did you snort it? Railing it with half coke half Adderall is great.

[@raymeeeiii]

@@martymcfly88mph35 haha no sir! Not that brave lol

[@JGL98]

@c h cause the nerds who take it don’t get no play lol

[@harryhiggins8533]

As someone (with ADHD) who needs Adderall to function day to day like a normal person I find normal people's perceptions of the drug fascinating. Because while it is a wonder drug for me, from what I here from others I know, quite a lot of people with ADHD who try it actually dislike the effect that it has on them - even if the majority of the effects are positive. So to see this level of reverence for a drug that is very hit or miss is absolutely wild

[@KingBLUCK]

As a guy with ADHD, I have to have this medication to be a normal functioning person, but I've hated taking the meds since 5th grade but it just annoys me when people attack me for using adderall when I've been diagnosed since I was about in elementary school. I hate what it does to my body and seeing that people are willingly taking this "performance drug" absolutely pisses me off.

[@willmulder4522]

If you take 2/3x your dose it will feel a bit like when a non adhd person takes adderall

[@Hacktheplanet_]

Its amphetamine bro what dont you understand, you having adhd doesnt make it not a powerful stimulant

[@yarincool1237]

when i took ritalin the first time (and last) (i have adhd) i played some fps games and holy fk i just saw everything, i could track easily and spot people easier and in i general just paid more attention to what im doing, the reason i didnt continue is it made me extremley depressed, like REALLY REALLY REALLY depressed, it was horrible, im currently trying to find another adhd med that wont have that extreme effect.

[@Zizzle-sg1qg]

From my personal experience, I’ve never been a fan of stimulants. I’ve been diagnosed with both ADD and ADHD and have taken Vyvanse and Adderall throughout the years and while it may not have made me a “better gamer” per say. What I noticed is it allowed me to stay focused through longer periods of gaming which in turn increase my average. But as far as it giving me better aim, reaction rate, etc. I did not. That’s sheer practice that makes you better.

[@mathiesdamm4572]

You can’t be diagnosed with ADD, as it’s not recognized by APA nor outlined in DSM-5. The closest is just ADHD (inattentive type)

[@radicaldradcliffe4201]

​@@mathiesdamm4572 A- Not every country uses that standard. B- That guy could be older and received the diagnosis when it was still considered a medical diagnosis

[@mathiesdamm4572]

@@radicaldradcliffe4201 You do realize when ADD was a part of DSM, he would have to have the diagnosis before 1987. And you’re right, not every country uses DSM, but the far majority base it on it. And that is ICD 10/11. ICD 10 was introduced in 1994, and didn’t include ADD. I honestly don’t know whether they used ADD in ICD 9. I think they did, so if OP got his diagnosis long ago in Europe before last 1990’s then it’s possible. Yet it was really uncommon to be diagnosed with that. I’m not saying he doesn’t have ADD or ADHD, nor that he hasn’t been told he has it. ADD is still a valid description, it’s just not a medical diagnosis (most likely just ADHD inattentive type). I generally tell people I have ADD because it can be hard to communicate that it differs from ADHD from a social expectation perspective. I just think it’s important to clarify, that we are no longer diagnosing with ADD. As to not add confusion for those that do get a the diagnosis ADHD. It’s much like we are slowly turning away from autism and Asperger (per DSM-5, not yet implemented in every country since a lot still use ICD 10 due to technical problems) and instead it has become ASD (autism spectrum disorder). So for my country, I have ADHD (inattentive type) and Aspergers as my diagnosis. What id tell people is that I have ADD, ASD since that communicates it in a better way. But yeah, he could be a old boy and have gotten it long long ago.

[@ae_aspects8296]

I took it before, i felt like a fucking god. Its like i was performing at top tier without even having to try. Made my stomach feel like shit too, and i couldn't eat. Never got addicted to it, thats just me though

[@wrx1th873]

because Adderall is known for an appetite suppressant and makes your mouth dry.

[@ae_aspects8296]

@@wrx1th873 yup

[@wrx1th873]

@@ae_aspects8296 and dehydration forgot about that.

[@DKtrek21]

Players on the top echelons of their respective games are separated by mere inches with each other so having that slight boost is a massive change. It is the same for athletes taking steroids. Just that tiny little push and you are head above others. It is risky. Massive health problems can be acquired in prolonged use. I used it for about a year and it works, for me at least. My reactions are way faster and time seems to slow down. Imagine that for professional players. That 0.1 second of added reaction time is massive. As a prescribed user for a year, I do not support taking Adderall. Drugs don't belong in any competitive field. If it's legal then everyone would be taking it. Our beloved players will shorten their careers just for a competitive edge.

[@Azalealiketheflower]

Something about the fact the adderal epidemic is still happening a good fifteen years after I first heard about it makes me laugh, not because its a problem but like; the strategy of getting high on meth before a fight is truly time tested. Most Halo players way back used this shit too, it's really not a shock.

[@nobodynoone2500]

Just like the "balmer peak" it's a narrow window that actually helps, but doesent really feel like it. It;s a losing proposition.

[@lancelotto475]

It's not just video games, Adderall is also used by some players of physical card games like Magic, where it MIGHT help players keep up with card interactions. I feel like I've encountered "twitchy" players at small-scale events at card shops, but I don't know if that was because of a substance or if they had something like ADHD.

[@sixsixsik]

That is interesting, I play Magic and have taken adderall recreationally, but I don't think doing both at the same time would help me at all. Weed on the other hand, helps me a ton.

[@Infernal07]

I understand your idealistic anti-drug vision of portraying Adderall as being almost useless, but the truth is different. You don't need scientific proof to demonstrate if it's useful, the pro players using it for more than !10 years! prove it is. Because pro players understand Adderall does not improve by 10% or 25%, but by a small amount, a 1% in performance. And that bonus to attention is enough at the highest level of play. The goal is entering the flow state, being completely focused on the game, surrounding, sound etc An important factor about pro players is (at least the responsible ones) only take Aderall for the matches that they need it. Meaning that in scrims, practice or ranked games, they will usually not take Aderall. And that implies that usually pro players are very aware of the difference between what it's like to play clean and what it's like to play on Aderall. PS: I am NOT advocating for taking Aderall because for the average non-pro player, the +1% is definitely NOT worth it to take a prescription drug with negative side effects.

[@bourne_]

Ever heard about placebo effect?

[@Infernal07]

@@bourne_ yes, and the effect of taking Aderall it absolutely and definitely NOT just a Placebo effect, not for the vast majority of those who take it.

[@CGoody5642]

It improves reaction time. That alone is enough to give you an edge, not even considering the focus aspect. That doesn't mean you need it to win, but saying it puts you at a disadvantage if you don't (assuming many others are) is correct.

[@Badmanpuntbaxter]

This was a fantastic video guys, love your more serious deep dives

[@noobmanlegacy3788]

I personally have adhd so i have to take adderall to function normally. When i started taking adderall i started playing much better, but in my case it would've helped me alot because i was being held back by my adhd to begin with.

[@kovam1234]

whats your experience after years as it is similar to meth and literally destroys your neurological system to the point where you have chronic depression and countless physiological ane mental side effects and suicide thoughts with no will to live?

[@noobmanlegacy3788]

@@kovam1234 hence why i take it in moderate amounts. Only the amount in perscribed to take by my doctor. Meth is a different story.

[@michiman6757]

@@kovam1234 Meth and adderall are similar-ish but not the same thing, It is the same boat as H20 and H202, yeah similar but not really. Been taking it for years though and no neurological symptoms or depression. That is more of a person to person basis just like any meds that exist.

[@imbue897]

This is propaganda for anti-adderall. Definitely shouldn't be used for esports, but lets stop pretending it doesn't give an edge. I'm a mid level player, but on adderall (occasional usage - no tolerance... which is important) I become a pub stomper. The pro's are correct that adderall alone won't make someone a pro player as pro level requires intense knowledge/skill/raw talent of mechanics, strategy, and teamwork.. which no drug alone will give. It will however increase your reaction time and focus. All this said... I luckily have not touched the stuff in ~8 years.. its very addicting (the reason the meth epidemic is so far reaching - another stimulant) and when your skill becomes dependent on it you will get an insane tolerance that will require unhealthy and dangerous amounts of it (I never got anywhere near that point, but have known people that have) If you want to become a pro then you need to grind. You need to learn your game inside and out, play with others around your skill level constantly, and never stop aiming for the top. Adderall is the bandaid, practice is the cure. So TLDR: Adderall will make you play better no matter what people are saying... but you are better off not using it and getting real skill and a solid foundation on mechanics.

[@wheresmyshield176]

Pop a Molly, I'm feeding. But honestly, a lil green helps me detach from the fact I'm getting smacked in a fighting game, then I progress and improve even faster, suddenly flipping games around just because I was given a chance to assess and laugh instead of regret and learn nothing.

[@XCWARRIOR91]

Honestly this bummed me out like 14 years ago when I found out how many pros were taking it in the halo community at the time, this is old news and a sad reminder

[@CrippledMerc]

In high school I was an addy dealer and I used it heavily even though it wasn’t prescribed to me. I’d buy prescriptions each month from multiple people who were prescribed it, I’d take what I would use and then sell the rest to fund it all and make a little money. I played both CoD and WoW competitively at the time. I always found that if I was doing good with my play then I kinda felt like I was cheating a bit because the addy was helping me, but if I was doing bad then it was because I was too wired on the addy. I never saw an increase in my ability while using it, though sometimes I felt it was helping. Once I got off of it in my senior year of high school I actually started seeing improvements in my play over time after that point. I wasn’t as jittery or on edge, I was thinking clearer, and I wasn’t making as many dumb mistakes due to being too antsy or overeager, and I also didn’t rage as much or as quickly. Heaven only knows what 3.5 years of heavy use did to my brain, but I know that once I quit just before I turned 18 I was doing good, then after about the age of 22 my gameplay started to decline and I just couldn’t keep up competitively anymore. I don’t even play games competitively anymore at this point. Maybe it was just because my play habits changed over time, maybe I just got older, but I always wonder if maybe I did some cognitive damage during that period of use. I don’t know if I’ll ever know the answer to that question though.

[@theriffwriter2194]

From experience: whatever effect you're getting from whatever hard drug (say you're Bradley Cooper in that Limitless movie) will inevitable sease and once you reach that point you're hooked. You now need it just to brush your teeth and put on your shoes.

[@Malignantt1]

Thing is you probably sometimes do better, but due to how stimulants make you obsessive and compulsive there’s absolutely times where it makes you perform worse. I did adderall once and couldn’t stop changing my sensitivity settings every time i died

[@soulssearching6659]

with the handful times i have experimented with addreall in my life, it immediately made me realize that the high you achieve just simply isnt worth enduring the depressing comedown. also i think certain drugs definitely makes a difference, for me at least. For example I have played call of duty while on LSD and my timing, anticipation, and reaction time was clearly turned up a notch. and physically I have played intense basketball games while on LSD and didnt realize til later on that i was keeping up with guys that were clearly more athletic than me and actually making an impact on them because of my body control, timing and anticipation. My confidence was completely turned up the whole time, not egotistically but literally thriving off my own positive thoughts that seemed endless while under the influence.

[@neeyku]

"don't take it, don't take it, don't take it" is a big endorsement

[@rudestbeast4907]

in my 20s my screename was TheDrugs (killed player X) on the orginal SW battlefronts and i was fueled by uppers + whiskey as my KDR went thru the roof, now my KDR is an embarassment across multiple FPS as I have to contain the remainder of my health.

[@Defiancy]

The thing is, If a bunch of players are taking adderall, there’s a chance someone who wins will have been taking it. It’ll seem like it helps when In reality I think it does the opposite. Sure it’ll make you more “focused”, but it also makes the majority of people a lot more anxious as well. In my opinion it would end up affecting your decision making negatively. Maybe for some it’d help, but for most I think it’d hurt your more than it’d help you.

[@lupinmay1]

All I have to say is once the proof comes in that it helps the statement "You always would of thought adderall was making unfair advantages" will seem so strange it wasn't listened to. However the intent to take the drug to get a boost is clear and it should be considered illegal because of this intention that underlies the widespread use of it.

[@James-9999]

The sad part is this problem effects ppl way below the top pros, my friend did a local tournaments in cs and he and everyone else was doing Adderall and they were all in hs at the time.

[@Mightydoggo]

As an ADHD person relying on meds (not adderral though) to well... basically live, it always amazes me not only how widely spread they´re in other countries (they´re literally handled like heroin and other hard drugs where I live) but also how many people think this will help them because they do not understand what the meds actually do. There´s reasons why patients have to dial those in over weeks or months. My first weeks on MHP were utter chaos and despair, before my body and brain got used to it.

[@tupatshakurtis5195]

I’m a recovering addict and a gamer. Back when I was using I would pop an addy from time to time before playing some competitive games. I can 100% attest to the fact that it is a performance enhancing drug in the world of eSports. But remember kids. Adderall and meth have a 1 molecule difference.

[@Royalpinoy]

Back in season 2-4 of league of legends I used to boost accounts for money. With 13 hour shifts, Adderall was def a big help for me

[@hanburgundy4317]

Adderall most certainly DOES make you a better player/ builder/ writer/ actor/ artist/ etc. It heightens your focus - especially if you have an attention deficit - and "gives you" energy (it really just shows you how much energy you have and how to better use it). Compare gameplay footage of me not on Adderall with footage of me on Adderall, and it's night and day; all of my skills are properly applied, I'm not making mistakes or getting side tracked, I'm not getting frustrated or confused, my overall situational awareness is heightened, I'm playing the minimap flawlessly, and my accuracy is VASTLY improved.

[@GARB34R123]

imagine what the sweats in public ranked matches are on lmao

[@TheScammyDavisJrShow]

And here I can't even a script n I actually need it 😖

[@TheSaintedOne]

Must have been a lot of tournaments in Jan/Feb. I couldn't get my prescription filled for two months.

[@devn266]

Being as I am diagnosed with ADHD(anyone else who has it and a script for adderall can chime in on this) There is a serious supply chain delay for scripts and I feel this is a big reason why: Adult prescriptions are rising, general prescriptions are rising and there are people like say students who dont need it but abuse it for school, or pro esports players who abuse it to enhance their gameplay. Leading to supply chain delays, the past few months my CVS made me wait 2 whole weeks without it because they had none in stock 2 different times, and the other time I had to call 30 different pharmacies to find stock and get the script get there. So, to see it abused in ways like this bothers me because it clearly effects people who actually do need it and keeps them from getting it on time having to jump through literal hoops to make sure you can get it filled on time.

[@Yemborghini]

this is crazy esports was big in my area and id always have nerds ask for addy i never knew why but it make sense now

[@cjshots6013]

I used to do Adderall and I brought 6-7 pills to school every day in high school, taking many everyday. I was taking Adderall during the SATs and I passed all SATs with Proficient on Adderall. The drug is insanely strong and I don't have ADHD. I was once up for 4 days on a couple pills of Adderall. The pill is no joke. No wonder Hitler took it or Meth during the war and stuff.

[@bobadablldo]

Back when I was a youngster, me and the boys would take some Adderall and play cod all night, we called it gaming night. We even said "damn we could probably go pro if we played liked this everytime" So I can confirm that it does give you gaming super powers. Sober today tho!

[@ANGJKWENRUGK]

As someone who has taken adderall for a very long time (basically 5 years of law school with the exclusion of like 3 semesters give or take) i cannot see how adderall would actually help in esports. What adderall is good for is studying, because it keeps you in focus for hours while also making you less tired, which comes in very handy when you need to learn 250 pages about roman law for an exam thats gonna take place in a few days, but probably isnt as good in esports as most of the time in esports you dont need to focus for long periods of time, its the opposite, you only need to fully focus when making plays which last literally just seconds. It could probably be really good for training, but for the actual matches that will decide the winner it seems completely and utterly pointless. It also makes you tilt more, and you tend to focus on miniscule things that are basically irrelevant in the grand scheme, so it could actually be harmful. Not to mention that the anger and perfectionism scale with the dosage, the more you take the more frustrated you will get over stupid shit. Also, ive tried many drugs, and i cannot think of a single one that could actually be useful in esports environment. Like coke is probably +5 to your rank in any game matchmaking-wise but in esports it would be horrible because while being mechanically insane and being able to pull of huge plays cause your confidence levels are boosted is great for matchmaking, being mechanically good is baseline in esports and being overly confident will get you killed 9 times out of 10, and coke is probably the best stimulant for games out there as meth or x will make you mechanically good but brainless because you will be constantly craving for a stimuli, literally making you unable to be calm

[@gloomjesussecretaccount]

Do we treat it like the John jones situation where even though he was prescribed something “illegal” in the sport you aren’t allowed to compete? Like if a doctor says you need it to be normal why would you take it away from a competitor? That would put them at a disadvantage

[@MissingNo_]

As a state certified substance abuse counselor in california let me just say just because it's a prescription doesn't mean you can't get addicted. It's a slippery slope that will end up the user going to crystal meth.

[@lemon7503]

Unless you find yourself just going AFK in the middle of games to check your phone or look out the window or otherwise are not focused on the task at hand, then ADHD stimulant medications are not going to help you. Part of being a good esport player is remaining calm/cool/collected, and these medications can increase feeling of stress/anxiety, increase HR, sweating.