What are Stimulants?
Stimulants are drugs that increase—or "stimulate"—activities and processes in the body. This increased activity can boost alertness, attention, and energy. It also can raise your blood pressure and make your heart beat faster.
Stimulant misuse can mean using illicit stimulants (such as cocaine or methamphetamine). It may also mean using prescription medication in higher amounts, more often, or for longer than prescribed, using for recreational purposes, or using prescription medication prescribed to someone else. Stimulant misuse can cause serious health effects, addiction, and death.
The most common stimulants are:
- Cocaine
- Methamphetamine
- Prescription stimulants like those prescribed to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Examples include dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®), dextroamphetamine/amphetamine combination product (Adderall®) and methylphenidate (Ritalin®, Concerta®)
What are the health risks of stimulant use?
Health-related information about stimulants can be found from:
- NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
- Cocaine: brain changes, short-term, and long-term effects of cocaine use
- Methamphetamines: short-term and long-term effects of methamphetamine use
- Prescription Stimulant misuse: health effects of prescription stimulant misuse
- Kratom: health effects of kratom
