It all started for me after a bad day of work. The meetings had piled up, I got behind on a few projects, and left feeling broken down. I needed some boost, I told myself. Something that would give me an edge I was missing.

The First Appointment

So I booked an appointment with a doctor. I tried to convince myself that I had a problem and that this was the solution. I told the doctor I was having issues concentrating, that I always had and that I was looking for something that might give me more focus.

The Prescription

I was put on a low dose of Adderall- amphetamine salts. And I loved it right away. The next week at work was one of the most productive I’ve ever had. I responded to more emails in ten minutes than I would in hours before. I felt happy and engaged, talkative and motivated.

Needing More

But the feeling didn’t last. The same dose was less and less effective. So I went back to the doctor, got my dose bumped up. This went on for a while until the doctor told me he wouldn’t increase the dose anymore.

Looking Online

So I turned to the internet. They were expensive, sure, but I thought it was worth it. Before I knew it, I was taking over fifteen times as much Adderall as I had been taking at first. I couldn’t make it through a day without it. And I was spending a lot of my money on it too. The prescription I was getting- already expensive- was only lasting a few days, when it was supposed to last me the month. I had to face it: I was addicted.

And Before You Know It

You might be like I was. Frustrated, behind at work, and looking for an easy solution. Some people do need these drugs. But I didn’t. I took them for the wrong reasons. If you’re thinking about trying, consider some of this advice:

• One can lead to another
  Taking a drug once doesn’t mean you’ll get addicted. That’s an out-dated, scared-straight approach that just isn’t true. However, know that taking a drug once can lead you to take it more. Just like me, you may love it. Be careful.
• Look for alternatives
  Maybe you do have a real issue. There’s nothing wrong with going to a doctor. But be honest about why you’re going, and discuss all alternatives. I went to the doctor with a goal in mind: to get Adderall. Be open and honest with your doctor, instead of trying to trick them.
• Take some time off
  This won’t be an option for everyone, but get some rest if you can. I got hooked because I couldn’t stop when what I really needed was a break.

Addiction can hit you before you know it. That’s why it’s important to walk away while you can. It’s the advice I wish someone had given me.